Clarify project: The type of project you're planning will affect the hiring of an interior designer or decorator. Designers have different specialties; most designers of new homes and new construction projects won't do remodel work, and vice versa.

Decorating is the purchasing and placement of furniture, fabrics and related elements of your interior design.

Space issues deal with the relationship functions of rooms, e.g., do you want your child's bedroom next to the master bedroom; which rooms do you want the kitchen next to?

Furnishing and fabrics deal with finding design elements and items that complement each other.

Resources for designer items relate to using your interior designer's own resources to assist with specialty purchases for your interior design. (This usually happens in higher-end decorating.)

Room relationships: Since each room has its own function or design requirements, the relationship between rooms is important to interior designers, many of whom may specialize or have more experience in one part of the home over others. For example, a kitchen and the rooms around it have specialized needs different from bedrooms or family rooms. If he or she knows about entries or hallways, the designer might be able to incorporate features into the design of the rooms they separate. In the case of designing an entire house, you might want to use more than one designer.

Design styles: A number of basic design styles apply to everything from furniture to interior and exterior home design.

Here are some general guidelines for design styles:

• Contemporary/modern design features sleek, unadorned cabinets, plain panel doors and hardware that's hidden or unobtrusive.
• Traditional is more formal and elegant. Raised panel cabinet doors or clear glass panels separated by thin strips of wood are often seen. Rich wood finishes or painted white wood may be accented with sparkle from brass or brass-tone hardware.
• Country features light stain or distressed-color finish, simple cabinet and door styles and unpretentious wood or ceramic knobs and handles. Southwestern style homes favor stucco or adobe exteriors and orange or red tile roofs.
• Victorian styles often reflect the romance of the 19th century with contemporary convenience. Common cabinet woods are oak or cherry and with the right color scheme, even white can be used. Many different types of hardware work, from hammered iron to antique pewter.
• Stainless steel, metal tubing, chrome and black accents are the hallmark of a high-tech designed area. Kitchens often feature an "industrial" look with sleek metallic appliances and storage cabinets. Glass block or curving transparent window glass may be set in a wall.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com