So, you’ve decided to build the house of your dreams, and you’re ready to sit down with a professional and get the creative juices flowing. Whether they are an architect, landscape designer, interior designer, or another design professional; communicating your preferences in a clear and concise way can help your designer understand your goals and desires—and deliver results you love. So what are some of the best ways to create a successful and pain-free design process meeting?

By gathering inspiration and assessing your likes and dislikes, you will be better armed to have those crucial conversations with your design professional. Below are some tips on how to best prepare yourself for the design process meeting:

#1: Make a “Love” List and a “Not for Me” List:

We are probably all familiar with the pros and cons list. When it comes to designing your house, it is a natural inclination to want to list everything you want, but listing your “don’t wants” is equally as important for the process with your designer.

For example, you may love the idea of a pool in the backyard, but you may not like the concept of a water feature. Having these preferences laid out before the design process begins will increase your satisfaction with everything from start to finish.

#2 Get Visual

Any designer would agree that their work is highly visual. Keeping this in mind, the best way to communicate your ideas and desires is through images. If you are getting your inspiration from homes you have seen in magazines, cut out the images! If it came from online, bring those too!

Every piece of visual inspiration will help the designer understand what you see as your dream home and will hasten the process and lead to excellent results. 

#3 Practice Being Picky

When you first start filling those idea-books with photos, allow yourself free rein to choose as many photos as you want. Have fun with it! But when you’re ready to go back in for a second look, it’s time to get picky. Aim to narrow down each list to the top 10 or 20 best examples.

#4 Get Specific

Add a note beneath each photo in your idea-book that explains in words exactly what it is about the space that made you include it. What you love about it, how you think it ties into the rest of the home you are envisioning, and where else you might want to include this design.

Summary:

The design process can be stressful if you let it become that way. What if the end product doesn’t look like how I envisioned it? That is a common fear everyone has, but if you come prepared to your meeting and follow the tips we listed above, chances are the process will be a happier and more successful one for both you and your designer.

Content contributed by our lead Interior Designer, Tracy Miller, NCIDQ.