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House Beautiful interviewed interior design professionals about traits that help people succeed in the field, from noticing everyday beauty to communicating well with clients. The experts describe these as useful abilities, not a formal test or proof that someone should become a designer.
House Beautiful has published an expert-backed list of eight traits associated with thinking like an interior designer, arguing that success in the profession involves more than choosing attractive colors or furniture. Designers quoted in the report point to qualities including curiosity, problem-solving, empathy and clear communication, alongside an appreciation of beauty and a defined but flexible sense of style.
The report draws on interviews with interior designers and studio founders, including Neal Beckstedt, Cheryl Luckett, Linda Hayslett, Michelle Gage, Sarah Lederman, Amy Studebaker and Phil Norman. Their comments describe a job that calls for both creative judgment and practical work: coordinating clients, budgets, deadlines, contractors and unexpected problems.
The eight traits presented are appreciation of everyday beauty, natural curiosity, a defined sense of style, problem-solving, strong gut instincts, empathy, good communication and the ability to bring design elements together. That final ability involves judging how color, texture, layout, scale, proportion and flow work as a whole, rather than assessing each furnishing on its own.
The article also distinguishes having a personal aesthetic from imposing one. Luckett says a clear style can give a designer confidence and help clients trust their direction, but it should be a foundation rather than a fixed formula. Lederman makes a related point: designers need to stay open to different approaches because clients want different outcomes.
Design Skills Beyond Good Taste
The list reframes interior design as a mix of visual judgment, organization and people skills. That matters to readers who associate the profession mainly with selecting stylish furniture: the experts describe listening to clients, adapting to constraints and communicating decisions as part of the work, not as secondary tasks.
The traits can also offer a practical way for people to reflect on their own interests. Noticing how a room feels, spotting a layout problem or imagining how pieces might work together may be signs of design curiosity. But the article does not claim that these qualities establish professional ability or predict career success. The designers are sharing their perspectives on traits they value, rather than results from a study or standardized assessment.
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How Designers Build Their Eye
Several interviewees describe attention as something that can be strengthened through exposure and practice. Hayslett says designers tend to notice how spaces feel and function, including details others might miss. Gage recommends going to museums and home shops, traveling and spending time around people who engage with design.
For people with limited budgets, Gage suggests print sources such as magazines and books, as well as browsing design stores. She cautions that social media can inspire but says it is not a substitute for seeing and experiencing things away from a screen. The advice is presented as her recommendation, not as a required training route.
Beckstedt’s summary captures the balancing act: “Creative yet practical, free-thinking yet organized, and being a great listener yet opinionated are my top three must-haves,” he says. The report connects those contrasting qualities to the everyday demands of managing projects while responding to clients’ needs.
““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-based article, not a survey, scientific study or professional qualification framework. It does not establish how common these traits are among designers, how much each one contributes to success, or whether people who recognize the traits in themselves are likely to work in the field.
The list also does not set out formal training, licensing requirements, career pathways or measures of design skill. The source material provides no publication date, and it does not report a new industry policy or study. The advice should be read as the interviewed designers’ views, not as a definitive checklist.
Applying the Ideas to a Room
For readers interested in the subject, the article’s practical suggestions are to observe spaces in person, explore different design references and pay attention to how rooms function as well as how they look. When considering a space, readers can notice its layout, light, proportions and the way materials and colors relate, while keeping the people who use it at the center of decisions.
House Beautiful’s report does not announce a follow-up study or next industry milestone. Whether these traits lead someone toward a design career remains a personal question; the article offers expert perspectives, not a test or a promise of professional success.
Key Questions
What are the eight traits in the report?
They are appreciating everyday beauty, curiosity, a defined sense of style, problem-solving, gut instinct, empathy, communication and the ability to understand how design elements work together.
Does having these traits mean someone should become an interior designer?
No. The article presents designers’ opinions about useful qualities. It does not offer a formal assessment or say that these traits guarantee career suitability or success.
How do the designers suggest developing an eye for interiors?
Michelle Gage recommends seeking out museums, home shops, travel and design-minded company. She also mentions magazines and books as options and says online browsing should not replace experiences away from a screen.
Why do designers need empathy and communication skills?
The designers interviewed say projects must respond to clients’ different needs and desired outcomes. Listening and communicating help designers understand those needs and explain their decisions.
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