Behind the Design: Why it’s Never Just “Choosing a Tile"

Welcome to my first series where I am pulling back the curtain on the world of interior design by educating on some of the unseen parts of this industry!

When people think about interior design, they often picture the fun parts of the process: selecting finishes, choosing paint colours, finding the perfect light fixture, or watching a room come together.

And honestly, those parts are fun.

But what many people don't realize is how much thought goes into each of those decisions long before a sample ever lands on a client’s table.

One of the things I find most interesting about this profession is that much of the work happens behind the scenes. In many cases, clients only see the final recommendation and not the dozens of considerations that helped shape it.

Let's use tile selection as an example for this blog.

A client may see three beautiful tile options presented during a design meeting. What they don't see is that there may have been twenty or thirty options I reviewed at three different flooring stores beforehand.

As designers, we consider things such as:

-          How the tile works with the overall design vision (obvious)

-          Whether the undertones complement other finishes

-          Durability and maintenance requirements

-          Availability and lead times

-          Square footage calculations

-          Budget considerations

-          Grout colours and width

-          Installation pattern, orientation, and edging details

-          Suitability for different applications (walls, ceilings, wet areas, indoor/ outdoor)

-          How the tile will look in different lighting conditions

-          Whether it will function for the lifestyle of the family living in the home

None of these considerations are particularly exciting on their own, but together they help create a home that not only looks beautiful, but functions well for years to come!

The same thought process applies to every (seemingly small) decision made throughout a project.

A flooring selection influences cabinetry. Cabinetry influences countertops. Countertops influence backsplash choices. Lighting affects how every material is perceived. And so on.

This is also one of the reasons that many homeowners tell me they feel overwhelmed when planning a renovation or new build, understandably so! There are thousands of decisions to make during the renovation or home build process, and with so many choices available to us today, it can very easily become overwhelming.

My role as an interior designer isn't to blindly make decisions for my clients. It's to help guide them through the process, narrow down the options, and ensure that all the finalized selections work together in a thoughtful and cohesive way.

Sometimes its helping clients feel confident in the choices they're making.
Sometimes it's offering a perspective that a client hadn’t considered.
And sometimes it's creating a clear path forward when there are a hundred decisions competing for attention.

At the end of the day, great design isn't really about the tile, the lighting, or the paint colours.
It's about creating those special moments that feel effortless, right under your own roof.
It's about creating a comforting space where birthdays are celebrated, holiday traditions are created, and your ordinary Tuesday morning coffee feels extra special.
It's about walking through the front door after a long day and feeling an immediate sense of comfort.
It's about creating a home that makes you think, "there's nowhere else I'd rather be."

And that's one of the parts of interior design that people don't always get to see.