We’ve just picked up the keys to an apartment, or finally set a renovation date for a house that’s been waiting far too long. The interior design project is now real and taking shape, but the first hurdle isn’t the budget or the style: it’s finding the right person to talk to and knowing what to tell them to get a useful response.
Interior decorator or interior designer: who’s right for your project?
Before looking for someone to contact, you can save time by identifying the type of work involved. A project limited to colours, textiles and furniture is the domain of an interior decorator. As soon as it involves walls, electrical systems or changing the layout of rooms, you’ll need an interior designer—or even an architect registered with the Order of Architects if a building permit is required.
In France, the title of interior decorator is not legally protected. Anyone can use it. The title of interior designer isn’t protected either, unlike that of architect, which is reserved for professionals registered with the Order. To distinguish a qualified professional from an amateur, check their training, references and the services they actually offer rather than relying on the title printed on their business card.
This distinction also affects which insurance to ask for. Decorative advice that doesn’t involve work on the building itself calls for professional liability insurance. If the professional designs or oversees structural work, decennial liability insurance is something to check before signing anything.
For a complete interior design project, you can contact Arno Déco to explain the scope of the work and get an initial response tailored to the type of work you have in mind.
Getting in touch with an interior decorator: prepare a brief that saves time
A message like “I’m looking for someone to redo my living room” tends to get vague replies. From the first conversation, an interior design professional needs specific details to assess whether they can meet your needs and how much it will cost.
What to gather before writing or calling
- The nature of the project: a decorative refresh for one room, a complete apartment renovation, a studio layout or a full-house reorganisation. The scope determines the type of service required.
- Any known technical constraints: a condominium with restrictive rules, a listed building or outdated electrical wiring. Mentioning these details avoids an extra round of questions.
- Your approximate budget: even a broad range helps the decorator tailor their proposals. Without one, the first meeting often turns into a casual chat.
- Your preferred timeline: a move-in date, a target season or simply “no rush” helps the professional assess their availability.
A well-structured five-line brief is better than a long, descriptive email. Summarise the room or property, the main challenges, your estimated budget and your timeline. The decorator can then provide an initial estimate or suggest a meeting straight away.
Check an interior design professional before committing
Directory platforms and social media make it easier to find professionals, but the sheer number of profiles creates another problem: how to narrow down the options. Online customer reviews can help, as long as you read them with a little care.
An interior decorator with a portfolio of completed projects, including before-and-after photos of work comparable to yours (the same type of property, city and service level), offers a more reliable indication of their suitability than an average five-star rating. Check whether the projects shown match your actual needs: a specialist in Parisian studio apartments won’t approach a project in the same way as someone who usually works on houses outside major cities.
What to check at the first meeting
Asking to see a valid insurance certificate isn’t impolite. It’s the basis of a healthy professional relationship, especially if work is planned. Make sure the coverage matches the services being provided.
The quote should clearly set out the scope of the work. A line that simply says “interior design advice”, without specifying the number of appointments, deliverables (mood boards, plans, shopping lists) or any site supervision, leaves room for misunderstandings.
One point that’s rarely mentioned: you have a right to cancel if the professional solicits you at home. If a professional visits your home without being invited, or the contract is signed during an initial home visit, door-to-door sales regulations provide a cooling-off period. This protects consumers from making commitments under pressure.
Contact methods and channels to use for an interior design project
The contact form on a professional’s website is still the most reliable way to make a structured first enquiry. Use it to submit the brief you prepared, along with a few photos of the space if you have them. You’ll usually receive a reply within a few business days.
A phone call is better if the project is urgent or you need to quickly clarify a technical point before moving forward. Messages on social media are useful for an initial check, but they’re no substitute for a formal exchange and a written quote.
Specialist platforms (interior decorator directories and matching services) let you compare several professionals for the same project. Submit a request and several interior decorators or designers will respond with their availability and rates. Comparing at least two or three proposals gives you a realistic picture of the market and helps you avoid committing to the first offer you receive.
The channel matters less than the quality of your first message. An interior design professional who receives a clear brief, with the constraints identified and a budget included, can respond more quickly and precisely. The project moves forward from the first exchange instead of getting stuck in a series of preliminary questions.
