Your home is not merely a combination of four walls- it reflects your personality, dreams and lifestyle. Whether you have bought a new home, are renovating your condo or want to refresh a commercial space in Manila, you must work with a skilled interior designer to make a difference. But as the city comprises many talented professionals, choosing the best interior designer in manila that can meet your demand is a challenging task.
Today, this blog will talk about everything you need to know about choosing the best interior designer in Manila. So, let’s begin.
Define Your Style and Goals
Before directly starting searching, simply peep into your inner mind and know what you are looking for. Are you a minimalist, Scandinavian warmth, industrial chic or something more eclectic? Whatever is your style preference you must choose the designer accordingly whose portfolio matches with your choice.
Also, consider the project scope. Do you want to decorate a single room, your complete home or a commercial space fit-out? You should be clear in your goals to find a designer that can work as per your need.
Do Thorough Research
Go online and start looking for an interior designer in metro Manila on various platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, Houzz or local directories. Visit their websites, read Google reviews and testimonials. Reputed designers will have their own portfolios revealing their past projects and clear before and after pictures.
You can get referrals from family, friends or colleagues who have recently got this work done from any professional. Personal recommendations always give you honest feedback which you may not get online.
Review Portfolios Carefully
Each designer has its own style and signature. While checking portfolios of various designers, you must look for:
- Diversity: Can they fulfil various design style requirements of customers or they are only limited to a particular design style.
- Functionality: Do the spaces appear to be practical, not simply pretty.
- Attention to detail: Can you see the cohesiveness in the design, well planned and match with the clients’ requirements?
This is an important step as sometimes the best designer may not have much popularity- it’s the thinking style and philosophy that should match with your taste and lifestyle.
Consider Experience and Credentials
Although fresh talents can bring on the table their creativity and competitive rates, experience holders will have their networks, project management and challenge-handling skills. You must maintain a balance between reliability and budget.
Below are some questions you must ask to the service provider:
- Years of experience in the industry
- Certifications or affiliations with design bodies like Philippine Institute of Interior designers.
- Experience with similar types of work like yours.
Set a realistic budget
The interior designing rate will vary as per the service provider’s experience, material specifications and project size. Let the vendor know your budget and ask him about the complete breakdown of the fees. This breakdown must consist of consultation charges, sourcing and designing fees and project management costs.
A professional interior designer in metro Manila will help you in budget allocation to provide you value for money without compromising anywhere on quality and style.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Designer
After shortlisting some of the designers, you must be ready with your questionnaire that include:
Explain about your design process from start to finish. This will let you know about their organized and systematic way.
- Tell me about the similar projects you have handled. Experience in relevant projects is a plus point for you, especially in spaces like retail stores or condos.
- How do you charge? Is it per project, per hour or a certain percentage of overall cost? This will clarify the expenses to avoid any hidden charges.
- How much time will it take to complete the project? Designers with realistic timelines are usually reliable.
- Do you work in a team or subcontractors? Who are your subcontractors? A good network of subcontractors can make or break the execution.
- What are the charges for revision? Remaining aware about the revision charges will bring clarity in the process.
- What sets you apart from your competitors in Manila? This question will allow the vendor to highlight his strengths.
Inquire about post-project support
A reputed interior designer will never leave your hand after completion of the installation process. Some designers believe in providing complete after-project support for adjustments, repairs or style. Ask about the follow-up services, seasonal refreshes, and furniture warranty. This can be an extra advantage, especially if yours is a long-term investment in space.
Selecting the best interior designer in manila for your space is not only about picking the vendor doing good on Instagram page. You must find a trusted partner that can understand your goal, budget and strive to give reality to your dream with their skills and care.
Do your in-depth research work, and believe in your instincts. The right designer will not only beautify your space but will also enhance your comfort level every day.
