Every project starts with clarity – and understanding the 6 things you need to know before choosing an interior designer can shape not just the result, but the experience itself. Interior designer Jake Arnold distils hard-earned knowledge from years of high-end residential design into practical insights for homeowners. This is an honest look behind the scenes – highlighting both the emotional and logistical realities of the design process. At the top of the list is alignment. Finding a designer whose aesthetic and values resonate on a personal level lays the groundwork for success.
Whether it’s referencing a favourite hotel or compiling images that reflect your taste, establishing a clear vision is essential. Clients are encouraged to dig deeper than portfolios – to ask what atmosphere the spaces evoke and how that aligns with their own lifestyle.
Communication is another cornerstone. Among the 6 things you need to know before choosing an interior designer, the ability to speak candidly and address potential discomfort is key. Arnold stresses that projects involve collaboration across many personalities – from architects to contractors – and that openness and honesty create smoother, more successful outcomes. Miscommunication, especially around budget or expectations, is the most common pitfall.
Time is the third truth. Projects of quality take years, not months, and having realistic timelines from the outset is crucial. Patience, flexibility and a willingness to sit with decisions are non-negotiable. Rushing often leads to regret – and as Arnold notes, it’s better to take time than to redo costly elements later. Embracing the process ensures longevity in the final outcome.
Then comes budget clarity. One of the most overlooked of the 6 things you need to know before choosing an interior designer is understanding the true cost of execution. High-quality work reflects the investment made. Designers should be transparent about cost per square foot and the realities behind aspirational images. Without this alignment, even the best-designed space can fall short of expectations.
Finally, presence matters. Physical interaction with the site – walking through, adjusting plans in real time, responding to scale and materiality – unlocks intuition that drawings alone can’t reveal. For Arnold, it’s often the in-person tweaks that make a project feel layered and lived-in. Design, ultimately, is about emotion, experience and trust.
These 6 things you need to know before choosing an interior designer are more than a checklist – they’re a mindset. Jake Arnold offers an approach where creativity meets communication, where challenges are reframed as opportunities, and where clarity enables beauty to emerge. His advice doesn’t just guide clients toward better outcomes – it reframes the process itself as something to be embraced. For anyone embarking on a design journey, learning the 6 things you need to know before choosing an interior designer can be the difference between a project that overwhelms and one that truly inspires.
0:19 – No.1 Gather Inspiration and Collate Ideas
1:35 – No.2 Research Whose style Resonates with You
2:57 – No.3 Be Flexible with Process
3:59 – No.4 Be Active and Flexible
4:29 – No.5 Decide on a Comfortable Budget
5:24 – No.6 Maintain Clear Communication
For more from The Local Project:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thelocalproject/
Website – https://thelocalproject.com.au/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-local-project-publication/
Print Publication – https://thelocalproject.com.au/publication/
Hardcover Book – https://thelocalproject.com.au/book/
The Local Project Marketplace – https://thelocalproject.com.au/marketplace/
For more from The Local Production:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thelocalproduction_/
Website – https://thelocalproduction.com.au/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelocalproduction/
To subscribe to The Local Project’s tri-annual print publication see here – https://thelocalproject.com.au/subscribe/
Photography by Simon Upton and Yoshihiro Makino.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Los Angeles, California, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
#InteriorDesign #DesignMasterclass #Home
