Beginner 3D interior designers want to work with everyone they possibly can. They want to grow their portfolios as well as their profits. However, after a certain period and a lot of experience, many designers learn that they shouldn’t take on all clients.

Experienced teams know, just by talking with a potential client for 5 minutes, whether they will be able to work with them. What’s even worse is the fact that we aren’t talking about project requirements. Every project can be tackled by a professional.

We are talking about clients and how they perceive interior designers. Various factors like egocentrism, lack of communication, misunderstandings, and so on can make projects very challenging and frustrating. Here are some of the things interior designers would love their clients to be aware of.

1. Having ideas doesn’t make them designers

A lot of clients will come with their own ideas. This is generally a good thing, but many of those people will act like they know it all. They believe that designers are only there to draw up what they imagined without offering any suggestions. When designers tell these kinds of clients that their ideas won’t work, they are usually ignored.

This means that designers are forced to work on projects they know are bad and they can’t even use them in their portfolio in the future. If you recognize this kind of client, try and avoid working with them. If you are really forced to work with these kinds of clients and you need the money, there is a way to approach them in a better way.

How to approach

First, make sure to avoid having long and exhausting arguments with them. This won’t do you any good. Hear their ideas out and turn them into something feasible. Simply put, try to make the project as good as possible while fulfilling their wishes.

2. They need to trust their interior designers

When patients come to the doctor’s office or visit their dentist, they don’t give them orders and tell them what to do. They trust their physicians and listen to them very carefully. In the 3D interior design business, most clients don’t have this kind of trust and they are constantly questioning designers, their decisions, suggestions, and their work overall.

Being bombarded with questions can be really exhausting and even annoying. Customers need to understand that interior designers are professionals who educated themselves. They aren’t some random people who accidentally became “designers”. Like with any service provider, customers need to have trust in their abilities and simply let them do their jobs.

How to approach

If you are stuck working with these kinds of people, you need to understand them as well. Maybe they are inexperienced and have doubts about how they will spend their money. Try to go to the source of their worries and give them reassurance if they need it. The only road to a successful design project is if clients have trust.

3. It’s ok for them not to make all the decisions

Some people feel like they are in charge of every little detail just because they are paying designers. Even though it’s their right to do so, this doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Designers have credibility and they should make decisions too, even though they are getting paid.

It’s what the customers are paying them for - to come up with better solutions, designs, furniture, fixtures, and so on. A lot of customers get into this mode where they are trying to compete with their designers and simply won’t let them catch a breath. Some of them will often ask friends for their opinions and rather go with them then let designers decide.

How to approach

Some people like to control everything by nature. It’s generally difficult to work with these people. Try to show them a better perspective. If it doesn’t work, simply do the project as they wish and try to avoid similar clients in the future.

4. Designers have lives too

This kind of issue is not related to a designer’s work only, but to many other professions. A lot of people feel that they can bother someone non-stop just because they are paying them to do something for them. Some people simply don’t have boundaries or the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes.

They are able to call at night, during weekends. They expect you to give them hours of your time. Some might even want to be there with you as you do your work. Allowing them to behave this way could lead to serious issues and make it difficult to finish a project.

How to approach

Set boundaries and stick to them. Precisely describe how you will work together, what is your schedule, and when you are available. Don’t offer any compromises; you will come off as weak.

5. Interior designers aren’t gods

A lot of designers are faced with the same issue. They come across clients who want projects finished completely in 10 days. In some situations, they even offer more money just as long as you are able to finish the project in that time period.

Some people simply don’t understand the work. They don’t know how long projects take and how many things need to be considered to get the job done properly. On the other hand, there are people who want you to revamp their space entirely while having a tight budget.

How to approach

Whenever you are faced with unrealistic clients, cut them off immediately. Tell them immediately that they are being unrealistic. Taking projects that you know can’t be finished within the budget or in time will only stress you out.

6. Their indecisiveness wastes both time and money

One of the things I’m sure every interior designer wants is clients who know what they want. There are simply too many people who contact designers but don’t know what they want to do with their space. On top of that, even when designers give them suggestions and draw up projects, they are still indecisive and can’t make a choice.

Moving forward with the project becomes impossible after some time as they are constantly postponing things, changing layouts, doing revisions, and so on. This leads to designers wasting their time and losing money as they could actually be doing projects for real clients.

How to approach

Again, being straightforward about your method of work is crucial. Explain to your clients how much time they have for a project draft, revisions, and changes. After that time, you should continue with the rest of the project. As a safety net, you can sign a contract with clients to get paid for the work you’ve done for them.

These are some of the most common issues 3D interior designers have with their clients. If you have the option, try and avoid these kinds of people. However, if you are stuck working on a project for them, stick to the approaches we suggested. That’s how your projects will be as painless as possible.