How to Choose an Interior Designer: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Sign

An interior project combines design, procurement, carpentry, electrical work and site supervision over several weeks. Choosing a designer is really choosing a project manager for all of it. These questions help you compare designers on what matters after the mood board.

Portfolio and fit

1. Can I see completed projects similar to mine in size and budget — ideally visit one or speak to the owner?
2. Which of these projects did your team design and execute, and which were design-only?
3. What style do you work in most, and how do you adapt to a client's taste?

Process and timeline

1. What are the stages from first meeting to handover, and what do I approve at each stage?
2. Will I receive 2D layouts and 3D views before production starts, and how many revisions are included?
3. What is the realistic timeline, and what usually causes delays?
4. Who supervises the site day to day, and how will you update me?

Pricing and materials

1. Is the quote itemised by unit with dimensions, materials, finishes and hardware brands?
2. Which plywood grade will be used in the kitchen and bathrooms, and which elsewhere?
3. What is excluded — civil work, appliances, loose furniture, taxes?

Payments and after-sales

1. How are payments split, and are they linked to milestones rather than dates?
2. What warranty do you offer on workmanship and on hardware, and who handles service calls after handover?

Signs of a reliable designer

• A written proposal with scope, specifications, timeline and payment schedule.
• A visible design process with drawings you sign off before production.
• Willingness to share client references and completed project photos with dates and locations.
• Clear answers about who does the carpentry — in-house teams, a factory or subcontractors.