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By Kathy Wilson
After the moving companies have left and the moving boxes have been broken down and put in the recycling, many people's first thought turns to home decorating.
But if your idea of design is limited to a flashing neon Coors sign, you might want to hire a professional interior designer. If so, knowing the answers to these questions can keep your home decorating projects running smoothly.
The first step is easy.
"Ask people they know to recommend decorators that they have worked with successfully," says Pamela Cole Harris, designer and Budget Decorating Guide for About.com and Home and Garden Makeover.
"Also, check out your local Parade of Homes to look at the designer's work. If you find a decorator whose work you particularly like, interview that decorator to see if their personality will blend with yours."
But beware the top five mistakes people make when choosing an interior decorator or an interior designer (a designation that generally denotes someone with more design education).
- Choosing a decorator without asking for recommendations from their clients. Talking with previous clients will give you insight into the decorator's design style, work ethic, and personality.
- Choosing an interior decorator without seeing examples of their work. Would you buy a car without knowing what it looked like? It makes about as much sense doing that with a home decorator.
- Choosing a decorator simply because their services are provided free at a retail store. The decorator may be good, but you need to find out if you like their work.
- Choosing a decorator you personally don't get along with. Problems and disagreements will crop up, and if you find your home decorator grating, the problems will seem more difficult and the disagreements will become more volatile.
- Choosing a decorator unwilling to use the items you already have in the completed design. "Ask the decorators if they can blend your loved items into the design. If they can't or won't, they are probably not the designer for you," says Cole Harris.
What are 4 crucial tips in looking for a home decorator?
- Ask for references from friends and family.
- Have an idea of what you want from a decorator before you begin looking.
- Check with local furniture stores and design firms. Ask for a recommendation of decorators they use and like.
- Look for a decorator who will listen. "I have known decorators who have a preconceived idea of what the room should be and neglected to listen to the homeowner's advice to the contrary. That leads to an unsatisfactory experience for them both," says Cole Harris.
Interior decorators are human like anyone else, and you will need to find someone you are compatible with. Make sure you have written contracts for every job, and that you have a clause that allows you to end the relationship with your decorator for any reason. So if you are not seeing eye to eye, you can move on to a designer who can truly work with you to make your decorator dreams come true.
Finally, although interior decorators are not regulated, interior designers may be. "Many states require professional licensing for interior designers and the educational requirements are higher than for an interior decorator," says Cole-Harris. You can check out the regulations for your state at the American Society for Interior Designers Web site at http://www.asid.org/legislation/.
Kathy Wilson is a home and garden writer, author and consultant and is the home decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com. Visit her for more home and garden ideas at TheBudgetDecorator.com and TheGardenGlove.com
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