Interior Design Process: Step-by-Step Guide for Professional Designers
Although (rather annoyingly) a lot of people think that interior design is just about throwing together some pretty cushions and hoping for the best, us professionals know it's a different story. A successful interior designer brings to the table creativity, an eye for detail, meticulous planning... and some serious people management skills!
But how do you acquire all of that? The design skills and the eye for detail, sure. But that meticulous planning... that's a whole other kettle of fish!
But the secret to success?
It's in having a structured approach to your design process.
Think of this blog post as your own personal sat nav for your design process. We're going to break down exactly how to navigate the twists and turns of that process, from that first client meeting to the final reveal. No more flying by the seat of your pants or hoping everything magically comes together!
Are you ready to dive in? 💪🎨
As the wonderful Maria Von Trapp once said, let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start).
Initial Consultation and Client Brief
All projects kick off with an initial consultation. It's often the first time that you will meet a client in person, and it's the time when you take the brief from the client.
The first client meeting is basically an opportunity for you to lay the foundations for the rest of your project. Just like you wouldn't build a house on shaky ground, you don't want to start a design project without really understanding what your client wants and needs.
This initial meeting is absolutely crucial - it's where you get to know your client, you begin to understand their personality and - in fact - it's also where you are sizing each other up to decide whether you want to work together for the duration of the project.
On the surface it may appear to be just about discussing colours and furniture (though that's definitely the fun part). But underneath, it's about building trust and creating a genuine connection with your client. Always remember that they have invited you into their home, their sanctuary! That's a pretty big deal!
So what are the essential things to cover in this first meeting?
1. Space Analysis:
- How is the space is actually used? (because that gorgeous white sofa might not be the best choice for a family with three kids and a chocolate Labrador!)
- What are the client's daily routines and traffic patterns. Do they have lots of people all fighting over access to one space or all getting on top of each other to get out of the house in the morning?
- Who's using the space and when (Is it a family hub? A peaceful retreat? A work-from-home sanctuary?)
- What are their storage needs (because nobody wants their beautiful room cluttered with stuff)?
- Lighting requirements - both natural and artificial (Think about morning light, evening activities, task lighting needs)
- Any must-keep items (like Grandma's antique cabinet or that artwork they absolutely love)
2. Design Preferences:
This is one of the most important steps to get right. If you don't understand the client's design style, you're going to find yourself creating a design that they just feel is a bit... well, meh! It's the main reason that designs get rejected or why clients feel that you didn't really deliver for them.
Without labouring the point... spend a LOT of time on this stage. Really dig deeeeeep into their likes and dislikes and check in with them at ever stage. Some questions to ask...
- What are their style preferences? (Go through Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, ask about even hotels they've visited, experiences they've had)
- Colour preferences and absolute no-gos
- Texture and material preferences
- Any styles or trends they particularly love or hate
- Previous design experiences (good or bad - there's so much to learn from both!)
Use inspiration pictures or mood boards during this chat - they're absolute gold for getting everyone on the same page and making sure you all mean the same thing. After all, what is one man's scandi is another man's mid-century modern (yes, really!)
🎯 And don't be afraid to ask questions - lots of them. Sometimes clients don't know exactly what they want until you help them explore the possibilities.
3. The Client Brief
The style preferences form part of the client brief, and this needs to capture everything - and I mean everything!
Think of it as your project's North Star, guiding every decision you'll make along the way. Here's what needs to go in:
Design Style and Vision:
- Overall aesthetic goals
- Specific style references
- Must-have elements
- Definite no-gos
- Any existing pieces to work around
- Desired mood and atmosphere
Budget Considerations:
Moving away from aesthetics, your brief MUST have a budget assigned. As fun as it might sound to have a client that says, "Oh I don't really have a budget" it really never ends well. Your idea of expensive may be different to theirs, and it's vital to get a clear understanding of what that means in cold, hard numbers!
Things to look out for:
- Overall budget range (be crystal clear here - it saves awkward conversations later!)
- Priority areas for spending
- Where they're happy to splurge and where they'd rather save. I worked with a designer recently who asked a lovely question to their clients: "Where do you place value". It's a great way to asceratin what's most important to them in the budget
- Contingency allowances (because surprises always happen!)
- Any specific items they want to invest in
Timeline and Practical Considerations:
- Project start date and desired completion date
- Any specific deadlines or events to work around
- Phasing requirements (if the project needs to be done in stages)
- Access arrangements and working hours
- Any practical constraints (like listed building status or lease restrictions)
A well-crafted brief is a bit like having a best friend throughout the project. It helps prevent scope creep, keeps everyone aligned on the end goal, and gives you something to refer back to if there's ever any confusion. Plus, it shows your client that you're professional and thorough - always a win!
4. Research
After the initial consultation, assuming your clients (and you!) are happy to proceed, it's time to dig deep into the specifics of the brief and let your imagination run wild!
Visual Representations
Through your research, you will have been given some ideas for a design direction from your client. Ideas can be as concrete as "laid back, bohemian design" or as abstract as a favourite holiday memory. The skill of a good designer here is to research all of these ideas, putting together images of anything that captures the mood and feeling of the brief. Spending time at this stage often results in a much broader and unique design, than simply rushing to finding items of furniture and furnishings.
Trend Research and Analysis:
I'm talking about trends here with caution... keeping up with trends can be a good way to explore what's out there, and how it can relate to your brief. And yes, this is actually your full permission to dive headlong into an afternoon of Pinterest, Instagram and design blog research a bone fide business activity 😉, but here's the thing:
Don't get carried away with trends. Some macro trends will have staying power for over a decade (remember when grey was here for like, forever?) whereas others will look dated faster than you can say "avocado bathroom suites". Being aware of trends can help inform you about what's current and what's out there, but certainly not something you should be a slave to.
Some designers reject any sorts of trends at all, and that can be a valid decision for some briefs too.
Some things to consider if you are going to look into trends:
- Current design trends and their longevity
- Emerging materials and finishes
- Colour forecasts and their relevance to your project
- Sustainable design practices (increasingly important!)
- Technology integration opportunities
- Local design preferences and market trends
Technology
Speaking of technology - it's becoming an increasingly important part of interior design. Whether it's smart lighting systems, energy-efficient appliances, or integrated home automation, staying up-to-date with tech trends can really elevate your designs. Just make sure any tech additions actually add value and aren't just gadgets for the sake of it. Remember installing USB-A and USB-B points to find out that USB-C is now the done thing? Frustrating, and costly!
Many designers capture this research in a scrapbook or collage of ideas, and it can be a good idea to look at emerging themes, ideas and colour schemes within the imagery you are gathering.
5. Concept Development Process:
Once you've gathered your information and you've done your research, it's time to start translating all that research and inspiration into something a little more concrete and cohesive.
At this stage of the process, you want to be pulling together key ideas from your research and putting together patterns, colours and common ideas. Begin to pull together images that express the mood or feeling you are developing. This can be something really abstract, like images of the ocean or wide open spaces, but you may find that your client struggles to interpret these or to envisage how these will look as a room.
Creating a more conceptual board for yourself can be a great starting point, and then adding in a few more images of interiors or items of furniture can help to translate that to your client.
Once you have a concept in place, it's time to present that to your client. It's vital to get their buy-in at this stage before you move on to more detailed design. Take time to explain your concepts to your clients, and to get feedback about their feelings.
If they don't love it at this stage, it's time to go back to the drawing board!
6. Detailed Design
As controversial as it may sound, I always recommend that you start your detailed design with the more technical elements such as space planning.
Technical Design
Technical design is important because you need to know how the room functions, how traffic flows and how people use the space before you can select any furniture or finishes. You can't know where to put a table lamp until you know where the furniture will be placed.
At this stage, you should be looking at creating some (or all) of:
- Floor plans
- 3D renderings (SketchUp is brilliant for this!)
- Elevation drawings
- Lighting plans
- Electrical layouts
- Storage solutions
Visual Development:
Once the technical elements have been resolved, it's time to dive into the visual and aesthetic part of the design. Or as I like to call it, the fun bits! In this stage, you're going to be choosing your Furniture, Fixings and Equipment (FF&E) and creating some (or all) of the following:
- Mood boards (absolute lifesavers for communicating ideas!)
- Material palettes (finishes boards)
- Colour schemes
- Pattern and texture combinations
Remember: clients often struggle to visualise changes from just a description. The more visual aids you can provide, the better! And don't be afraid to show multiple options - sometimes seeing what they don't want helps clients understand what they do want.
7. Design Presentation and Client Approval
Or in other words... it's show time!
This is your moment to shine - and believe me, preparation is everything! Think of your presentation as telling a story - your client's story. It's not just about showing pretty pictures; it's about demonstrating how you've listened, understood, and transformed their vision into reality. You're showing that you "get" them.
No pressure then, eh?! 😉
For your client presentation, pull together all of the visual elements you created above (mood boards, colour schemes, finishes boards), and combine them with the technical work such as your plans and drawings. Again, the more visuals you can include here the better.
As you have selected each of the items for the space, you will have gathered information such as an image of the item, a link to the website, the suppler details and the price of the item. Gather this information into a specification and use this to justify proposed spend against the budget that was agreed at your initial consultation.
Handling Feedback:
This is crucial - encourage open, honest feedback! If a client hates that wallpaper you've chosen, better to know now than when it's on the walls, right? Some key approaches:
- Ask open-ended questions ("What are your thoughts about...?")
- Listen actively and take notes
- Don't get defensive if they don't love everything
- Be prepared to explain your reasoning
- Have alternative options ready for key elements
- Schedule a follow-up if major changes are needed
Once you've got client approval on the concept, make sure to get their sign off in writing. It's a good idea for you to number your plans and get their signed approval to them in writing before moving on to procurement, decoration and installation.
A Structured Approach to Creativity
You see, having a structured approach to your design process isn't about stifling creativity - it's about giving you the freedom to be more creative! When you know exactly what steps you need to take (and in what order), you can focus your energy on the creative elements rather than worrying about what comes next. Just like a recipe gives you the confidence to experiment with flavours once you've mastered the basics, a solid design process gives you the foundation to create truly exceptional spaces for your clients.
Want more tips and tricks for running a successful interior design business? Join our Hub Insiders community! We're a friendly bunch of designers sharing knowledge, experience, and maybe the occasional horror story (we all have them!). Can't wait to see you there! 💕
