Behind the Design

Interior Design Consultation: 3 Steps to Being Fully Prepared

How to Prepare for Your Interior Design Consultation

An Interior Design consultation shouldn’t feel intimidating—it should feel exciting. I know it can be unfamiliar territory: your home isn’t yet where you want it to be, a new face is coming through your door, and your mind is buzzing with questions and details you don’t want to forget. I’ve been there too, and that’s exactly why I founded House of Savoy—to guide you through this process with clarity and ease.

If your home were already perfect, you wouldn’t need an Interior Design consultation. The beauty of where you are now is that we have the opportunity to transform your home into the space you’ve been dreaming about. You bring your questions, and I’ll bring the answers.

Here’s my simple, streamlined guide to help you feel confident and prepared before we meet.

3 Steps to Prepare for Your Interior Design Consultation

There are a few essential steps that will ensure your consultation is both productive and inspiring.

1. Plan Your Time

Set aside up to two hours for your consultation. While most projects take about an hour, larger-scale projects—such as whole-home renovations—require more time. All homeowners or decision-makers should be present so we can align on vision and direction.

At House of Savoy, consultations typically flow through three stages:

Introductions: We’ve already talked in advance of your appointment, so this is the time for typical pleasantries and settling in.
Space: We’ll walk through your home, listen to the ideas you have of your space, make observations, and offer our own design recommendations. This helps us curate your preliminary scope of work.
How we work: Once we’ve gone through your home, taking notes, we’ll sit down to discuss my design approach, how we work with clients, and what the next steps look like.

2. Make a List

Spend a few days walking through your home and jotting down notes:

What you love about each space
What you’d like to change
Ideas you’d like to see incorporated
Any questions you want to be sure to ask

If your project involves an addition, renovation, or new build, have your floor plans ready and share your contractor’s or architect’s contact information.

3. Gather Inspiration

If you do nothing else—do this. Visual inspiration is invaluable. Create a dedicated Pinterest board, save images on Houzz, or mark up your favorite magazines. Images reveal patterns and preferences you might not even realize you have.

As your designer, I can look at a handful—or hundreds—of images and identify the exact finishes, colors, patterns, and proportions you’re drawn to. This helps us establish a design direction quickly and ensures your finished home feels authentically you.