How to Communicate Your Likes and Dislikes to Designers and Architects

Everyone experiences architecture and design on a daily basis, but it can become intimidating when it’s time to remodel your own space. Below are a few tips from our designers and architects that will help ensure your tastes are properly reflected in your next renovation.

Collect Images

The first step in communicating likes and dislikes for your home renovation is to collect imagery. Nowadays, you have more options than just sifting through magazines and ripping out the pages. Websites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Houzz provide easy ways to collect what you like online in a shareable format. Showing designers and architects your online collections will help them understand your tastes. Equally important, is sharing your dislikes. Creating a collection of specific images, details, furnishings, and materials that you don’t like can also help to streamline the process and avoid awkward conversations.    

Highlight Your Favorite Personal Items

If you’re attached to a piece of art, furniture, or interior design item like a wallpaper or fabric, make it known to your designers. When they know in advance, they can design spaces to specifically highlight or accommodate those objects. If you appreciate the aesthetic of something, even a piece of jewelry, your designer can use that as inspiration in your bedroom, bath, or other room. If you plan to include a special piece of furniture, particularly a large item, be sure to share that as well so the appropriate space for and around it is included in your design.  Of course, art can become the beautiful center piece of a room, but it sometimes calls for additional structural support or lighting to be at its best. Letting your designers know about these items in advance, is a wonderful way to bring your own personal style to your renovation. 

Be Vocal and Stay Engaged

From experience, we know that many homeowners tend to be reserved during the design process. Stay engaged, have an opinion, and don’t be afraid to speak up when discussing ideas with your designer. By being active in the process you will ensure that the renovation isn’t only a product of the designer or architect’s vision, but yours as well.

Be Open About Budget

People often have a “want to spend” amount and a “can spend” amount, and sometimes believe that understating their budget will be an advantage. By openly sharing your budget range, priorities, likes and dislikes, your professional designer should have all the tools necessary to piece together your dream renovation in a more streamlined manner.

A renovation should ultimately be a representation of your personal style and should improve the way that you and your family use and enjoy the new spaces. We hope that with these tips you can guide your designer and/or architect in the style direction you want.