Open Communication Between Client and Interior Designer

As an interior designer, having good communication skills is one of the most important assets you can possess. Even with design skills that are out of this world, not getting the client to open up and convey their ideas and desires to you makes for one unsuccessful transaction between professional and customer.

There are many areas where communication must take place between the interior designer and the client. The first area is the budget. The client has a predetermined amount of money they are willing to spend, and when he/she conveys these limitations to the designer, they must be able to complete the task within these guidelines. The designer communicates her understanding by following the client’s wishes.

The time constraint is another important area of understanding and communication. Should the client make clear to you the date they expect to have their private or commercial space finished, be it whatever reason they choose, the designer must make sure to have her tasks completed within that time frame.

With both duration and budget, it is best to openly communicate expectations among all parties involved. You will want to make sure that, say, the husband and wife are both on the same page when it comes to time and money.

Interpreting the client’s vision is by far the most important area of communication within the interior design field. It is your job to take the desires expressed to you and transform a room or place into the masterpiece that the client is expecting. There are certain things to consider, all which should be expressed by the client and/or suggested by the designer. Are there any existing pieces of artwork, knick-knacks, or furniture that should be incorporated into the design? What color palette are they most fond of? What type of traffic will be traveling through the area? Questions of this nature will get the communication flowing. Also to consider is how the client wishes for the communication between herself and the designer to work. Does the client wish to give free reign to the designer or want to be consulted about every aspect of the process? The number one way to create smooth flowing communication between the client and professional is with trust. It is a natural catalyst for open two-way expression.