Have you recently renovated a room in your house and wish to have it professionally decorated? Are you looking to refresh your home with a new colour scheme and furnishings? Or, are you thinking of putting up your home for sale and want it to attract a larger range of buyers? When should you hire an interior designer or could an interior decorator suffice?

What is the Scope of the Project?

Redecorating your home can make a huge difference, as seen on home improvement shows that feature those popular and fun before and after makeovers. Keep in mind however, that it's not as easy as it looks, and how often is the overall cost mentioned?

If you just want to re-style your house, for example paint your walls in a new colour scheme, change your window coverings, or buy new furniture but don't know where to begin, an interior decorator would be a less expensive professional choice. Home-stagers also fall under this category. Many of them tend to be former decorators or real estate agents. Homes can be staged to improve resale value or to enhance and renew your home's appearance.

Planning to knock down some walls or have some other ideas that may change the structure of your property? For that, it may be best to go with an interior designer.

What's the Difference?

In a word it's accreditation. Although there may be courses offered from various venues to be a decorator or stager, being a registered interior designer means having a diploma from an accredited course, four years of industry work experience and passing the NCIDQ (National Council of Interior Design Qualification) certification exam. A designer has studied various aspects that you might not have even considered and can provide drawings, permits, and the like.

Decorators may have a background working with companies involved with home interiors and be experienced with various options for colour window coverings, flooring, furniture, art, etc.

Homestaging is a technique that can be used by homeowners to make their homes more attractive when they put their property on the market. Renting furniture or art, buying new accessories and ridding of clutter are some of the ways the home is made to appear newer, larger, cozier, or generally more appealing. Homes can also be staged to improve the aesthetics of the home for people don't necessarily want to renovate.

How to Find a Design Professional?

If money is no object, the easiest way to find an interior designer is to find an example of work you love, whether in magazines, on television shows, at home shows, or through acquaintances and ask for the name and contact. Many decorators and designers advertise of course, whether in the phone book, in magazines, via their own website.

Where Can I Find a registered Interior Designer?

The Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) (www.interiordesigncanada.ca) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) (www.americandesignsociety.com) have databases of registered members, which can be accessed on their respective websites. The ASID is comprised of a merging of the American Institute of Interior Designers and the National Society of Interior Designers, founders of the National Council of Interior Design and its examination.

Both the IDC and ASID affiliations require its members to have successfully completed the NCIDQ. This certification (in effect for almost forty years) serves to reflect the proficiency of meeting universal standards in the professional field and ensures that education continues to be upgraded with newly arising knowledge and skills.

What Should I Know about the Process?

Once you have found a professional you are interested in working with, set up an initial consultation where he or she will present his/her portfolio and can assess home and desired project. There may or may not be charge a - make sure to ask. If you decide you would like to hire a designer from a large firm, confirm that he or she will be the actual person doing the work - sometimes it gets passed on to a junior associate.

What You Can Prepare

Decide on a budget. This may actual make the choice easier of which professional you decide to hire. Regardless, be very upfront about what you are willing to spend. Ask for some possible spending options - budget, mid-range, high-end - so you can get an idea of the ranges.

Once you've got that set, perhaps you're thinking of just leaving everything to the expert and sitting back. However, just like getting a good hair cut, you'll want to make clear what you like and more importantly, do not like. Start by collecting pictures of both to show your designer so that he or she can better ascertain your taste. Colour and fabric swatches that you fancy are also handy. Consider whether or not you wish to keep all, or only some of your existing furniture.

Payment Structure

Another very important part of the communication process with your designer is the payment they expect and what you are comfortable with. After the initial agreement is made, typically a retainer fee will be paid. There are different ways in which designers can expect to be paid for the remainder. It can be a flat fee (a bid), by the hour, or based on a percentage on top of the purchases (cost plus); it will depend on the scope of the project. A mix of these methods might be a utilized.

Payment can be made at scheduled increments, at certain milestones, or involve deposits from time to time that cover the materials cost before the work is started. Make sure however, that everything is very clearly laid out. Outline what will be charged - phone calls, shopping excursions, consultations? Will you be paying a commission on top of the purchases or will they be obtained at a discount? Make a schedule of deposits and payments. It's always better for both parties to have everything in writing - don't feel badly about doing that despite how friendly the relationship seems.

If it ends up that you are not satisfied with your designer, have a frank talk about dissolving the contract. You are still hiring professional services and if it doesn't work out, you are entitled to find the right fit and be completely satisfied with the results. It is your home after all - and no pun intended - you do have to live with it.