When you are preparing to work with a specialist on a home project, whether it's an architect, landscape designer, interior decorator or another design professional, correctly communicating your preferences in a clear and concise way can aid your designer in perfectly understanding exactly what you're searching for out.
By correctly gathering inspiration and thoroughly assessing your likes and dislikes, you'll be equipped to have these essential conversations with your designer.
Make a Love List and a Not-for-Me List
You may have already heard that it's generally a great idea to gather images and ideas of things you like whenever you are preparing to meet with an interior designer -- but have you ever thought about making a list of the situations that you do not enjoy? Perhaps surprisingly, these dislikes can be just as crucial.
Attempt to Get Visual
A majority of interior designers' job is extremely visual, so it makes sense that the best way to communicate your likes and dislikes is by way of images. This keeps things clear and concise.
As an example, if you think of"desert style" as being southwestern with a fantastic amount of natural wood and colorful textiles, but your designer is envisioning more of a Palm Springs midcentury desert type of feel, conflict is bound to happen.
But when you can point to a photograph and say,"I really like this," or"I really don't like this look," you and your design pro can get on the same page almost instantly. .
Include Images Which Immediately Relate to Your Job
A great place to start is currently collecting images for your likes and dislikes lists with examples of the specific kind of job you are planning on. If you'll be working with a landscape designer or landscape architect, for instance, be on the look out for photographs of landscapes.
If you are looking to hire an architect for a home remodel or custom built, our interior designer suggest you hunt out photographs of exteriors and whole-house designs. If you are redesigning your kitchen, start looking for more kitchen photographs. We believe you get the picture.
However, Include Some Less On-Topic Photos Too
Don't be afraid to add a few images that don't directly relate to the kind of project but are nevertheless a great example of a specific style you love -- or hate, as the case may be. Lifestyle, food and garden images can be wonderful examples of color palettes and can offer your design pro a much better handle on your overall design than just the project photos.
Practice Being Picky
If you first start filling those idea books with photographs, give yourself an chance to have free rein to select as many photos as you want. Enjoy it! However, when you're ready to go back in for a second look, it is time to get picky. Try and focus on narrowing down each list to the top 10 to 20 finest examples.
As a consequence, not only can this provide your design expert a more manageable amount of images to examine, but it is going to provide you practice making design-related choices as well. The further you flex that design strength, the easier it will be to talk about your likes and dislikes.
Attempt To Get Specific
Being able to point to an image you love or hate is helpful, however confusion and miscommunications can nevertheless arise if you don't specify exactly what it is about the space that you like or do not like.
You could be thinking about the color palette, but your interior designer may focus on the furniture design -- and they unfortunately won't know if you do not tell them!
To make things much easier a notice beneath each photo on your idea book that explains in words exactly what it is about the space that made it is comprised by you.
Use the following checklists as a guide, and see just how many you can incorporate on your personal lists.
THINGS YOU LOVE Checklist:
Favorite color or colorsColor palette or combination of colors that appeals to youFurniture you loveA room where you love the mood or general vibeIf you are looking at architecture, a house or overall space that appeals to youIf you are Taking a Look at landscapes, a whole yard that captures the general feeling you are afterSpecific features you definitely want to add
NOT FOR ME Checklist:
Specific colors or shades of colors that you have a powerful aversion toMotifs or finishes that are not your cup of teaPet peevesColor combinations that you do not like togetherA room where you do not like the overall mood or vibe However Stumped?
If you have gotten this far, you deserve a huge pat on the back. It is not easy to pin down your design -- and bear in mind, you don't have to fully nail it. Usually, your design expert is there to walk you through this entire approach. However, the more thought you have set in on the front end, the easier it's going to be for you and your designer to have a fruitful working relationship.
To that end, if you have gone through these exercises and are still having difficulty determining your style, you might want to believe laterally: Are there any restaurants, brands or stores that exemplify your own loves and hates?
As long as the places you have chosen are ones that your designer is familiar with (or can easily find images of), this can be a helpful addition to your style information.
Always bear in mind that although it is c crucial to be able to communicate your preferences to your interior designer, it is just as important as soon as you have made your initial ideas and feelings clear to step back and hope your interior designer to think of some creative ideas that you would never have thought of on your own.
Will the all be things you love? Maybe not, and you can always work to get to a place you love. But then again, you could just surprise yourself by loving something that you never thought you'd, thanks to a interior designer's creative vision.