Building a custom home is likely one of the most significant investments, both financially and emotionally, you’ll ever make. And yet, many clients don’t realize just how much of their experience will be shaped by one decision: when they bring an interior designer into the process.

Often, homeowners begin by contacting a general contractor or architect. It makes sense on paper. But in reality, that sequence can leave the most livability-minded team member – your interior designer – playing catch-up. And when we’re brought in too late, the results rarely match the full potential of what the home could have been.

Interior design shouldn’t come at the end of the project. It should shape the beginning.

Today we’ll explore when to hire an interior designer in the timeline of building a custom home why it matters.

Why Interior Design Comes First

There’s a common misconception that designers are brought in only after the architecture is finalized and the finishes are ready to be chosen. The truth is, some of the most impactful and costly decisions are made well before that point.

When interior design is part of the earliest conversations, your home begins with how you’ll actually live in it. Your needs, your daily routines, your lifestyle goals—they become the blueprint for how the home takes shape.

This includes:

How the kitchen will function based on the way you cook or entertain
How your bathroom layout can support your morning and evening routines
Where lighting, outlets, and plumbing fixtures should go – before the framing goes up
How the mudroom, pantry, or laundry is laid out to reflect your real life

These aren’t finishing touches. They’re foundational. And they affect everything that follows, from trim details to mechanical systems to how comfortable and functional your space actually feels once you move in.

A Design-Led Team is a Stronger Team

What we’ve learned after years of guiding clients through custom builds and major renovations is this: the best results come when the entire project team – your interior designer, architect, builder – is assembled from the start. That early collaboration allows everyone to work toward the same vision, with the right information at the right time.

When an interior designer leads that process, we’re often the ones who help clients find the right architect or builder. We ask the questions that ensure priorities are aligned. We advocate for both the big picture and the tiny details. We’re not just coordinating colors. We’re helping coordinate strategy.

Bringing the general contractor in when there’s already a solid direction with floor plans and curated selections helps frame early budget conversations and logistical planning. With design intent clear from the beginning, everyone is working toward the same goals. Your goals.

The Cost of Waiting Too Long

We’ve seen it too many times: a client purchases a lot, hires a builder based on a referral, and selects a stock floor plan. It’s only then do they realize the plan doesn’t suit their lifestyle, the lot’s unique features, or their desired aesthetic. Then the call comes to the designer. By then, windows may have been ordered, framing begun, and the options are limited or very costly to change.

When interior design is an afterthought:

Kitchens and bathrooms often need to be redesigned mid-project
Electrical or plumbing systems may need to be rerouted or not able to happen
Aesthetic compromises are made due to pre-selected structural elements
Budgets don’t reflect true design priorities – because the design wasn’t part of the early conversation

It’s not that those projects can’t still be beautiful. But it often means playing catch-up, reworking what’s already in motion, and trying to realign a team that wasn’t built around a shared vision from the start.

Behind the Walls: What You Can’t See Matters

Interior design designs touch more than surface-level choices. When we’re involved early, we collaborate on:

Lighting and electrical plans that support layout and furniture flow
HVAC coordination to avoid conflicts with ceiling design, recessed lighting, or cabinetry
Hidden tracks for motorized shades, flush outlets, or trim profiles that require pre-planning
Zero-transition entries, curbless showers, or custom architectural details that affect framing

We also weigh in on how the home will transition from indoors to outdoors. Whether it’s an outdoor kitchen, a louvered patio cover, or integrated lighting in the landscape, these features are best designed before the concrete is poured or slabs are set. Otherwise, you might find yourself wishing you’d run a drainage line or wondering why the outdoor ceiling heaters aren’t centered over your seating area.

These are the little things clients often don’t know to think about early on. And that’s exactly why hiring an interior designer first makes all the difference.

When to Hire an Interior Designer — And What to Expect When You Do

Now that you know the best time to hire an interior designer is at the very beginning, let’s discuss what to expect when you have that key team member in place.

An experienced interior designer does more than choose finishes. They’re your translator, your strategist, and your guide. Getting the designer involved early allows for more thoughtful decisions, more aligned budgeting, and fewer surprises down the road.

They should:

Read and develop architectural plans
Communicate with contractors and trades
Understand codes, materials, and sequencing
Listen deeply to your needs and goals – and then design around them
Respect the expertise of your architect and builder while advocating for your lifestyle and aesthetic

The goal isn’t just to create a beautiful home. It’s to create a home that functions beautifully for you.

Interior Designer Rooted in Oregon, Focused on You

At J. Myers + Associates, we work with clients throughout Oregon, across the Pacific Northwest, and beyond – helping design and build homes that reflect the way they truly want to live.

Whether you're designing a primary residence or a second home on the coast, our process begins the same way: with thoughtful questions, a clear point of view, and a commitment to getting it right from the start.

Final Thoughts

So, when is the right time to hire an interior designer? As soon as you're serious about renovating or building your custom home. Because when design leads the process, every decision that follows is more aligned, more intentional, and more in tune with the life you're building.

Next week in the Journal: I’ll share a simple guide to when (and how) to bring each professional into your custom home building journey. From concept to move-in day, we’ll map out who to hire and when, so you can feel confident about assembling the right team.

When to Hire an Interior Designer for Your Custom Home Build