Step 01
Brief & measurement — 1–2 weeks
Meetings to understand how you live, a full site measurement, and the written scope and fee.
A guide · how a project runs
The Interior Design Process, Step by Step
What actually happens between the first phone call and the day you move in — what you decide at each stage, what you are asked to sign off, and how long each part realistically takes.
- The stages of a home interior, in order
- The decisions that are yours at each stage
- What you should be asked to sign off, and when
- Realistic timings, and what stretches them
Tell us about your project
We reply within 1–2 working days. No call centre — you speak to the studio.
Why us
Why the process matters as much as the design
Most disappointments with an interior project are not about taste. They come from decisions made too late, approvals given on a render rather than a drawing, or a site that started before the design was finished. A clear interior design process step by step prevents almost all of that.
Below is how a home interior runs with us, stage by stage. The names vary between studios, but any well-run project should pass through the same points — and at each one, you should know what is being asked of you.
01
The scope and fee
Before any design work: a written list of what will be designed and delivered, the fee, and the timeline. Everything later is measured against this.
02
The layout
The furniture plan for every room. Once this is agreed, walls, electrical points and plumbing can be fixed around it; changing it later ripples through everything.
03
The drawings and materials
Elevations, ceiling and electrical layouts, and the finishes schedule. This is what the contractors will build from, so it is the approval that matters most.
04
The cost
The priced bill of quantities, line by line, before any contractor starts. Any change after this point should be priced and agreed in writing before it happens.
In detail
What happens on site, in the order it happens
Execution follows a sequence, and knowing it explains why things cannot simply be done in parallel. Demolition and civil changes come first, then electrical and plumbing lines inside walls and floors, then any flooring and tiling. The false ceiling follows once the wiring and air-conditioning pipes above it are in place.
Joinery — kitchens, wardrobes, panelling — is usually made off site while this is happening and installed once the room is ready for it. Painting is done in two rounds: a base before the joinery arrives and a final coat after, so marks from installation are covered. Lights, switches and fittings go in near the end.
Delays almost always come from one of three things: a decision that has not been made, a material that arrives late, or a change once work has begun. That is why we push for decisions early and order long-lead items as soon as the drawings are signed.
The last stage is the one people rush. Walk every room with a written snag list, check every shutter, drawer, tap and switch, and settle the final account only once the list is closed. It is the only point at which you have full leverage, so use it.
How we work
The stages, with rough timings
Step 02
Layout & concept — 2–4 weeks
Layout options, a chosen plan, the material palette and first 3D views, revised until you approve.
Step 03
Drawings & costing — 3–4 weeks
Working drawings, the finishes schedule and a priced BOQ, then contractors appointed.
Step 04
Execution & handover — 10–16 weeks
Civil and services, ceilings, joinery, finishes, then snagging, cleaning and handover.
The studio
The studio in numbers
Projects delivered
120+
Clients worldwide
100+
Years of practice
10+
Design professionals
19
Questions
Frequently asked
How long does a home interior take?
For a typical 2–3 BHK, expect roughly 6–10 weeks of design and 10–16 weeks of execution. Civil changes, a lot of custom joinery, material lead times and slow decisions all push it towards the longer end; a clear brief and quick approvals keep it shorter.
Can work on site start before the design is finished?
Some early work, such as demolition or electrical rewiring, can start once the layout is fixed. Starting joinery or ceilings before the drawings are signed off is the most common cause of rework and delay, so we avoid it.
How involved do I need to be?
Most at the start and at the sign-offs. Expect a few longer meetings during layout and material selection, then short weekly updates during execution. You do not need to be on site every day, but it helps to visit at the milestones.
What happens if I change my mind halfway through?
Changes are normal. Before the drawings are signed off they cost little but time; after that, each change is priced against the original line in the BOQ and approved by you before it is carried out.
What should I prepare before the first meeting?
A floor plan if you have one, photographs of rooms or furniture you like, a list of what you are keeping, and an honest budget range. That is enough to make the first conversation useful.