A useful interior-design brief explains the property, people, priorities, rooms, intended budget and type of support needed. Include what must stay, known constraints and the decisions you have already made. It does not need polished design language.
Describe the property and the people
Record the city, property type and rooms involved. Explain who uses them, whether you work from home, how you entertain and what changes you anticipate. Share available plans and dated photographs. Avoid including sensitive documents or unnecessary personal information in an initial enquiry.
Choose the outcomes that matter
List three to five priorities in order. Examples might include easier storage, a comfortable place to work, a kitchen that supports two cooks or a room that accommodates visiting family. Explain what currently gets in the way.
Separate requirements from preferences
Items that must stay, access needs and fixed deadlines are different from a preferred colour palette. Mark each clearly. For inspiration images, explain the quality you like: the feeling, material, light or arrangement. You do not need to like everything in the photograph.
State the budget in a useful way
Give an intended amount or range in Canadian dollars and describe what it includes. Clarify whether professional fees, goods, trades and taxes are inside the allowance. List any quotations already received and identify them as estimates or confirmed commitments.
List the support you want
Say whether you need advice, layouts, drawings, selections, sourcing, purchasing or construction coordination. If you do not know, describe what you want to handle yourself and what you would like someone else to organize. The first discussion can refine the scope.
- City and property type.
- Rooms and approximate dimensions.
- Priorities and current frustrations.
- Furniture and features to retain.
- Intended budget and what it covers.
- Desired timing and known building rules.
- The decisions you want help with.
A simple project-brief worksheet
Questions, answered.
Do I need professional drawings before enquiring?
No. Share the plans or measurements you already have and identify anything uncertain. The professional can explain what additional survey or drawing work is needed for the proposed scope.
How much detail should the first message include?
Enough to identify the city, property, scope, priorities and intended timing. A concise initial brief can be followed by plans and more detail through an agreed channel.