If your idea of interior design is remembering to cut the tags off your pillows or draping that end table with a piece of fabric to disguise its secret identity as a milk crate, you're not alone. Very few of us, it seems, have been blessed with an "eye" for home décor. Sometimes, of course, our lack of finances limits our capabilities. Perhaps the most tragic scenario of all, however, is when homeowners have the necessary resources to afford beautiful furnishings and accessories and take it upon themselves to decorate their homes with reckless abandon.

The results can be disastrous. While taking risks can be fun and on occasion even successful, a fuschia fake-fur rug or red and gold fuzzy wallpaper (which covered the walls of my childhood home) should be punishable by arrest - especially when you consider that homeowners with disposable income could hire a designer and enjoy far more effective results.

But how do you select a designer? Take the case of a Dallas couple preparing to move into a new home they'd just built. They selected a designer, who was an acquaintance. The couple and their designer discussed likes and dislikes, and the designer set to work to find fabrics and furniture that fit within those parameters ... or so they thought. The designer came back one week later and presented a plan that was in fact consistent with the couple's dislikes. At that point, the couple informed their designer that they'd made other plans, but of course, the still owed the designer a substantial amount of money for the time he'd spent on their account, albeit wasted time.

So how do you find yourself a designer who will carefully listen to your preferences and create a plan that works within those parameters, not to mention your budget? First, check with your local furniture store or home décor center. Many of them have interior decorators on staff, and their services (ranging on average from about $50 to $150 per hour) usually come more cheaply than those of an independent designer, whose services can run you anywhere from $200 to $300 per hour.

Of course, if a friend has recommended an independent designer, and you've seen their work and want to capture the same look in your home, it may be worth your while to bite the bullet and pay the independent designer's higher fee. If you opt for a cheaper designer with whom you're not familiar, you could waste hundreds of dollars if he or she doesn't live up to your expectations.

Regardless of whether you're satisfied with the designer's work, you'll have to pay his or her hourly rate. Plan to "comparison shop" before you make a selection. Interview a series of designers, ask to see examples of their work and request a list of references. Don't make instant judgments based on hourly rates. The true test should be based on references and the quality of the designer's work.

While interviewing prospective designers, ask them the following questions:

Published: August 30, 2000

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