Jan 22 2010
Where to Find an Interior Decorator
Homeowners hire interior decorators to decorate and style their home for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they don’t feel creative enough, or maybe they just don’t have the time to put forth the proper effort. Whatever your reason for hiring an interior decorator, you need to be sure you find someone who best fits your style and vision for your home. Here are some tips to help you find the right interior decorator for your home.
Ask Friends and Family for Referrals
One of the best ways to find a qualified interior decorator is to ask people you know and trust if they have someone they can recommend. Since the person has already worked with someone you know and trust, when you hire them you’ll know what type of work to expect. When asking your friends and family for a referral, just make sure you ask the right questions to help you determine if the person is right for you. You might want to ask how long the project took, how many problems there were, and if the overall end result was a success.
Look at Online Review Websites
Even though you don’t necessarily know the people who are posting the reviews, online review websites provide an excellent starting point to finding a qualified decorator for your home. These online reviews can help you put together a preliminary list of interior decorators. You can then narrow this list down by making phone calls to the businesses. You do need to remember that you can’t always trust what you read on these review websites. This is why it’s important to narrow down your list of possibilities by doing phone interviews with each decorator.
Utilize Referral Sevices
There are several referral services available online that will include categories for interior decorators. Typically, these services will offer some sort of version of matching you up with a compatible interior decorator. Along with the review websites, these referral websites provide a great starting point for your list of potential decorators.
You also want to go to the American Society of Interior Decorators to find members who live in your area whom you can also add to your list.
Seek Out Interior Decorators’ Work
You might be able to find an interior decorator whose style you like by viewing their work at model homes and decorating shows. For instance, most building contractors will hire an interior designer to help stage a model home. By seeking things like this out, you can not only find decorators in your area but view their work at the same time. All you have to do is ask the contractor or sales agent who created the décor plan and then seek that person out. You might also find out if there are any home expos coming up at any of the expo centers in and around your city. At this type of venue, you’ll be able to see the decorator’s work as well as talk to them about specific projects.
It’s not as difficult as you might think to hire an interior decorator. When you get good referrals from people you know, it makes the whole process of finding a qualified interior decorator much easier.
