How to plan an interior design project

You’ll find the board to create your brief on the project plan board. Double-click the Brief to open it and start adding the goals, style preferences, and deliverables.

The first thing to define is why the project is happening. Spend time with your client, have them lead you through the vision in their own words, and ask questions like... What problem is this project trying to solve? What do you want to keep? What needs to change?

This is the part that you'll revisit throughout the project, so try and be as specific as possible. List each space or room that needs to be designed, alongside the goals for the project.

Your client likely has a vision for the style of space they're trying to create. Add any visual references they've provided to your brief. This might include specific products, furniture, colors, materials, or textures.

Once you’ve made any final tweaks, it’s time to share the completed brief with your team so everyone's on the same page. If you want to learn more about writing an interior design brief, check out our dedicated step-by-step guide: How to write an inspiring interior design brief.

You’ll find the board to make your moodboard on the project plan board. Double-click the Moodboard to open it and start adding your inspiration.

Start by adding any existing material you have—this might include specific products or references you've received from your client. This is a great way to anchor the visual style to a direction you know your client will like.

The imagery you choose to include in your moodboard can have a big influence on the look and feel of your project, so choose carefully! These images can define things like tone, mood, lighting, and color.

Start by searching for visual elements from around the web. There are lots of fantastic sites where you can find great visual inspiration for free, like Pinterest and Designspiration. Interior moodboards often include materials and fabrics, flooring, fittings, textures, furniture, and even artwork.

Color can be a great way to express a particular feel, personality, or energy. As painter Johannes Itten said, “Color is life.” Tools like Kuler can be a handy starting point for finding colors that complement the space you're working with. Another trick is to pick colors directly from the images and photos you've added to the board.

With any creative technique or project, it’s important to be open to constructive criticism. Now that the first version of your moodboard is done it's time to ask for specific feedback on color, tone, mood, and products. Make sure you stay open to suggestions and improvements and try not to take criticism personally.

If you're designing multiple rooms or spaces, it can help to have separate moodboards for each one. Just repeat the process above for each space in your project.

Hopefully, this guide has helped you become more organized and given you the space to let your creativity shine. If you're just starting a new project, use the Interior Design Project Template below to get set up in minutes.