14 Ways you can Help your Architect Help You

Are you the kind of person that knows exactly what they want in their head but finds it difficult to convey it to anyone else? You’re going to have to try to put this aside with your architect.

Your architect will do everything they can to make your dream home a reality, but you need to work with them to get the best results. I’ve put together 14 things you can do to help your architect to help you – they’re simple, easy, and quite fun to do.

Invite them into your home

Invite your architect over so they can see what your current house looks like. It will give them inspiration to come up with a design that fits your needs and personality.

Tell your architect about yourself

400x400-arcitect-8 You don’t have to sit down with them and tell your architect about every life event since you started school, but it will help if they have an idea of what you’re like so they can come up with an a design that suits you. Do you like cosy nooks to read books in? Care about energy saving? Tell them so they can work this into their plan.

Define their role

Define your architect’s role from the very beginning so they know what you’re expecting them to do. Then ensure they know what the upper end of your budget is so they don’t go over. It’s also a good idea to tell them whether you’re expecting to brief the builder or whether you’d like them to do it.

Don’t rush

This is an important one – even though it’s completely normal to be excited about your project, you need to try to enjoy the process. If you take your time, you’ll feel more in control and will be much happier with the results.

Collect pictures

Collect images and put them into a scrapbook or moodboard for your architect. This will give the architect a good idea about what you like and dislike. A great way to share your ideas is to create a Pinterest board and share it with them to give them access to your ideas wherever they are.

Write lists

Write lists alongside your moodboards and images. Describe what you’re looking for and what is top priority. The more direction you can give the architect, the better the results will be.

Let them know your routine

Elements of your routine might affect your architect’s design. For example, my family of 6 needs 2 bathrooms to ensure everyone gets out of the house on time in the mornings.

Think about mood

What moods do you want to create in your home? Do you like light spaces in rooms you use in the morning but warm, cosy areas for getting ready for bed in the evening? Make sure you tell the architect what you want, otherwise they might assume you want everything the same all the way through the house.

Communication is key

Show your architect respect, even when you’re clashing on design ideas. Be patient with them when you’re trying to get in touch – they will be busy. But do keep in contact throughout the project, whether it be on the phone, by email or in person.

Tell them your storage needs

bedroom storage to tell architect
Image via Pinterest

If you’re a secret stasher, tell your architect how much storage you’re going to need in bedrooms and living areas. They can come up with solutions that will maximise your space and hide the fact you have 10 pairs of shoes in the exact same colour.




Let them meet the family

Let the architect meet everyone, so they know how the design needs to work for each person. And if you’re planning on having children in the future, you might want to tell them so they can factor this in.

Introduce them to the pets

I’m being serious. Pet owners have different needs to those without them, so your architect could do with knowing how their design needs to fit in with your furry friends.

Try to be specific

Make sure you communicate to your architect about all the small details as well as the larger things. The last thing you want to happen is to end up with something you weren’t expecting.

Keep them with you, if you can

If your budget stretches this far, keep your architect with you. If they’re with you all the way through, they can step in if something goes wrong and you won’t feel like you’re on your own.

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Emily Rivers

Emily Rivers is a writer for Homes to Inspire and Quotatis' network of sites. She's passionate about home decor and loves sharing her finds in the latest trends in home design.

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