Decorating a home involves various elements coming together at the right time and place: color palettes, fabrics, and well-placed furniture layouts. But ask any interior designer and he or she will tell you that the success of a project rests quite a bit on the client relationship.
According to the three St. Louis-area designers we interviewed, projects with positive outcomes are based on setting realistic expectations, trust, transparency, and collaboration.
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And the importance of that first client conversation or meeting tends to set the tone for the relationship.
“For me, it’s such a personal experience designing somebody’s home,” says Jessie Miller of JDM Interior Design. “Chemistry is probably the biggest factor that goes into deciding if we’re going to be a good fit.”
It makes a world of difference when clients show up informed to a first meeting. “When someone comes to us having done their research, it’s really critical. They’ve looked at our website. They come to us with questions,” says Michael Wyrock of Nistenhaus Design. “Somebody who is prepared makes a good client.”
Setting expectations early on is an essential part of the process. Not only is that initial conversation about figuring out how and if you’ll get along, it’s about laying the groundwork for a smooth journey together.
“I think setting realistic expectations is important,” says Megan Temple, a local interior designer and the owner of Megan Temple Design. “Sometimes clients get excited and focus on the fun parts, not the fine print. Being upfront about expectations and timelines is very helpful.”
Still, the process should be enjoyable. While it can–and will likely be stressful at times–being a “good client” is all about working together to achieve the desired result.
“Our intent is for the process to be fun and as smooth as possible for everybody. Trusting your designer and understanding that it’s a partnership is really important,” adds Temple. “Taking a step back and allowing the designer to take the lead and control the process really makes things a great experience for everybody.”
With trust comes success, adds Temple. After all, the point of hiring a professional is to let them do what they do best.
“Trust the process, trust your designer, and in the end we always end up back on that mountaintop, happy and excited, with a home that’s beautiful and functioning the way it needs to,” she says
But with that trust comes taking a step back.
“It’s incredibly important for clients to allow me access to their home unsupervised throughout the design process, so I can be alone in the space and have ideas come to me,” says Miller.
That includes not just during the creative process, but during installations and renovations too.
“Some clients think the install might be entertaining, like HGTV,” Miller says. “Others want to watch to supervise. Neither of those are conducive to a successful project.”
Designers are professionals for a reason. Keep in mind that it’s not just anyone stepping inside the home. Miller says that considering the investment is a “luxury experience,” clients should feel comfortable taking that step back.
“Clients invest so much time and money that they owe it to themselves to have the pleasure of coming home to the reveal,” she says.
Transparency, which involves opening up about finances and opinions, is necessary to achieving a successful designer-client partnership.
“A good client is someone who’s listening to feedback, but also knows they have a responsibility to share what they’re comfortable and not comfortable with,” says Wyrock. “If a client said, ‘I don’t have enough information to know exactly, but here’s a list of everything that matters to me, and here’s a rough spending range I’m comfortable with,’ that would be incredibly helpful.”
No designer expects a client to have all the answers at the start of a project, but a willingness to share genuine thoughts goes a long way in making the process run smoothly. Holding back can often lead to resentment, which doesn’t bode well for the relationship or the project.
“Timelines can be stressful and challenging, budgets are stressful and challenging,” says Temple. “Being as transparent as possible with your designer upfront is going to eliminate a lot of those pressure points.”
That line of open communication extends to all parties. If a couple is working with the designer, it’s important they remain a united front rather than sharing separate opinions with the professional.
“When clients seem to be in alignment, when they are good listeners with each other, when they can clearly communicate, that is a huge green flag,” notes Miller. Design choices and budget go hand-in-hand and, as a result, there can’t be a separation in responsibilities. “When a couple indicates that one person is the decision-maker for aesthetics and the other is the financial point of contact, ten out of ten times that’s a failure because they’re not in alignment with the overall goal.”
Ultimately, working with an interior designer is a team effort. It means being upfront about budget, setting realistic expectations, and letting the professional take the lead without too much oversight.
As Wyrock put it, “The best clients are the ones who come to you open and receptive to ideas. The best clients are collaborative.”
