How to Prepare for Your First Design Consultation

You've decided to work with an interior designer. Maybe you're staring at a blank room that needs purpose, or maybe you're drowning in furniture that doesn't quite work together, or perhaps it is just time for a refresh, no matter the circumstance, you're ready for professional help. Here’s how to feel prepared, knowledgeable, and thrilled walking into your first consultation. 

Start Thinking About What You Love

Although you may feel drawn to a particular personal style, being able to define it and create a space you love is a much larger feat. This is the beauty behind platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook, they allow you to pull together ideas and begin developing a vision. Don't overthink it - save what makes you envious or excited.

You may find yourself drawn to rooms with lots of natural light, or you might keep screenshotting spaces with deep jewel tones. Perhaps every room you save has plants, built-in shelving, and a big comfy sectional. These patterns matter. They tell us at The Brass Beetle what resonates with you, even if you can't articulate why. Aim to collect at least 15-20 images before your meeting. These photos can, and should, span multiple angles and features, including whole rooms, hardware styles, color combinations that stopped you in your tracks, or even the way someone styled their shelves.

Get Real About Your Budget

The budget conversation, understandably, often looms with dread. However, it is essential to feel comfortable having an open conversation with your designer about a realistic budget for a project. A good designer, especially here at The Brass Beetle, is not judging your budget. We’ve worked with every number under the sun, and our job is to make your money work as hard as possible. Don't forget to factor in the designer's fee and add a buffer of 10-15% for those inevitable surprises.

The beauty of being upfront about budget is that it lets your designer be strategic from the start. They can guide you toward investing in key pieces that matter and saving on things that don't. That's the expertise you're paying for.

Measure Twice, Meet Once

Walking into a consultation with accurate measurements is like showing up to a test with a cheat sheet, except it's totally allowed and encouraged. You need to know the dimensions of your space: length, width, ceiling height, and the size and placement of windows and doors. 

Take the time to measure carefully, or if you're not confident with a tape measure, ask someone to help. These numbers help determine everything from what size sofa will fit to whether the dining table you love will leave enough space for chairs. If you can sketch out a rough floor plan, even better. It doesn't need to be architectural-level precision, just a basic layout that shows what's where. Take photos from every corner of the room as well. This allows designers to instantaneously begin visualizing and thinking realistically about your space

Document Everything

Photos are essential not just for the first consultation meeting, but throughout the design process. Take wide shots that show entire rooms, and then zoom in on details. Capture that weird corner you don't know what to do with. Photograph the furniture you're keeping. Get shots of problem areas, the window that gets harsh afternoon sun, the doorway that creates an awkward traffic pattern, the outlet situation that drives you nuts. Every detail is crucial and can impact the flow of the design. 

Natural light changes everything, so take your photos during the day, though it never hurts to show the space at night as well. If the room you're redesigning is visible from other rooms, photograph those too. The Brass Beetle understands that design doesn't happen in a vacuum, and how spaces flow together is just as important as the space itself.

Think About How You Actually Live

Forget what design magazines say you should do, how do you actually use this space? If it's a living room, do you sprawl out watching movies every night, or host dinner parties every weekend? Do you need a place to toss your keys and mail the second you walk in the door? Are you drowning in books with nowhere to put them?

Think about who uses the space and when. If you have kids, be real about how much mess you're willing to tolerate versus how much storage you need to hide it. If you work from home, where do you actually end up working, and is it serving you? These practical, everyday details matter more than any aesthetic choice. A beautiful room that doesn't work for your life isn't going to make you happy.

Write down your must-haves and deal-breakers. Be specific. Instead of "more storage," try "need space for board games, kids' art supplies, and blankets within reach of the couch." Specificity helps your designer solve your actual problems instead of guessing.

Know What's Staying and What's Going

Make a list of furniture and decor you're definitely keeping. Maybe it's a family heirloom dresser, or a couch you bought six months ago that you're not ready to part with, or a rug you genuinely love. Whatever it is, your designer needs to know what they're working with versus what pieces to begin sourcing.

Measure any kept pieces and include them in your photos. Moreover, be as transparent as possible about your flexibility. Some things might be negotiable if the design calls for it, while others are non-negotiable. That distinction helps your designer know when they have creative freedom and when they should design around existing pieces.

Consider Your Timeline

When do you want this project wrapped up? Are you hosting Thanksgiving and need the dining room done by November? Or is this a "someday would be nice" situation with no real deadline? Both are fine, but your designer needs to know.

Do not forget buffer points. Supply chains are complicated, and some products such as custom furniture, can take months to arrive. If there's any construction or renovation involved, that has its own timeline. Your designer can work with your timeline, but they also need to set realistic expectations. Better to know upfront than be disappointed later.

Walk in With an Open Mind

This might be the single most important point of preparation. You're hiring a designer because they can bring your vision to life. They understand proportion, scale, color theory, and spatial planning in ways that come from years of training and experience. Thus, when they suggest painting a wall, moving the couch, or trying a color that makes you nervous, hear them out.

You can always say no, at the end of the day your space is for you, but give yourself permission to consider possibilities you hadn't imagined.

Day of the Consultation

Show up on time with everything organized. Bring your inspiration images, budget notes, measurements, photos, furniture list, and questions. Think of this meeting as a conversation, not a presentation. The designer will ask about your lifestyle, your style preferences, your goals for the space. They'll likely take their own photos and measurements. You'll discuss the budget, timeline, and how you'll work together.

At The Brass Beetle, we want you to be as prepared and excited as possible. Feel free to reach out with inquiries or visit The Brass Beetle for more design inspirations and expert consultations.