3 min readInterior designers are artists. They can enter a blank space—white walls, plain wooden floors, unfortunate recessed lighting and all—and turn it into a work of, well, art. And, like artists, there are a lot of them. In any given city, there are hundreds of designers, both veterans and amateurs alike. So how do you pick the right one for you? While budget and timeline should definitely factor into your decision-making process, that’s not all there is to weigh. In fact, one major consideration that should drive your choice is how your aesthetics overlap.
Interior designers have years of practice and a myriad of projects under their belt, so they’re adept at crafting a space to suit any style, from maximalist and traditional to mid-century modern and Bauhaus. That said, just because an interior designer can do anything doesn’t mean they should—at least, not if you want their best work on display in your home. Ahead, we talked with three interior designers, each with their own distinct sense of style, to see why hiring a professional whose aesthetic pairs perfectly with yours is paramount for loving the finished product.
You’ll Score ‘No Surprise’ Results
Here’s the thing: If your style leans more neutral and minimalist, hiring a designer who specializes in something totally different is a risk, because the type of design you seek doesn’t necessarily come naturally to the designer you’re looking to enlist. “I do believe it’s incredibly important to hire a designer whose aesthetic aligns with your personal taste,” Becky Shea, principal at Becky Shea Design, says. “In many ways, it’s the best way to ensure the result feels cohesive, authentic, and ultimately becomes a space that both the client and designer are genuinely proud of.”
While a good designer probably can deliver on any style, if it’s not what they do best, it won't look the way you envisioned it during your first consultation. “While a talented designer may execute many different styles, I think the strongest work always comes from a place of natural alignment and creative fluency,” Shea adds.
You Can Push Boundaries (Slightly)
No designer wants to copy-paste their work so that every project looks the same. Talented designers prefer to figure out the styles and types of pieces that speak to them and go from there, deviating just enough so projects are fluid, but not a complete copy.
Betty Ann Gilrain, who opened her eponymous firm just three years ago, has a specific sense of style and, while she is always open to a little creative push outside of her aesthetic comfort zone, she knows that her best work will shine when the directive falls within her purview. “Sometimes, some of the best work comes from pushing a designer a little bit outside of their norm because they get asked all the time to exactly replicate their work,” Gilrain admits. “When you unlock a part of their brain that creates something new, they can draw on what they previously did that you love and make it better and personalized to you.”
You’ll Ensure Aesthetic Longevity
Anyone who hires an interior designer knows that decorating their home is about more than simply picking beautiful furniture and hanging paintings. “A home is an incredibly personal environment that shapes how people think, feel, function, recharge, connect, heal, and move through daily life,” designer Nina Lichtenstein points out.
By hiring a designer whose aesthetic matches your own, you’ll ensure that you love your home on the day of install and for the foreseeable future. “When a client hires a designer whose work they genuinely connect with, there is usually an underlying alignment in values, priorities, goals, emotional response, and overall lifestyle. That creates trust, creative flow, and a much more collaborative process,” Lichtenstein adds.
You Won’t Need Hand-Holding
When you hire a designer for their style, you can generally step back and let them work their magic. On the other hand, if you know that they’re struggling to deliver on their promise to give you what you want, you may need to micromanage them a bit, which, admittedly, is not fun for anyone. “The designer may spend more time trying to suppress their instincts rather than fully leaning into their strengths, while the client may continue feeling like something is 'off’ even if the space is technically beautiful,” Lichtenstein adds.
