Many clients come to us with apprehension and anxiety about hiring an interior designer. They imagine all the ways that things could go wrong and fear that they will spend lots of time and money and won’t like the outcome. The five most common fears we hear when we meet new clients are outlined below. We’ve heard them all—and we understand them. Read below and let us ease some of your anxiety…it really is a fun process!
1. “I’m afraid they’ll judge my style.”
Our only goal when visiting your home is to get a true sense of your preferences and style. We’re looking for your favorite pieces and asking questions about how you function in your space. We are never there to judge or impose our personal tastes; we are information gatherers and detectives during this phase. Curiosity—not judgment—leads the best designers.
2. “I don’t have the right words to accurately describe what I want to an interior designer.”
Don’t know the difference between a swatch and a colorway? You don’t have to! It’s okay that you’re not an interior designer—that’s our job! You aren’t required to use the same technical terms that we do. It is our job to translate what you tell us (“I like a little Anthropology front room with the nostalgia of Bridgerton, but I’m also drawn to texture and angles”) and guide you accordingly. You don’t even need to be able to define exactly what you like. We can help you figure out what you are authentically drawn to!
3. “I don’t know if I can afford professional interior design services.”
Many people are intimidated by the cost of hiring an interior designer because the fees seem unclear. It’s hard to know what to expect until you reach out and start a conversation because projects can range from a room restyle to a whole home design. A good designer will always be clear about how they bill and provide suggestions along the way to stay within your budget. We keep our fees simple. No matter who you work with on our team, you are billed one hourly rate. At the start of a project, we are able to give an estimate based on your project’s scope.
4. “I don’t know if I have the time to commit to an interior design project.”
Some people have the impression that working with an interior designer will take an insane amount of their time so they are scared to start the process. At ADJ Interiors, you can be as involved or as hands-off as you would like. We have worked with clients who are intimately involved in every step of their project, but also others who only want to make some quick decisions, get some progress updates, and to see the finished project. This means that you can be as involved as you want!
5. “I don’t want a designer to have to mediate between me and my partner.”
Not everyone in a space agrees on exactly what it should look like. While it’s good to be on the same page as the person or people with whom you are living, we understand that it is our job to listen to everyone living in the space and provide options that meet the objectives of both parties. Never be afraid to express an opinion even if it differs from your partner, or even from your designer. All voices deserve to be heard and taken into consideration.
Everything unknown has the potential to cause trepidation; often, however, the best outcomes are on the other side of fear. We have combined decades of experience in helping clients feel comfortable; ADJ designers are professionals who remain objective and creative, are transparent about fees, and communicate with you as much as you’d prefer. Our goal is to meet every client exactly where they are and leave them thrilled with the ADJ brand of personalized service. Ready to chat? We are.