Over my many years of design I have been asked many questions. One in particular always pops up. How to hire an Interior Designer and what you should know.

See to it that you use the 5 questions presented in this article to help you make an informed decision.

– Do you feel inadequate when it comes to home decorating?

– Have you made home purchases but they are still in the closet or garage because you don't know what to do with them or where to put anything?

– Are you too busy with work and family and can't find the time for home projects?

– Are you at odds with a spouse, roommate or someone else when it comes to the way you want to decorate?

– Are you unsure of how to decorate your space in a way that makes your feel comfortable?

Your answers to the questions will help you determine if you should take on the assistance of an Interior Designer. The services of a designer will help you immensely.

One of the biggest reasons to hiring the consultation services of a Designer is that they have the expertise to turn your vision of comfort and beauty into a living reality. This could mean buying the wrong furniture or choosing the wrong paint colors. Mistakes can be costly! Interior Designers are experts in their field just like plumbers or electricians. Each has a particular set of trade skills they have learned through education and experience.

Of course not all Interior Designers are alike each one is uniquely qualified in my opinion, but if you ask five Designers to design an interior space, you will get five different design concepts.

So how do you hire the right Interior Designer? First ask friends or family. Word of mouth is great advertising for any Designer. Perhaps a co-worker has had good experience with a Designer.

A good characteristic to look for in a Designer is confidence in his or her abilities. Also a Designer should respect YOU as a Client and listen to your desires and needs for your design project.

Many Designers will advertise their services on the internet. Some will offer free consultations, which is an informal meeting to get to know your Designer, as your Designer will want to meet and get to know you.

State clearly your likes and dislikes, your ideas and your desires to your Designer so that he or she can design exactly what you want. Even if you are unsure about your personal design style, an Interior Designer's expertise will know how to put it all together for you.

A good Designer will feel what you feel and understand your true desires it is not about how long a Designer has been practicing, but about being on the "same page" or connecting with your Designer.

Your Designer should connect with you. This "synergy" should exist between Designer and Client. Personalities do matter.

Interior Designers are also valuable because they have a variety of special vendors at their fingertips that can help get the job done. They know the "Who's Who" in the industry, who to go to, and more importantly, who not to go to. The consumer does not have this in-depth knowledge, so therefore this is invaluable.

You can ask for referrals from your Designer, although not all Designers are willing to give that information out. It's a privacy issue and most clients won't allow the Designer to give out their information.

You can ask your Designer what types of projects they have completed and if they are experts in home or office design, residential or commercial. Prices will vary so don't think you can't afford one. Even if you are on a budget, many Designers will work for you. Most charge by the hour and it can range from $50 to $300 an hour and upward depending on the design project.