One of the questions I get asked most often as an interior designer is: “What do you do if a client has a completely different style than you?” Sometimes it’s even phrased a little more bluntly: “Do you ever have clients whose style you don’t like?” My answer is always simple—my job is not to design for myself. My job is to design for my client. Interior design is ultimately about creating a space that reflects the people who live in it, not the person designing it. Every home should feel authentic to its owner, and that authenticity is always the priority.
When I work with clients, I approach the project as a collaborative process. Clients come to me because they want guidance, expertise, and a professional eye—but that doesn’t mean their preferences disappear. If a client shows me something they love, I listen carefully and work to incorporate that into the design in a way that feels cohesive and elevated. My role is to refine and enhance their ideas, offering suggestions that align with their vision while making sure the space still feels balanced, thoughtful, and aesthetically pleasing.
Sometimes, clients are still figuring out their style when we begin. They might love a few different things that don’t quite go together yet, or they might not know the name of the style they’re drawn to. In those moments, I help guide them by identifying patterns in what they gravitate toward and introducing design directions that could bring everything together. I might say, “You seem to love these warm woods and textured fabrics—have you considered leaning into a more organic modern look?” or suggest alternative pieces that complement what they love while creating a stronger overall design story.
At the end of the day, no design style is inherently better than another. Style is personal—it’s shaped by experiences, culture, memories, and individual taste. My job isn’t to judge that expression; it’s to help bring it to life in the best way possible. The most successful projects aren’t the ones that look the most like the designer—they’re the ones that feel unmistakably like the client. And when someone walks into their finished space and says, “This feels so me,” that’s when I know the design has truly succeeded.
