A lot goes into pushing a home renovation or decorating project over the finish line. There are countless selections to be made, personalities to consider and unexpected “uh-oh” moments to contend with. The following professionals found wisdom in recently completed projects. See if their insights can inform your future projects.

1. Help Clients Narrow Down Choices

Designer: Allison Lind Interiors
Location: Lake Tapps, Washington

The project. Design a kitchen that would feel both classic and modern. The homeowners “wanted something that felt fresh and new, but would age over time and not feel too trendy,” says designer Allison Lind, whose clients found her by searching for pros on Houzz.

The insight.“A big lesson I learned is that there is far too much inspiration out there,” Lind says. “When the clients don’t know exactly what they want, they can easily get overwhelmed or bogged down by a million different looks and style options. These clients went from wanting a custom marble entry floor to chevron-pattern oak to travertine to an engineered wood with radiant heating. So I’ve learned to help narrow the field for clients by creating my own Houzz ideabooks filled with a finely curated group of inspiration images. Narrow it down for them while still helping them figure out exactly what they want.”

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Designer: Charla Ray Interior Design
Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon

The project. Update a 1980s bathroom, including its matching powder-blue sink, toilet and bathtub. Designer Charla Ray removed the tub to make room for a larger shower enclosed in frameless glass.

The insight.“My client really kept reiterating to me she needed me to give her three choices and three choices only,” Ray says. “She wanted to have options for each selection but not too many. This was part of a huge addition and remodel that more than doubled the home size, so there were lots of choices. That has stuck with me — more choices does not mean better service.”

2. Trust the Collaboration Process

Designer: Sandra Mahoney of Create Design Build
Location: Medina, Minnesota

The project.Designer Sandra Mahoney wanted to give this model home a transitional style that would feel like a departure from the more contemporary styles of other model homes in the area.

The insight.“Each project brings collaboration with someone that doesn’t think exactly like me,” Mahoney says. “Our brains all work differently, process differently, see things differently, and we all have different things we like. That collaboration can be the most challenging, and for me, also the most rewarding.

“Collaboration gets us out of our box, and we all have one.Shared information and ideas ensure I am innovative in my approach and recommend the appropriate specifications. When we take the time to do that, we often implement features or products that would not otherwise be included, and it can dramatically impact the design and overall satisfaction.”

Designer: Gianna Marzella of Gia Mar Interiors
Location: Fresh Meadows neighborhood of Queens, New York

The project. Open up, modernize and brighten a dated, dingy bathroom.

The insight. “I learned the importance of listening to the people who are executing my vision,” designer Gianna Marzella says. “I really wanted a curbless shower where the floor continued from the main space into the shower. The contractor and tile installer simply were not comfortable doing it. Has it been achieved before? Yes. But ultimately a project is created by a team, and I realized that I have to respect the boundaries and capabilities of the people I am working with for the best outcome of the project.

“Could I have pushed them to eliminate that curb? Maybe. But if this is not in their wheelhouse and the client doesn’t feel passionate about it, should I push it and risk a waterproofing issue down the road? I decided not to. This might not sound exciting or aspirational, but a successful project usually involves some compromise. The tile installer worked hard to ensure I was happy with every other detail, because he realized that I valued his craftsmanship and professional opinion. And I can sleep knowing that shower isn’t going to leak a year down the road.”

3. Make Sure Delivered Products Match Up With Samples

Designer: Karen Ice-Burris of Ice Interior Design
Location: Austin, Texas

The project. “Overall, the bathroom was dated and needed a face-lift to make it current and functional,” designer Karen Ice-Burris says. “We removed the tub-shower combo and used the space for a sleek walk-in shower.”

The insight. “Implement opening boxes to check tile as soon as you receive it, and double-check against samples to make sure they all match up,” Ice-Burris says. “Took me a minute to unravel the mystery of why our tile was completely different but labeled the same. Our tile sample was incorrectly labeled in the showroom, and we ended up with a completely different tile delivered to the job site.If I had not kept our original sample and taken a picture we would have had no recourse to remedy the situation without additional cost.

“We have a great working relationship with our vendors, and they were quick to remedy the situation with expedited delivery of the correct tile at no expense to us, minus the heart attack.”

4. Understand That Personalities Change Over Time

Designers: Andy Yates of Jennifer Butler Design
Location: Ada, Michigan

The project. For this large custom-built home on a country estate, the owner wanted to have fun in the private spaces with colorful patterned wallpaper.

The insight. “This project was one of many we have completed with these clients,” designer Andy Yates says. “In this instance, a huge lesson learned was to understand their evolution as people. Even when there is a history with a client, or any partner, we must accept them for who they are now and make our best decisions for them based on that information, instead of the past or any emotional component.”

5. Always Review Drawings and Plans

Builder: Ethan Stegich of 3rd Street Custom Homes
Location: Richardson, Texas

The project. Design a laundry room with durable cabinets in a high-gloss laminate and sleek storage for dog crates.

The insight. “I think the most important thing is always reviewing the plans and reviewing the drawings for cabinets,” builder Ethan Stegich says. “The main struggle in this situation was getting the cabinets drawn perfectly to assure that the dog crates would fit and not protrude. Along with that, we had to make sure the area with the dog crates could hold the weight of the 3-centimeter quartz countertops. It’s much easier to make changes beforehand than after cabinets are installed.”