What do you do if your interior design clients have conflicting style preferences?

One time at work, I encountered a couple with drastically different tastes: one loved the minimalistic elegance of modern design, while the other was drawn to the ornate richness of traditional Indian interiors. Listening intently to their individual preferences, I realised that beyond their stylistic differences, they valued comfort and personal space. This understanding was crucial in creating a design that respected their unique tastes and made them feel at home together.

El cliente sabe lo que quiere, pero generalmente no cómo lo quiere. Por esa razón nos llaman, para hacer más sencillo ese trabajo y llevarlo a la realidad. Podemos mostrar ejemplos de buen diseño, pero puede que estos no sean del agrado de nuestros clientes. Lo importante es saber escuchar y resaltar los puntos correctos sobre la idea global que nos comuniquen. De esta manera generaremos confianza y trazaremos un camino común hacia el diseño final.

In my experience, even the most divergent styles have some common ground. For instance, I worked with a client couple who loved vibrant colours and eclectic decor, and the other preferred a more subdued, Scandinavian look. Through discussions, I discovered they both appreciated natural light and plants. This became our common ground, enabling me to design a cohesive and balanced space, blending their preferences around this shared love.

Una vez tengamos una idea de qué busca nuestro cliente, es necesario saber entregar una gama de caminos que este pueda tomar. Es importante nutrirnos en distintas áreas y estilos, para poder ser capaces de mostrar estas diferentes opciones a cada cliente. Una vez indicada una cierta tendencia, podemos explorar la opción elegida y comenzar a aportar nuestro conocimiento y preferencias.

While working for the past 20 years as an Interior Designer, I have found that compromise doesn't mean sacrificing personal style. It's about finding ways to honour both clients' preferences. In a memorable project, one partner's love for vintage pieces clashed with the other's penchant for sleek, modern furniture. By selecting modern pieces that paid homage to retro designs, I crafted a space that delighted them both, proving that thoughtful compromise can lead to unexpectedly harmonious outcomes.

Creating harmony among conflicting styles often requires thinking outside the box. On one project, I was tasked with blending industrial and rustic aesthetics. By focusing on the underlying principles of both styles, such as a love for raw, natural materials, I could design a space where metal fixtures and wooden elements complement each other, creating a unified, inviting atmosphere.

Visuals are a game-changer. Presenting a 3D rendering of a space where an Art Deco chandelier illuminated a sleek, modern dining table helped my clients see the beauty in blending their distinct styles. These visuals can bridge the gap between imagination and reality, assisting clients to understand how diverse elements can coexist beautifully.

In my experience, most clients with conflicting style preferences are unsure of what they want their space to look like. There the designer has to step in and be the guiding light. Playing diplomatically, make 2 options of what the client asks you to create and another as your suggestion. Taking the essential elements from the client's brief, and preparing an option solely on how the designer feels would help the client decide to finalize the design and proceed further. There would be disagreements, be open to the client's wants and with patience move forward in making the client understand what you offer as a designer.

Diplomacy is key. In situations where preferences clash, it's essential to navigate with empathy and assertiveness. Once, when mediating between a client who loved bold, statement pieces and another who preferred a more minimalist approach, I emphasised the importance of creating a space that felt like home to them both. Through patient dialogue, we found solutions that delighted everyone, underscoring the value of empathy in design.

El cliente es quien hace el llamado para satisfacer sus necesidades. Nuestra labor es acompañarlo para que estas sean resueltas de manera óptima. Personalmente al diseñar considero que cada obra pudiera ser para mí, aportando el cariño y esfuerzo necesario. Pero por otro lado debemos entender que el usuario tiene preferencias diferentes a las nuestras y será él finalmente quien ocupe el espacio. Siempre sugiero a mis clientes que utilicen ciertos materiales o elementos, para ejercer alguna actividad en particular de la mejor manera posible, haciendo entender los puntos de vista del diseño desde otra perspectiva.

In my experience, women are always the winners in this conflict combination and I’ve learned practically to make a mix out of both ideas without them realising this. That was always a win for me, because in the end, before being realistic and focussing more on both husband’s and wife’s vision, I was the one losing first ( time, energy, bad decisions on their side). So diplomacy or not, my winning phrase is always “ yes, I completely understand you both and I will make sure we get a great combo of both your visions, but the way you paid me to do it”.

I’ve found that when I am viewing conflict with an open mind and being open to a new perspective I am allowing a huge catalyst for change to begin not only for me, but for the clients as well it is always for a positive and new chapter in their lives that is a fresh and exciting opportunity.