I was reading January's Architectural Digest this morning and this article was very interesting so I'm quoting what I read.......
We asked top designers “What’s the biggest mistake clients make?”
Read what they had to say.
The first one is that they don’t hire a designer! The second mistake would be “one-stop shopping.” Purchasing everything from one place is never a good thing to do—rooms end up looking like a page from a catalog. — Roderick N. Shade
Asking to have a design concept that is not appropriate for the architecture of the space and their lifestyle. — John Barman
Not engaging a decorator before completing their house plans with their architect. — Craig M. Wright
Not being honest about how much they want to spend; not telling the designer the true amount. — Carleton Varney
Scale, scale, scale...and asking their mother-in-law or friends. [They] aren’t your best friends after all because they don’t think about what is best for you, but they know what they would like and chances are you will not like their choices! — Mario Buatta
A scattergun approach to a project. There is nothing more depressing than having a sheaf of cuttings presented to you which are in no way related to each other or appropriate to the project in hand. — Graham Viney
Homes and rooms [that] are cluttered—most clients do not edit. — William Hodgins
Clients who want to build a Tuscan villa on a Cape Cod landscape. Also, clients who want everything done overnight. They would be better served living with the essentials and letting the space evolve. — Karin Blake
Trust is key to the successful outcome of any design project. A designer should be hired only if the rapport between client and designer is a good one. Choosing a designer based solely on a fee schedule is a big mistake. — Scott Snyder
I don’t let my clients make mistakes. Mistakes
are costly. — Marjorie Shushan
Having a lack of or poor communication with the designer. [Also] having an unrealistic budget. — Charles Allem
Bringing along too much of the past. — Mimi London
Not trusting themselves to know what they don’t like. Nobody should ever be talked into something that they find distasteful. — Alexa Hampton
To not have confidence in their designers and to doubt them. Sometimes clients choose a designer based on their social appeal notwithstanding their personal inclination—that is very silly. It would be the same as to buy a garment because it is fashionable and not because it fits you! A very wasteful and costly mistake. — Robert Couterier
Trying to second-guess themselves. If you like something, go with your gut. — Mark Boone
One shouldn’t try to include everything they ever liked into one house or apartment: the point of view gets confusing and often creates uncomfortable intersections. — Mariette Himes Gomez
Going for what is safe instead of taking risks. Sometimes the most remarkable interiors are the ones that have been created totally from the imagination. Great leaps of faith are required and the rewards can be very exciting. This is why creating interiors for a client that I have worked with before is usually the most satisfying. The element of trust increases between client and designer with each project. — Thomas Pheasant
As you can see from this article, hiring the right decorator/designer is very important. You want someone that is very in tune to your needs and someone who wants to make your home what YOU want. Your decorator can guide you along the process helping you make wise decisions during your remodeling/updating project. It will be the best money spent!