How to Prepare for an Interior Designer: Budget, Scope & Timeline Explained
Starting an interior design project often feels exciting and slightly overwhelming. Most clients come to us with ideas, inspiration images, and a sense of what they don’t want but far less clarity around what the process actually requires.
Preparing properly before engaging an interior designer doesn’t just make things smoother. It sets the foundation for a better outcome.
1. Budget: Clarity Over Certainty
You don’t need a perfectly defined number, but you do need a realistic range.
A strong budget conversation considers:
the scale of the project
what’s staying vs what’s changing
priorities versus “nice-to-haves”
where longevity matters most
An experienced designer will help you allocate funds wisely but they can only do that if there’s honesty from the outset. This allows us to see everything clearly from the start and prioritize the budget in places where you want a higher visual impact versus areas where you may not.
2. Scope: What Are You Really Asking For?
Scope isn’t about listing rooms. It’s about understanding the depth of involvement required.
For example:
Are layouts changing or staying the same?
Do you need guidance only, or full documentation?
Will you manage trades, or do you want support throughout?
Being clear on scope prevents misalignment and ensures expectations remain grounded and transparent on both sides.
3. Timeline: Design Takes Time (and That’s a Good Thing)
One of the most common misconceptions is that good design happens quickly. In reality, considered outcomes require space to think, test, refine, and resolve.
Timelines are influenced by:
project complexity
approvals and lead times
availability of materials and trades
how many decisions are required
Rushing this stage often leads to decisions that don’t age well.
What Happens After You Engage a Designer
Once engaged, a designer should:
establish a clear process
provide tools such as drawings, schedules, and palettes
guide decision-making rather than overwhelm it
create a framework that keeps the project moving calmly forward
Design should feel structured, not chaotic.
Why Preparation Matters
When clients arrive prepared (even loosely) the process becomes collaborative rather than reactive. Time is used more efficiently, decisions feel grounded, and the final outcome reflects intention rather than compromise.
At Storey & Stone, every project begins with a conversation. Preparation allows that conversation to be meaningful and productive. In order to achieve the best outcome and one that aligns with your original design intent, preparation matters.