Before the meeting
Good questions work best when you have your own answers ready. Decide on your goals, a budget range, a target timeline, and which items you plan to keep. Many designers suggest bringing:
- Floor plans, measurements and photos of the space
- Images you like, such as a Pinterest or Houzz board
- A list of existing furniture or decor you want to use
- Notes on how your household uses the room
- Any major life events that affect timing
Ask at booking whether the consultation is free or paid. For a wider view of the hiring process, see our guide to working with an interior designer.
Questions about experience and fit
- Have you worked on projects like mine? Ask to see similar size, style and budget.
- What is your training? Ask about education and any certifications or licences, which matter more in some regions than others.
- How do you work out my style? Listen for questions about how you live, not just about looks.
- Can you accommodate accessibility or sensitivity needs? For example mobility, allergies or sensitivities to materials.
- Can I speak to past clients? References and photos of finished work help.
Questions about process and communication
- What is your process? Ask for the stages and when you will be asked to approve things. Our guide to an interior design project from start to finish gives a typical sequence to compare against.
- Who will I work with day to day? It may be the principal or a team member.
- How often will we communicate, and how? Email, calls, shared project boards.
- How many revisions are included? This can affect cost.
Questions about fees and purchasing
- How do you charge? Hourly, flat fee, percentage of project cost, per square foot or product markup. See interior designer fees for how these differ.
- What does the fee include and exclude?
- What is the payment schedule? Is there a retainer, and are payments tied to stages?
- How do you handle purchases? Who orders, who pays suppliers, and do you pass on trade discounts or add a markup?
- What happens if an item arrives damaged or wrong? Ask who is responsible for returns and any restocking fees.
- What costs might come on top? Delivery, installation, permits and contractor fees.
Questions about timeline and trades
- How long will it take, and what could delay it? Lead times for custom items are a common cause.
- How do you choose and vet the contractors and installers who come into my home? Ask whether they are your people, mine or both, and who manages them.
- Do you work with my architect or builder?
- Will you be on site? How often?
What a designer will ask you
Expect questions that help the designer understand you. Typical ones include:
- Which design styles, colours and patterns you like and dislike (our comparison of traditional vs modern interior design can help you answer)
- What the room is used for and by whom
- Which furniture or decor you want to keep
- What you dislike about the current space
- Hobbies and routines that affect how you use the home
- Any special needs in the household
- Your budget
Honest answers, especially about budget and dislikes, make for a smoother project.
Red flags and good signs
Possible red flags
- Reluctance to put fees or scope in writing
- Pressure to sign or pay quickly
- Vague answers about markups or who pays suppliers
- No examples of past work that resemble yours
Good signs
- A clear contract and payment schedule
- Questions about your life as well as your taste
- Willingness to explain their reasoning
- Realistic timelines and openness about trade-offs
Common questions
What is the biggest problem in interior design projects?
Many designers and clients point to mismatched expectations on budget, timeline and scope. Asking the questions above and putting answers in writing reduces that risk.
What is the 70/30 rule in interior design?
It is a rule of thumb, mostly associated with colour: around 70 percent of a space in a main tone and about 30 percent in a secondary or accent tone. It is not a hiring criterion, but you could ask a designer how they approach colour balance.