Designer Dilemma

How to Hire an Interior Designer

By Lisa Marie Metzler

Has the decorating bug bitten you? Are you ready to take the home-decorating plunge? Perhaps you have a few ideas floating around but are not sure how to pull it all together. An interior designer can give you a personal consultation so you can complete the job yourself or offer a full design service. But before you start combing the yellow pages for a designer, there is one important thing you should know: Are you hiring an interior decorator or an interior designer?

According to the American Society of Interior Designers, interior designers are professionally trained in space planning, and in 18 states, they must pass a strict exam and be licensed. Comprehensive training in ergonomics; lighting quality and quantity; national, state and local codes; flame spread ratings; smoke; toxicity; and fire rating classifications and materials are just some of the extensive knowledge interior designers possess.

On the other hand, an interior decorator, by definition, works only with surface decoration, such as paint, fabric, furnishings, lighting and other materials. No license is required, so virtually any trades person, such as house painters or upholsterers, can claim the term "decorator."

Lynda Saraceni, ASID, of LGS Interior Design in Ridgefield, Conn., says the most important things to look for in a designer is education, experience, registration by the state in which the designer works and a membership in a professional organization, such as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) or International Interior Design Association (IIDA). "Because design is so personal, the client should be comfortable with the designer and confident in their abilities," Saraceni says. According to Saraceni, a good working relationship also includes honesty, attention to detail and a sense of humor.

Linda Dupie, of Fredericksburg, Va., is looking for a designer who is willing to listen to what she wants in a finished room. "I would definitely want someone who paid attention to the little details and my personal taste and input," Dupie says. "If the designer won't listen to what I want or make suggestions based on my input, then I would move on."

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