Interior designers can save you money, time, and effort because their knowledge, expertise, and guidance can help prevent costly mistakes. They know how to work with architects and contractors and they supervise your project to completion, smoothly and on time. Also they can help you define and enhance your own distinctive style and because they are trained to make the most of available spaces and do create the traffic patterns and furniture arrangements that make daily living functional, safe, comfortable and easy.

• Collect clippings from magazines and photos of items and designs that appeal to you.
• Know what colors, style and effects you like.
• Know what you want to accomplish, what the room or house should do for you when finished.
• Should it be designed formally or casual, traditional or contemporary style?
• Know your objective and lifestyle needs.
• Establish a time frame in which you would like the work to be accomplished.

For a new (empty) house or condominium you should calculate about 25% of its total purchase price.

For an existing space consult with the interior designer what would be a fair budget estimate.

• Ask to see the interior designer's portfolio, but remember that the illustrations reflect other people's tastes ­ not the interior designer's, and probably not your own.
• Ask what size projects the interior designer has worked on, where, and what was the budget range.
• Ask how the established budget will be handled, and the kind of payment schedules the designer requires.
• Ask about the types of services the designer can provide.
• Ask for a list of references.

• Flat Design Fee: Client pays a flat fee for interior design services based on the design plan, time required, and scope of services?
• Hourly Rate: Interior designer bills a negotiated rate per hour.
• Cost Plus Method: Interior designers charge a set percentage on all merchandise purchased and tradesmen's services rendered.
• Mixed Method: Client pays both a set percentage on purchases and a base design fee for hourly rate.
• Per square foot: This method is used especially in new construction.

• Collect clippings from magazines and photos of items and designs that appeal to you.
• Know what colors, style and effects you like.
• Know what you want to accomplish, what the room or house should do for you when finished.
• Should it be designed formally or casual, traditional or contemporary style?
• Know your objective and lifestyle needs.
• Establish a time frame in which you would like the work to be accomplished.

A Certified Interior Designer is a competent design professional who is qualified to design, prepare, and submit any type of nonstructural, non seismic interior construction plans and specifications to local building departments. Certified Interior Designers have demonstrated through education, experience and examination their knowledge of the Uniform Building Code as it relates to space planning, life safety, flammability and disabled access code issues.