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House Beautiful interviewed interior designers about eight traits they say help people succeed in the profession: appreciating everyday beauty, curiosity, personal style, visual cohesion, problem-solving, trusting judgment, empathy and communication. The article describes expert perspectives, not a validated test of design ability or a claim that people with these traits should work in the field.
House Beautiful has published an interview-based report identifying eight qualities interior designers say help people notice and shape well-functioning spaces. The experts describe skills that go beyond a good eye for color or furnishings, including curiosity, practical problem-solving, empathy and communication; their comments are professional perspectives, not a formal assessment of who can become a designer.
The report’s eight traits are an appreciation of everyday beauty, natural curiosity, a defined sense of style, an ability to see how design elements work together, problem-solving, strong gut instincts, empathy and good communication. Together, the qualities describe a mix of visual judgment and people skills rather than taste alone.
Several designers emphasized observation and learning. Linda Hayslett, founder of LH.Designs, said designers tend to pay attention to how spaces feel and function and to details other people might miss. Michelle Gage of Michelle Gage Interiors recommended visiting museums, home shops and other places in person, as well as traveling, to broaden what someone has seen. She said books and magazines can also offer ideas, while social media alone is not a substitute for experiencing design beyond a screen.
The experts also stressed that a personal aesthetic must remain flexible. Cheryl Luckett, founder of Dwell by Cheryl, said a defined style can give designers clarity while still allowing them to respond to a client’s needs. She described design as more than picking attractive objects: designers must understand how color, texture, scale, proportion and layout interact to create a coherent space. Hayslett and Sarah Lederman, founder of Sarah Lederman Interiors, said projects require adapting when layouts, sourcing or budgets present problems.
Design Skills Beyond Good Taste
The report matters to readers because it offers a broader picture of what interior design work involves. Its central point is that visual taste is only part of the job: designers also have to organize competing demands, solve practical problems and understand clients. That helps explain why a room’s appearance cannot be separated from how it is used and from the constraints of a real project.
For people interested in improving their own spaces, the advice is less about buying particular products and more about practicing observation. Looking at rooms in person, paying attention to proportion and noticing what makes a space feel comfortable or disjointed are approaches readers can try without treating the article as a professional qualification guide. The designers’ comments also suggest that personal style is useful when it informs decisions, but should not override what a space or its occupants require.
These are expert opinions shared in interviews, not findings from a study measuring design ability. The article does not establish that possessing any one trait predicts professional success. Rather, it presents a set of qualities designers say they use in their work.
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How Designers Describe Their Work
The report challenges the assumption that a successful designer mainly needs impeccable taste. Neal Beckstedt, founder of Neal Beckstedt Studio, said the role calls for qualities that can seem contradictory: creativity alongside practicality, free thinking alongside organization, and listening alongside having a point of view. He linked that balance to the demands of managing deadlines, budgets, contractors and clients, as well as unexpected project changes.
The article’s examples span both the creative and operational sides of a project. Recognizing beauty in ordinary details may help shape a room, while resolving a layout or sourcing problem can keep a design workable. Designers also need to interpret what clients want, including preferences they may not state directly. Phil Norman, founder of Norman Design Group, described empathy and listening as important to understanding those needs. The report presents these as practitioners’ accounts of the profession, not as an exhaustive industry standard.
“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
What the Expert List Cannot Prove
The source is an interview report, and it does not cite research establishing that these eight traits are necessary or sufficient for success in interior design. The phrase “think like an interior designer” is an editorial framing, not a defined test or credential. It is also unclear from the article how the experts were selected or whether the list represents a shared standard across the profession.
The comments do not quantify how much each quality matters, and they do not compare designers with people outside the field. Readers should treat the list as professional advice and perspective, not as evidence that a person’s aptitude or career prospects can be determined by a checklist.
Ways to Put the Advice Into Practice
The report does not announce a follow-up study or a next industry milestone. Its practical suggestions are to broaden exposure to design through in-person visits to museums and home shops, travel where possible, and use books or magazines as additional sources of reference. Gage cautioned that browsing online can inspire, but suggested that observing spaces directly helps develop a more informed eye.
Readers applying the advice can also practice comparing how different choices affect a room: whether furniture suits its scale, how materials and colors relate, and whether the layout supports the way people use the space. The experts’ broader point is to combine that observation with flexibility and attentive listening, particularly when designing for someone else. No formal test, certification route or subsequent development is specified in the source report.
Key Questions
What are the eight traits the designers identified?
The report lists appreciation of everyday beauty, curiosity, a defined sense of style, visual cohesion, problem-solving, gut instincts, empathy and communication.
Does the article prove these traits predict success as a designer?
No. It presents interviews and professional opinions, not research testing whether the traits predict career success.
How can someone develop a stronger design eye?
Michelle Gage recommends getting firsthand exposure by visiting museums and home shops and traveling where possible. She also points to books and magazines as useful sources, while cautioning that social media alone cannot provide the same experience.
Does having a personal style mean sticking to one look?
No. Cheryl Luckett said a clear style can guide choices, but should not make a designer rigid. The report says designers also need to adapt their approach to the space and the client’s needs.
Why are empathy and communication included?
Phil Norman said listening and noticing needs clients may not express directly can help designers understand the outcomes they want. The report treats client communication as part of the work, alongside visual and practical skills.
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