Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

What do interior designers do?

Interior designers do much more than pick complementary paint colors and choose matching furniture — although those tasks are important parts of the job. Unlike decorators, interior designers usually have an associate of science degree or certificate of achievement in interior design from an accredited program. They’re trained in drafting, lighting and computer aided design (CAD), and are experts in room-specific design and residential space planning. Interior designers use these skills to plan and design safe, highly functional and beautiful interior spaces, from kitchens and bathrooms to family rooms and bedrooms. They determine space requirements, work within building codes and inspection regulations, and meet accessibility standards. An interior designer’s day-to-day job includes creative and technical tasks, both of which often require great communication skills:

Creating model rooms and visuals using design software.
Researching different textiles, materials, finishes, lighting and furniture.
Hiring suppliers, vendors, and contractors.
Estimating costs and making bids on potential jobs.

How do you find a good interior designer?

For many homeowners, the difference between a good interior designer and a bad one is simply a matter of taste — but all good designers have similar skill sets. Interior designers usually have a degree or certificate in interior design, with training in design principles and lighting, drafting, and computer aided design (CAD) software. Good interior designers have strong color balancing skills and understand how different colors influence spatial perception and moods. They know the building and electrical codes in the areas where they practice, and they make sure that any contractors they hire also work to those codes. They are knowledgeable about different upholstery fabrics and draperies, stay ahead of residential design trends, and maintain their own individual creativity. Also, good interior designers have excellent space designing skills, so they can arrange a space efficiently and with ideal traffic flow. Ultimately, hiring a good interior designer means pinpointing one whose signature style is complementary to your personal style — so checking out many designers’ portfolios is a must — and whose communication methods match yours.

How do you choose an interior designer?

Choosing an interior designer is all about finding one whose signature style fits well with your tastes and who can work within your budget. To choose the right professional for your interior design project, ask yourself these five questions:

What is your signature style? Good interior designers can both describe their personal aesthetic and demonstrate their signature style through their portfolios. Make sure it appeals to you.
How will you make sure the design fits my lifestyle? Good designers understand that the interior design must improve a homeowner’s experience in their home and fit into their lifestyle; for example, a white suede sofa is a poor choice for a family with large dogs and small children.
How much do you charge? Depending on the project, an interior designer may charge an hourly rate, a flat fee or a percentage of the project’s total cost.
How will you stick to my budget? An interior designer should have a plan for staying within your budget, which includes full transparency of costs and flexibility when choosing materials and furnishings.

Because an interior design project is highly collaborative and based on hard-to-define personal preferences, it’s most important to choose a designer who communicates clearly and listens closely to you.

How much do interior designers charge?

You can hire an interior design for a job as basic as a one-room consultation or as complex as supervising the design of an entire new home, helping with space planning, choosing color palettes, and shopping for furniture, flooring and artwork. The size and scope of the job will determine how much an interior designer charges; the average national cost for an interior designer ranges from $75 to $100 or more per hour. Other cost factors include the person’s reputation — interior designers to the stars are usually more expensive — and region. Most interior designers charge an average of $100-$225 for an initial consultation, but some will charge an hourly rate, usually starting at an average of $50, for larger projects that require extensive consultations. Hourly rates may be available for smaller projects, such as redecorating a living room or staging a home for sale; for instance, shopping and consulting can cost an average of $75 to $100 per hour, while staging costs and average $95 per hour. For many homeowners, a percentage of an interior designer’s cost is recouped through the professional discounts they receive from their vendors.

Marc C.

Verified review

Gosh I was so fortunate to locate Poval. He is professional and excellent with communicating. I am an interior designer and I will defiantly call for his excellent service again.

Bernadette M.

Used thumbtack to get quotes for full service window washing, interior, exterior, screens, grates and 45+windows for the following day. Not only was their quote fair, they made themselves available for the next day and their quality was outstanding! Extremely professional, courteous and accommodating, I have recommended them to several friends already and it’s only been 1 week. As an aside, I rarely do reviews unless I feel strongly about the quality and integrity of a vendor.

Nick B.

Great service had been provided! Everything was at highly professional level in every part of the working process! 100% satisfied by the final result! Highly recommend to any who need interior designer service!

Tiffany S.

My project was a gut renovation two bed, two bath coop apartment. I had a strict $60k budget, ninety-day window and clear idea of what I wanted to do with the space. I interviewed five Interior decorators and I am thankful I followed my intuition to hire Bridgette because she was a joy to work with. She helped me plan the space, source contractors, materials and was my shoulder to cry when I felt the renovation was over whelming. My project was completed on time and most importantly very close to my original projected Budget. Bridgette’s contribution played a pivotal role in my success and I plan to work with her again because her experience, creative insight and now friendship is invaluable.

Jen S.

Maggie made the process of my interior design project go smoothly and she was so much fun to work with. Her "out-of-the-box" aesthetic brought colors, textures and styles together and made my house stand out in a way I didn't think possible. We are so happy with the end result and know we can count on Maggie next time we have a project in our home.

Michelle M.

I hired Lisa to help with design and material selection for my bathroom renovation. Lisa was absolutely terrific - very professional, extremely responsive and creative. She's got phenomenal taste and proposed ideas and solutions I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. Most importantly she was willing to work with me in a way that was very comfortable for me -- I was nervous about bringing such a small project to an interior designer -- but she was willing to consult with me as needed - which is exactly what I wanted. At the same time she brought creativity and energy to the project. She was very mindful of my budget, and proposed ways for me to save money along the way. Very professional. I would highly recommend her - can't say enough good things about her and can't wait to use her for my next project - the kitchen!!!

Jon M.

I hired Holzman Interiors about 17 years ago when I first bought my home in New Canaan, Ct. She designed and furnished it completely with an update to the existing kitchen. It seemed only logical to call her back when we were ready to do a renovation to the kitchen. We came to her showroom which was a big help. There, you could combine all your needed selections under one roof. Julie is a remarkably talented interior designer who is a joy to work with. Her design aesthetic is absolutely superb. She is dedicated, focused, responsive and a great listen and communicator. She is an excellent partner and collaborator in projects of significance and complexity. We wouldn’t recommend or want to work with anyone else!

Tobi W.

I'm a fellow interior designer and Ivan, of Peacock Home & Garden Designs, helped me install a holiday window display at the Summit Rug showroom. It was sush a pleasure to work with him. He treated my project as though it were his own, he went above and beyond the call of duty in numerous ways, and his contractor skills came in handy with the --physics-- of the installation. We had to suspend the chairs in mid air, and the ideas he brought to the table left me confident that the chairs would successfully ski down the rug hill. My overall experience was that I had worked with Ivan dozens of times before. But, it was our first time working together. Definately will not be the last.

Aliza F.

Hinda's professionalism and creativity really helped my projects along. I always thought that interior designers were meant for large and expensive renovations. Hinda showed me how valuable using a designer can be for smaller projects as well. She saved me hundreds of dollars on upholstery fabric and gave me new perspective on the set up of my living room. Hinda was also very helpful in a bathroom renovation. Highly recommended!

Eddie S.

Loved working with Tanya she knows her stuff. She literally handled everything from A-Z. We checked in from time to time but otherwise we let her do thing. Her portfolio is impressive, my wife always contacted her in the evening, and she always picked up our calls and answered any questions. If you are looking to use an honest designer with good experience at an affordable rate then give her call. I am glad we did.

Anne M.

Karen is a fantastic interior decorator and real estate stager. She has a fantastic eye for style and design and always makes each space look lovely. Ironically, many of her clients have decided to stay in their spaces after Karen has staged their homes.

Elana R.

Charles Interior is designing for us now. I love Shiras ideas and how she is mindful of my budget- doing extra research to get amazing items! Her designs are artistic, fresh, tranquil and funtional!

Katie T.

I cannot sing enough praises about this dynamic design duo! I have been working with Tim and Stuart for several years now, and have had the great pleasure of completing numerous projects together. Regardless of the scope of work, seemingly impossible deadlines, or high profile purchaser, I know without a shred of doubt my clients will be in the best of hands. I recently worked on converting a massive grocery warehouse into 335 apartments along the Brooklyn Waterfront, and Warner York was able to provide interior design help to several of my buyers. Each was handled with the upmost professionalism, and their homes were tailored perfectly to fit their personalities. Each unique and handled with the upmost care. I always look forward to collaborating with this team and hold them in the upmost regard, they consistently go above and beyond. You will not be disappointed when you enlist for their services!

Aliu O.

Amand is absolutely amazing. She has come up with an easy to understand system to help you (re)design your space while keeping it completely affordable. That is important since the other interior designers I consulted with were charging insane rates. She works very close with you to find the right touch that works for you and understand your needs. Even after finishing all her responsibilities for my apartment she stayed available for and responded promptly to any questions I had.

Markos H.

Needing someone to design the renovation of my apartment, I turned to Lorenzo Cota Creative. I was extremely impressed by Lorenzo's level of professionalism, his responsiveness, his ability to solve issues as they arose, and, most of all, I was and remain excited by the final result. Paying attention to my needs as well as my budget, he offered multiple choices and delivered a beautiful, modern, and elegant design for my space. I would recommend working with him without any reservations.

Kurt O.

I worked with Rayonne Vosough on several interior projects at Bloomingdales. She was organized and and had to juggle several projects at the same time with corporate executives and contractors. Rayonne thought of new and innovative ideas for installations while meeting deadlines. She remained calm and focused as bumps in the road occurred with offering solutions.

Ferdie P.

Belen Moreno has an impressive gift for design, both beautiful and practical. She quickly identified what was needed to make my spaces more open, inviting and elegant by making several changes, both small and substantial in scale. She implemented a list of terrific ideas that will continue to transform my home into the future. She knows how to communicate effectively by asking the right questions and listening, giving thoughtful and practical suggestions and insight where needed. She is professional and easy to talk to. Not many people can work with your existing furnishings, art and accessories and still incorporate just the right new ones, but Belen can and did in our case. She really respected our budget too, which is rare. I would highly recommend her or her firm to anyone wanting to improve the appearance, feel and function of their home environment and also improve the value of their living experience. Virus-free. www.avast.com

Diana C.

Meryl has an amazing sense for design, color and space. I live in Santa Barbara, and have started re-working the interior spaces in my home of 32 years. Meryl came in with fresh ideas that I never would have though of and helped me with choosing the right furniture, the right color palate, picking the best lighting and helping with freshening the look of living in the same space for 32 years. Meryl pays great attention to detail and knows how to create lovely spaces that enhance the beauty of your home. Her experience in the field and her knowledge of what is out there, really helped streamline our project. I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking for a fabulous Interior Designer.

Rutherford, NJ1612 Interior Designers near you

Answer a few questions

Get quotes

Hire the right pro

Rutherford Interior Designers

Marc C.

Bernadette M.

Arnaud L.

Nick B.

Tiffany S.

Jen S.

Michelle M.

Jon M.

Tobi W.

Aliza F.

Eddie S.

Anne M.

Elana R.

Katie T.

Aliu O.

Markos H.

Kurt O.

Ferdie P.

Nimi K.

Diana C.

Amadou B.

What do interior designers do?

How do you find a good interior designer?

How do you choose an interior designer?

How much do interior designers charge?

Actual Requests

See other requests for interior designers in Rutherford

“Need an Interior Designer & Decorator to Redesign Room and Reflect a 12-Year Old Girl”

“Need an Interior Designer”

“Need an Interior Designer for a Full Home Design”

Related cost information

Trending in Rutherford

You might also like

In other nearby areas