☐ Make Sure You Have A Budget
Be sure you have a reasonable budget to redo the space, in a way that you would be satisfied. If you're going to pay a professional, do it right!

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☐ Create Your Inspiration Board
Create a Dream Board or Inspiration Board. This can include any clippings from magazines that make you feel happy, photographs that spark your attention, furniture wish list images, colors, quotes, anything. This list gives your designer a broad start on what you like and will help them follow your initial design direction.

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☐ List the Items that Need to Stay
Identify what you absolutely refuse to part with. If these are items in your home or space that must stay, make a list. Be sure to point them out to your designer upfront at the beginning. If they are pointed out later, they may not coordinate well with the new design scheme.

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☐ Research
Do your research. Don't rush into anything. Hiring a designer is a big deal and redoing spaces can be emotional, especially if it's your home! Take the time to scout out different designers' sites, ask for references and compare pricing. Try to go with a designer that resonates with the same design ethos you want. The better the designer understands your style, the smoother the process.

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☐ List Your Questions
Make a list of QUESTIONS. Yes. If you've been taking your time and completing these steps, it is very possible you'll find yourself ending up with some tons of designer questions. If you don't make that list, you'll likely forget and or ask weeks later. Write it down.

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☐ Let Go
Most importantly, ask yourself if you're ready to let go of the reigns. All too often, people think they're ready for a refresh, and maybe they are, but then don't want to give the newly hired designer creative control. If you're not ready, figure out what you want to retain and what you want them to fix both you and your designer, who is just trying to do what you've asked them to.