How to Work with an Interior Designer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Anita de Villiers
Sep 18
3 min read

Updated: Oct 21

Thinking about working with an interior designer but not sure what to expect? Many homeowners feel excited about transforming their space but also slightly apprehensive about the process. Will you lose control of your project? How do you communicate your vision?

As an interior designer based in Surrey, I work with clients who often have these same concerns. The truth is that the best interior design projects happen when there's genuine collaboration between designer and homeowner. My role isn't to impose my style on your space, but to help you create the home you've always envisioned.

Before You Start: Getting Prepared

Before reaching out to any designer, define your goals. Are you refreshing a single room or planning a whole house renovation? Understanding your scope helps you find the right designer and get accurate quotes.

Start gathering inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram, and design magazines. Save anything that makes you feel something positive. These images will be invaluable when communicating your vision.

Consider your budget honestly. This includes both design fees and implementation costs (furniture, materials, labour). A good designer will help you maximise your budget, but they need to know what they're working with.

Finding the Right Designer

Look at designers' portfolios carefully. Do their completed projects reflect spaces where you could imagine living? Read client testimonials to understand what it's like working with them. Most importantly, trust your instincts. You'll be sharing your home, budget, and dreams with this person.

The Process: What to Expect

Initial Consultation

This is your chance to get to know each other. Your designer should ask about how you live, what's working in your current space, and what you hope to achieve. They'll also explain their process, timeline, and fees clearly.

Come prepared with your inspiration images, budget range, and any specific requirements. Don't be shy about mentioning practical needs like storage for children's toys or workspace requirements.

Design Development

We'll thoroughly assess your space, taking detailed measurements and understanding how light moves through your rooms and how spaces connect. Using professional design software, I create detailed plans and offer 3D visualisations so you can see exactly how your new space will look before making commitments.

Material Selection

Together, we'll choose everything from paint colours to furniture. I'll present carefully curated options that fit your style, budget, and practical needs. You'll never be overwhelmed with endless choices, but you'll always have input in final decisions.

Implementation

Depending on your project, this involves coordinating with tradespeople or arranging deliveries. I project manage this phase, keeping everything on track and dealing with any issues that arise.

Making It Work: Your Part in the Partnership

Be open and honest. If something doesn't feel right, speak up early. It's much easier to adjust during the design phase than after everything's been ordered.

Ask questions. If you don't understand why something has been suggested, ask. The more you understand the reasoning, the more confident you'll feel about decisions.

Trust the expertise. You've hired a professional for their knowledge. While your input is crucial, be open to suggestions that might push you slightly outside your comfort zone.

What Success Looks Like

A successful project results in more than just a beautiful space. You should feel that your home truly reflects who you are and supports how you live. Every element should have a purpose, whether functional, aesthetic, or emotional.

As one client beautifully put it: "Anita listened to what we wanted and helped us create a space that feels completely us. The whole process was so much easier than we expected, and we absolutely love the result."

Ready to Start?

Working with an interior designer should be exciting, collaborative, and rewarding. The right designer will guide you through the process while keeping your vision at the heart of every decision.

If you're considering a design project and would like to discuss how we might work together, I'd love to chat. Every great design starts with understanding your unique story and dreams for your home.

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"I had a wonderful design experience onsite and online with Anita for 4 rooms (guest bedroom, boy’s room, living room, and kitchen). Anita has such a great sense of my style, but she also elevated it with creative ideas, perfect layout, and great pieces I would have never chosen on my own. The process of design was simple, efficient, and in a timely manner. Anita took my space to the next level. I never imagined my home could look and feel so good!"

IRA VOLOVA

"When designing our new kitchen, Anita supported us every step of the way. Her collaborative approach and eye for detail meant that we now have a stylish and functional kitchen that really works for us. Nothing was too much trouble for Anita. Her strong sense of design and style has ensured that we are incredibly happy with the end result. I would highly recommend using Anita for any interior design project."

VIKTORIA TEGARD

"Anita did an amazing job at designing all of our bathrooms during our house renovation. The visuals she produced were amazing and helped us to confidently make decisions quickly. The builders and plumbers were really impressed with the level of detail on the drawings and this helped the installations run smoothly. We get so many comments from friends and family about how beautiful our bathrooms are and I can’t thank Anita enough for all her hard work. I would 100% recommend her!"

SALLY STICKLAND

"We collaborated with Anita on a visual design for the renovation/refurbishment of our apartment and the outcome surpassed all our expectations. The design was perfectly put together in detail, providing us with an effective design plan that was easy to follow and implement. Anita has the vision to create the most beautiful and stylish designs effectively and in no time. Strongly recommend her for a visual design consultation. An easy and effective design solution which can be implemented in your own time."

SOPHIA MORPHIS NIKA

"We hired the incredible Anita to help us with the interior design of our forever home. Our expectations were well understood and the appropriate recommendations were discussed. Anita interpreted our needs and taste with efficiency, creativity & sensitivity. Anita had great ideas for the spaces and came up with designs we would never have thought up by ourselves. Her communication, collaboration and design expertise made everything run smoothly. Always available to talk and meet throughout the project which virtually made the ordeal painless despite the size and complexity of the project. It was an absolute joy to work with Anita and we would most definitely recommend her."

BASIL AND MARY-ANN BILLIS

"Our collaboration with Anita De Villiers was excellent. She constructed a very detailed presentation for her vision of our showroom space, and the result was on point. She is a professional, characterised by consistency and passion for what she does."

CHARALAMBOS. K

"Anita has done a commercial project for us and she did an outstanding job for us. We are so pleased with the end result and have had so many compliments on the end result. We would definitely use Anita again without a doubt."

Sonia Varma

"I had an amazing experience working with Anita for my home renovation project. She is incredibly talented, detail-oriented, and truly understands her clients' vision. Anita transformed my kitchen living space to a stylish, functional, and unique to my taste. She was always professional, responsive, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure I was happy with the results.

Her design ideas were innovative, yet she stayed within my budget, which I greatly appreciated. From selecting the perfect color palette to choosing furniture and decor, Anita’s expertise was evident in every step of the process. I highly recommend her to anyone looking to elevate their space!"

Frank Templeton

"I had a wonderful design experience onsite and online with Anita for 4 rooms (guest bedroom, boy’s room, living room, and kitchen). Anita has such a great sense of my style, but she also elevated it with creative ideas, perfect layout, and great pieces I would have never chosen on my own. The process of design was simple, efficient, and on timely manner. Anita took my space to the next level. I never imagined my home could look and feel so good!"

Elias Efstathiou

"Anita helped us with all our bathroom designs and renovations. The whole process was made easier, from choosing the ideal layout and product to guiding our installers. We are very pleased with our new bathrooms, and we highly recommend her services."

Nese Safakli