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House Beautiful interviewed interior designers about traits that can signal a design-minded way of thinking, beyond simply having good taste. Their examples include noticing everyday beauty, curiosity, a defined but flexible style, problem-solving, intuition, empathy and communication; the report presents these as expert perspectives, not a formal test.
House Beautiful has published a list of eight traits that interior designers say help distinguish design-minded thinking from simply liking attractive furniture or colors. The report, based on interviews with working designers, highlights everyday observation, curiosity, personal style, problem-solving, intuition, empathy and communication, while noting that professional design also involves practical judgment and organization.
The report challenges the idea that success in interior design comes mainly from impeccable taste. Neal Beckstedt, founder of Neal Beckstedt Studio, says designers must balance qualities that can seem at odds: creativity with practicality, free thinking with organization, and listening with having a point of view. Those combinations are relevant to projects involving deadlines, budgets, contractors, clients and unexpected complications.
Several of the listed traits concern how designers observe and interpret spaces. Cheryl Luckett, founder of Dwell by Cheryl, describes an appreciation of beauty in ordinary details as a way to spot potential in a room. Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs points to curiosity and attention to how spaces feel and function. Luckett also says a defined personal style can guide choices, provided it remains flexible enough to accommodate a client’s needs.
The remaining traits are practical and interpersonal. Hayslett and Sarah Lederman, founder of Sarah Lederman Interiors, emphasize adapting when layouts, sourcing or budgets create problems. Amy Studebaker of Amy Studebaker Design describes trusting her instincts when making decisions. Phil Norman of Norman Design Group highlights empathy and careful listening, including noticing needs clients may not state directly. The supplied report also identifies strong communication skills as a trait, though its excerpt does not include the full discussion of that point.
Design Depends on More Than Taste
The list frames interior design as a combination of visual judgment, practical decisions and human understanding, rather than an ability to select attractive objects alone. It directs attention to factors that affect how a room works, including its layout, the proportions of its furnishings and how well it reflects the people who use it.
The interviewed professionals describe habits that can be practiced, such as looking closely at spaces, learning from varied environments and listening to the people a project serves. The article does not claim that these traits qualify someone to work professionally or guarantee a successful project; it presents them as skills designers say they use.
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How Designers Develop an Eye
The article says visual instinct is only one component of professional work. Designers must connect color, texture, scale, proportion and flow into a coherent space, while accounting for function and a client’s preferences. Luckett describes personal style as a foundation for decisions, not a fixed look that should be imposed on every room.
Michelle Gage of Michelle Gage Interiors recommends seeking out experiences that expand what a person sees, including museums, home shops and travel. She also suggests books and magazines for people on a limited budget, while saying that in-person exposure can add something that scrolling through social media does not. These are her recommendations, not a tested or universal formula for developing design skill.
“Creative yet practical, free-thinking yet organized, and being a great listener yet opinionated are my top three must-haves.”
— Neal Beckstedt, founder of Neal Beckstedt Studio
A List, Not a Formal Test
The article presents expert opinions and examples, not a scientific assessment of personality or a validated checklist. It does not establish that having these traits predicts professional success, nor does it say every designer must display them in the same way. The supplied source excerpt also cuts off during its section on communication, so the full explanation and any additional detail from that section are not available here.
The report does not give a publication date in the supplied material. Its advice about building design awareness is broad and experience-based; readers should treat it as guidance from practitioners rather than as a guarantee that particular exercises will produce a professional-level eye.
Ways to Put the Traits to Work
The designers’ suggestions include observing how rooms are arranged and used, visiting museums or home shops when possible, and studying books or magazines. At home, readers can consider whether furniture placement supports everyday routines and whether colors, textures and proportions are balanced. Listening to household members can also help clarify what a space needs to do before choices are made.
No further reporting or follow-up is specified in the supplied source. Assessing whether these habits make someone a strong designer would require evidence beyond the expert interviews in the article. The report describes design thinking as combining aesthetic awareness with flexible problem-solving and attention to people.
Key Questions
What are the eight signs described in the report?
The report identifies appreciation of everyday beauty, curiosity, a defined sense of style, problem-solving, strong gut instincts, empathy and good communication. Its opening also emphasizes balancing creative thinking with practical judgment and organization.
Does having these traits mean someone can work as an interior designer?
No. The article describes qualities designers say are useful; it does not present a qualification, licensing standard or formal test of professional ability.
How does the report suggest developing a design eye?
Michelle Gage recommends looking beyond a screen by visiting museums and home shops, traveling and spending time around people interested in design. She also suggests magazines and books as accessible sources of inspiration.
Why is empathy included among the design traits?
Phil Norman says designers need to listen closely and notice needs clients may not express directly. In his view, understanding those needs helps shape a design around the people who will use it.
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