working with designers
How to brief an interior designer: what to prepare and ask
What to prepare before briefing an interior designer: measurements, plans, budget, priorities, references and constraints, plus scope and questions to ask.
What should you prepare before briefing an interior designer?
Bring measurements or a floor plan, photographs of each room, a realistic budget with a contingency, a ranked list of priorities, reference images with notes on what you like about them, known constraints such as tenancy or listed-building rules, and your timeline. Be clear about the scope you want and the deliverables you expect.
A good brief saves time and money for both you and the designer. It lets the designer understand the job quickly, give you a realistic proposal and avoid redesigning work that missed what you wanted. It also helps you compare designers fairly, because each one is responding to the same information. You do not need to have every answer before the first meeting, but the more of the following you can bring, the more useful that meeting will be.
What to prepare
| Item | Why it helps | Useful format |
|---|---|---|
| Measurements or floor plan | Lets the designer judge scale and feasibility early | Measured sketch, existing drawings or a plan file |
| Photographs | Shows condition, light, finishes and services | Each wall of each room, plus close-ups of problems |
| Budget | Sets the level of specification and scope | A total figure with a contingency, and what it must cover |
| Priorities | Guides trade-offs when budget or space runs short | A ranked list: must have, would like, nice to have |
| References | Communicates taste faster than words | Images with a note on what you like in each |
| Constraints | Avoids designs that cannot be built or approved | Tenancy terms, building rules, access, pets, allergies |
| Timeline | Shows what is realistic and what must be fixed | Key dates, such as a move-in date or a family event |
Measurements and plans
If you have existing drawings from a purchase, a previous renovation or the building's management, bring them, but treat them as approximate until checked. A careful measured sketch of each room, with ceiling heights, doors, windows and service positions, is often more useful than an old plan. Many designers will carry out their own measured survey as part of the job; your measurements still let them estimate the work and spot problems before a site visit.
Photographs
Take photos of every wall in every room in scope, in daylight, plus the views out of the windows, the existing kitchen and bathroom fittings, the consumer unit, the boiler, and any damp, cracks or damage. Photos help the designer remember the space between visits and spot things you may not have mentioned.
Budget
Give a real figure, even if it is a range. A designer cannot advise on what is achievable without one, and a budget held back usually leads to a design that has to be cut back later. Be clear about what the figure includes: building work, fixtures and fittings, furniture, decoration, professional fees and VAT or sales tax. As a guide, many people hold back a contingency of around 10–15 per cent for unexpected costs, more in older buildings where surprises behind walls are common.
Priorities
List what the project must achieve, in order. "More storage", "a kitchen two people can cook in", "a room where I can work without video calls showing the bed" and "better light in the living room" are all useful. Say what you are keeping, such as furniture, art or flooring, and what is open to change. When space or budget forces a trade-off, this list is how the designer decides.
References
Collect images of rooms you like, but add a note to each saying what you like about it: the colour, the material, the lighting, the layout or simply the mood. Two people can like the same photo for completely different reasons. Images of things you dislike are just as useful. Keep the collection focused; ten well-annotated images communicate more than a hundred unsorted ones.
Constraints
Tell the designer about anything that limits what can be done.
- Tenancy agreements or leasehold terms that restrict alterations.
- Listed-building status or conservation area rules, which can control even internal changes.
- Building regulations, planning permission or building management approvals that may be needed.
- Access: stairs, lift sizes, parking and delivery restrictions.
- How you live: children, pets, allergies, mobility needs, working from home, and whether you will live in the property during the work.
Scope
Be clear about which rooms are included and how far the designer's involvement should go. Interior design projects are often described in stages:
- Survey and brief. Measuring, photographing and agreeing the brief.
- Concept design. Layout options, a mood board and an outline of colours, materials and style.
- Developed design. A chosen layout, furniture and lighting plans, finishes and key selections.
- Technical design. Detailed drawings and schedules that builders and suppliers can price and work from.
- Procurement. Ordering furniture, fittings and finishes.
- Site and installation. Visits during the work and help with installation and styling.
You might want only the first two or three stages and then manage the work yourself, or the full service. Make that clear early.
Deliverables
Ask exactly what you will receive at each stage. Typical deliverables include a measured survey, floor plans, furniture and lighting layouts, mood boards, interior elevations, 3D views, a finishes and furniture schedule, a specification, and a budget or cost plan. Agree the format, whether PDF drawings, CAD files or physical samples, and how many rounds of revisions are included.
Questions to ask a designer
- How do you charge: a fixed fee, an hourly or daily rate, a percentage of the project cost, or a combination?
- What exactly is included in the fee, and what would be charged as extra?
- How many design options and revision rounds are included?
- Who places orders for furniture and fittings, and how are deposits and payments handled?
- Do you receive trade discounts or commissions, and how are they passed on or declared?
- Who manages the builders, and who is responsible if work is not to the drawings?
- What professional insurance do you hold?
- Can I see examples of similar projects, and speak to previous clients?
- What timeline do you expect for each stage, and what could delay it?
- What happens if the project is paused or ended part way?
Get the answers in a written agreement before work starts.
Preparing with Arcvelle Studio
You can draw your existing rooms to their measured size in Arcvelle Studio, including doors, windows and wall heights, and export the floor plan as a PDF or the full drawings set to share with a designer. A share link contains the whole design and opens a 3D presentation without uploading anything, and the moodboard maker helps you collect a palette and references in one image. The export formats help article lists every format. Your plan is a starting point for the conversation; a designer will usually verify measurements with their own survey.