Interior Designers Reveal Their Worst Dating Horror Stories

Designers share how their profession impacts their dating lives and what not to do when trying to woo a design expert.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Interior designers often find their profession comes with unique dating challenges. Some dates are intimidated by designers’ expertise, while others try to take advantage of their design knowledge. Designers share stories of dates who gave unsolicited home tours, tried to get free design work, or were more interested in showing off their home than getting to know the designer. Despite the pitfalls, designers say a healthy curiosity about their work is better than pretending to be an expert.

Why it matters

The way someone decorates their home can reveal a lot about their personality, so interior designers often find their profession impacts their dating lives in both positive and negative ways. Understanding these dynamics can help anyone looking to date a design professional navigate the process more successfully.

The details

Interior designers say they often face apprehension from dates who worry their home won’t live up to a professional’s standards. Some dates even invite designers over for unsolicited home tours or try to get free design work. One designer, Janette Ewen, ended up fully renovating a date’s condo, only for the relationship to end soon after. Designers also note their influence can subtly change a partner’s design taste, even unintentionally. And the “I can fix him” mentality is common, as designers try to gently nudge partners toward better style. However, designers advise against overwhelming dates with design knowledge — a healthy curiosity is better than pretending to be an expert.

  • Ewen fully renovated a beachside condo for a date, but the relationship ended a few weeks later.

The players

Elissa Hall

The lead designer at Redawning.com.

Nicole Ficano

The principal at Workshop/APD.

Janette Ewen

An interior designer based in Toronto.

Sarah Montgomery

The principal at Sarah Montgomery Interiors.

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What they’re saying

“There’s definitely curiosity, but sometimes a little performance anxiety sets in, as if I’m going to walk into their apartment with a clipboard and start taking notes.”

— Elissa Hall, lead designer at Redawning.com (House Beautiful)

“It wasn’t even a thought about what interior design could be. It was almost an adverse reaction towards what my profession was, or an intimidation.”

— Nicole Ficano, principal at Workshop/APD (House Beautiful)

“I don’t even know if I like you, you think I want to hear about your sofa?”

— Janette Ewen, interior designer (House Beautiful)

“A few weeks after we finished the reno, the relationship was over. I’ve never been so relieved to get out of a relationship, but I was very mad at myself.”

— Janette Ewen, interior designer (House Beautiful)

“Design makes you a listener. I listen to the way people talk about their spaces, what matters to them, what gives them pleasure. And I pay attention to how they behave in shared environments — do they walk through the world as if it’s theirs, or do they adjust, observe, and find a way to work together? That mentality extends directly to relationships.”

— Elissa Hall, lead designer at Redawning.com (House Beautiful)

The takeaway

Interior designers’ unique expertise can create both challenges and opportunities in their dating lives. While some dates are intimidated by designers’ knowledge, a healthy curiosity about design is better received than pretending to be an expert. Designers also caution against taking advantage of their skills or trying to get free design work, as that can quickly sour a relationship.