Qualified? Make sure the interior designer is properly certified by New York State, and accredited (ASID is the main organization for Interior Designers).

Experienced? Check references and look at photographs of the designer’s recent work. Sites like cityhammer.com are a good place to start, but most designers will gladly show you their portfolios or samples of their interiors.

Under Contract? A proper relationship with an interior designer begins with a contract laying out the responsibilities of both parties and the framework for what type of budget and timeframe the project will require. The fee structure should be clearly outlined and understood, including the pricing for materials, furnishings and construction, as well as hourly rates and retainers, if necessary.

Understanding? Is the interior designer addressing your goals, concerns, hopes and wishes? Having some inspirational references like photos, magazine ads, color swatches and drawings will give your designer a jumping off point in terms of what your expectations are for the look and aesthetic you are aiming for. The more communication before the work starts, the better.

Open-Minded? Be prepared for suggestions and ideas that wouldn’t have occurred to you, the fresh perspective is one of the main reasons you hired an interior designer New York to begin!

Budgeted? Things will usually cost a bit more than what you originally expected. It’s the nature of interior design, not a rip-off. Extra time, labor or materials are often necessary to complete a project, so try to be somewhat flexible with you initial budget as long as the escalation seems reasonable.