Congratulations on your new home! I will offer my two cents based on my own limited experience.

You want to find a designer who understands that everybody’s taste is different, and wants to make your home comfortable and aesthetically pleasing to you whether it falls within their range of taste or not. This requires someone who listens carefully and is respectful of your opinion, and is not offended when you don’t agree with something they recommend.

Do a lot of research first. If you know someone who has used a designer and you love their home, ask about their experience and possibly for a referral. If Angie’s List is available in your area I highly recommend joining. It doesn’t cost that much and having the ability to read other people’s experiences before hiring someone is more than worth it, whether you are looking for a designer or a plumber. Look through the Houzz pro section for designers in your area whose projects you like. Go to designer’s websites and read about different design philosophies and look at their portfolios.

Once you have narrowed the field it’s time to interview the prospects. The interview might consist of a list of questions you want to ask or a simple, non-structured conversation to see if the two of you connect. Do not sell that connection short. Building a rapport is important and will be extremely helpful down the line if and when something doesn’t go exactly as you expected, and that almost always happens on some level. Damage control is so much easier without an adversarial relationship to further muddy the waters.

Last but not least, get a comprehensive contract that you both sign. Read it completely and make sure you understand every word. If you don’t, ask questions until you do. It’s important that both you and the designer understand where responsibilities lie before the project begins.

I hope this has been helpful. Good luck, and I hope you end up with a house you love!