How to Hire an Interior Designer (Without Getting Burned): 6 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
What to know before you hand over a deposit (and your trust)
Learning how to hire an interior designer can feel overwhelming, especially if you've been burned before. You're about to trust someone with tens of thousands of dollars and the space where your family will make memories for years. That's not a small decision.
And yet, so many homeowners make the leap based on a pretty portfolio and good vibes alone. Then six months later, they're drowning in missed deadlines, surprise costs, and a sinking feeling that they chose the wrong person.
Hiring an interior designer shouldn't feel risky. The best interior designers have systems, documentation, and clear processes that protect both of you. They welcome questions because they want you to feel confident, not confused.
So before you sign anything or hand over a deposit, I want you to ask these six questions. They'll help you separate the pros from the pretty Pinterest boards.
Question #1: What Documentation Will I Receive?
How to Hire an Interior Designer: What Documentation to Expect
This is the first thing to ask when you're figuring out how to hire an interior designer, and it's the question most people skip.
Why This Matters
Pinterest boards and Canva mood boards aren't enough. You need real, measurable documentation that your contractor, cabinet maker, and tile installer can actually use. Without it, your project will stall, costs will balloon, and you'll be stuck playing middleman.
What You Should Get
The best interior designers provide:
Floor plans with measurements
Elevations (detailed drawings showing cabinet heights, tile layouts, fixture placements)
Sourcing lists with item numbers, exact product links, and current pricing
Timeline documents
🚩 Red Flag: A designer who says "we'll figure it out as we go" or doesn't mention documentation at all.
💬 What to Ask: "Will I receive floor plans? Elevations? A sourcing list with exact product links and pricing?"
📖 RELATED: Once you have your documentation, you'll need to make material decisions. Check out From Flat to Finished: The 5 Layers Every Kitchen Needs to Feel Complete. It walks through how to layer finishes, fixtures, and details that the best interior designers use to create cohesive spaces.
Question #2: What Do Interior Designers Do?
Understanding the Design Process and Timeline
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when learning how to hire an interior designer is not asking about process upfront. You need to know what to expect and when.
Why This Matters
A good process keeps you informed, prevents miscommunication, and ensures your project moves forward. A vague process leaves you guessing and usually disappointed.
What a Good Process Includes
Discovery call to understand your needs, style, and budget
Site visit or measurements
Concept presentation
Revision rounds
Final design delivery with all documentation
Installation coordination
💬 What to Ask: "When will I see my first presentation? How many revision rounds do I get? What happens if I don't love the direction?"
🚩 Red Flags: No clear timeline, vague answers, or promises of unrealistic turnarounds.
DESIGN TIP:
What interior designers do matters less than how they do it. The best interior designers walk you through their process during your first conversation. If they can't clearly explain how they work, they probably don't have a system.
Question #3: What If Something Goes Wrong?
What the Best Interior Designers Do When Problems Arise
This is the question that separates the best interior designers from the ones who disappear after they send you a pretty PDF. Things go wrong on every project. The question isn't if something will go wrong… it's who handles it when it does.
Why This Matters
If your designer's role ends at "here's your design, good luck," you're on your own when problems pop up. And trust me, they will.
What a Good Designer Does
Coordinates with vendors to resolve issues
Handles returns or replacements
Communicates proactively if there's a delay
Steps in if there's an installation issue
🚩 Red Flags: "That's not my problem" or vague answers about what happens after design delivery.
💬 What to Ask: "What happens if something arrives damaged? Who coordinates with the installer if there's an issue? What's your role after I receive the design?"
📖 RELATED: If you're also working on a kitchen renovation on a budget, don't miss Kitchen Cabinet Renovation: 5 Must-Ask Questions for Your Cabinet Maker. The same vetting principles apply.
Question #4: Are You Available to Take On My Project Right Now?
Best Interior Designers Know Their Limits: Ask About Availability
You can find the best interior designers in the world, but if they're overbooked, your project will sit on the back burner for months.
Why This Matters
Designers who are juggling too many projects can't give you the attention your renovation deserves. You'll end up with delayed presentations, slow responses, and a timeline that keeps stretching.
💬 What to Ask: "How many active projects do you have right now? What's your current timeline for new clients? When would you realistically be able to start my project?"
🚩 Red Flags: Vague answers about availability, overpromising quick turnarounds, reluctance to discuss workload.
✅ Green Flags: Honest about their capacity, clear about when they can start, willing to refer you elsewhere if they're not available.
DESIGN TIP:
It's better to wait for the right designer than to hire someone who's too busy to do the job well.
Question #5: What's the Realistic Timeline for My Project?
Understanding How Long This Will REALLY Take
Most homeowners want their project done in two weeks. Most projects take 2-4 months (or longer). This disconnect causes more frustration than almost anything else in the design process.
Why This Matters
If you don't have realistic expectations about timeline, you'll be disappointed even if your designer is doing everything right. Understanding what affects timeline helps you plan accordingly.
What Affects Timeline
Scope of project (a powder bath is faster than a full kitchen renovation on a budget)
Custom vs. stock items (custom cabinetry takes 12-16 weeks)
Lead times (some materials are backordered for months)
Revision rounds (the more you change, the longer it takes)
💬 What to Ask: "Based on my scope, what's a realistic timeline from start to finish? What could delay the project?"
Managing Expectations: Quality takes time. The best interior designers won't rush your project just to meet an arbitrary deadline. They'll give you an honest timeline upfront.
DESIGN TIP:
If a designer promises an impossibly fast turnaround, they're either cutting corners or overpromising. Neither is good.
Question #6: Do the Vibes Feel Right?
How to Hire an Interior Designer: Trust Your Instincts
You can ask all the right questions and get all the right answers, but if your gut is telling you something's off, listen to it. You'll be working closely with this person for months. Trust matters.
Why This Matters
A designer who makes you feel unheard, dismissed, or anxious is not the right fit, no matter how gorgeous their portfolio looks.
💬 What to Ask Yourself: "Do I feel good about this person? Do they listen? Do I trust them with my home?"
Red Flags When Hiring an Interior Designer
🚩 No contract or vague contract terms
🚩 Unclear pricing (won't provide a detailed estimate)
🚩 No portfolio of completed projects (just mood boards)
🚩 Poor communication (slow to respond, vague answers)
🚩 Pressures you to sign quickly
🚩 Doesn't ask about your lifestyle, needs, or budget
🚩 Can't provide references or past client reviews
Green Flags: Signs You've Found the Best Interior Designers
✅ Clear, organized process
✅ Detailed contract with scope, timeline, and pricing
✅ Portfolio of real projects (not just renderings)
✅ Asks thoughtful questions about how you live
✅ Communicates proactively
✅ Provides documentation (floor plans, elevations, sourcing lists)
✅ Has availability that matches your timeline
Wrapping It Up: How to Hire an Interior Designer with Confidence
When you ask the right questions upfront, hiring an interior designer becomes what it should be: an investment in your home, not a gamble. The best interior designers welcome these questions because they have systems in place and want you to feel confident in your decision.
Your home deserves better than a designer who wings it. And you deserve a renovation experience that feels calm, organized, and exciting. 🙌
Your Next FREE Step: Vet Your Cabinets Like You Just Vetted Your Designer
You just learned how to protect yourself from a designer who wings it. Now let's make sure your cabinets don't become the thing you regret six months in.
This free guide helps you get ahead:
✔️ The 7 most common cabinet mistakes (and how to spot them now)
✔️ What questions to ask before anything ships
⚡Grab my FREE guide→ Kitchen Renovation on a Budget: Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Kitchen Cabinets
Prevention beats regret. Always.