Interior Design Process
BoCo Interior Designs knows the importance of an interior design process that ensures every project—small or large— is flawlessly executed from conception to completion. Whether you need residential interior design, new construction, home remodeling, or full-scale renovation, the steps of an interior design process include an initial consultation, a project assessment, a design concept, space planning, material selection, furniture/fixture selection, color palettes and finishes, lighting design, customization and millwork, design presentation and final implementation. Remove the anxiety for the journey ahead and explore the steps (and phases) of soulful, inspiring, and timeless interior design.
Need our help? Call or text BoCo Interior Designs at (864) 556-3922, or email Jenny & Grace at bocointeriordesigns@gmail.com. Or click “Get Started” for a complimentary estimate.
The Steps of An Interior Design Process
Initial Consultation
Everything starts with an initial consultation where you’ll meet your interior designer(s), and articulate your needs, preferences, and budget. Here you’ll also discuss the scope of the project, including the number of rooms involved and your desired style. More importantly, you’ll get a sense for how your designer works and whether they are a good fit for your project.
Project Assessment
Following a successful consultation, you’ll typically sign a contract and pay the retainer for your project. Now it is time for your interior designer to evaluate your existing spaces, noting architectural features, natural light, and any structural constraints. An onsite or video project assessment empowers your designer to identify challenges and opportunities that may affect or enhance the interior design process. In this step, your interior designer will gather important spatial details to determine the optimal layout for furniture and other elements, as they take measurements and pictures.
Develop a Design Concept
Now the fun begins! With your project assessment complete, your designer will create an initial design concept based on your preferences and the functional requirements of your spaces. Along with considering color schemes, themes, and overall aesthetics, your design concept will take into consideration traffic flow, functionality, and your family’s lifestyle. Interior design concepts demonstrate a cohesive vision that acts as a through line for every phase of design, construction, curation, and implementation.
Color Palette and Finishes
Nothing defines a space quite like the color palette you choose. Together with your interior designer, you’ll take the design concept and finalize the color palette for walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. Here you’ll also determine finishes such as paint, wallpaper, or paneling.
Material, Furniture, and Fixture Selection
With a color palette in place, it’s time to choose materials for flooring, wall coverings, furniture, and other elements based on the design concept. Great interior designers select furniture, lighting fixtures, and other accessories with a keen eye for the 7 principles of interior design—balance, unity, harmony, emphasis, scale and proportion, contrast, and details. Materials, furniture and fixtures are chosen with the principles, durability, ease-of-maintenance, and overall aesthetic appeal in mind.
“Interior design professionals make the interior design process fun, stress-free, and easy to visualize."
Grace Boerner, Interior Designer @ BoCo Interior Designs
Final Steps of Interior Design Process
Customization and Millwork
Every project involves elements of customization that create truly matchless spaces. Your interior designer will work with skilled craftsman or contractors to bring custom elements to life. From custom furniture and cabinetry, to one-of-a-kind decor and tailored wall trimmings, custom interior design allows you to avoid the faux pas of settling for interior elements that don’t quite fit.
Lighting Design
As you near the final steps of the interior design process, your designer will plan the lighting scheme to provide adequate illumination for different activities. With a combination of natural and artificial lighting sources, interior designers highlight the different elements of a room to create atmosphere, mood, flow, and safety. Above all, lighting design enhances all design elements, drawing out their form, line, color, shape, texture, and pattern.
Presentation and Implementation
Finally, it’s time for you to see the final design concept, including visual representations such as mood boards, 3D renderings, or sample materials. Following your input and approval, your interior designer coordinates with contractors and vendors to implement the design, overseeing the installation and placement of furnishings. With a final design concept in-hand, the interior design process moves from design to implementation.
What is the average timeline of the steps of the interior design process?
Every project is unique, but here are some industry averages:
Pre-Design Phase:
Initial Consultation: 1 week
Project Assessment and Goal Setting: 1-2 weeks
Design Development Phase:
Concept Design Development: 2-4 weeks
Space Planning and Color Palette: 2-4 weeks
Material and Furniture Selection: 4-8 weeks
Design Presentation, Revision, Finalization:
Presentation of Design Concepts: 1 week
Client Review and Revisions: 1-2 weeks
Finalization of Design Elements: 2-4 weeks
Approval of Final Design: 1-2 weeks
Procurement, Implementation, Installation Phase:
Ordering and Procurement of Furniture and Materials: 6-12 weeks (depends on availability and lead times)
Coordination with Contractors and Vendors: 2-4 weeks
Construction/Renovation (if applicable): Varies based on the extent of work
Furniture and Decor Installation: 1-2 weeks
Styling and Finishing Touches: 1-2 weeks
Project Completion
There are always a number of external factors that can cause the interior design process timeline to vary. From “change orders” in the process, to macroeconomic conditions—like availability of certain elements and materials—timelines are fluid, and some factors are out of your designers control. That said, many of these factors can be mitigated by excellent planning in the design development phase.
Interior Design in the Upstate
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![Living Room Interior Design with Brick Fireplace]()
Residential Interior Design
It all begins with an idea. Our residential interior designers guide you to the best options for decorating your home .
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Construction Consulting
Before you even start construction, consider dreaming and planning every space to have intentionally and beauty.
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![Comfortable arm chairs, a bench, bed, and Armoire within a bedroom looking our of bay windows windows]()
Furnishings
Whether you have furniture pieces you want to work with or a blank slate, our interior decorators help you make the most of your space.
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![Remodeled Kitchen Greeville, SC]()
Kitchen Remodeling
The kitchen is the heart of the home. Gourmet chefs and microwave masters alike, delight in the kitchen remodeling Greenville SC loves.
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![His and Hers Bathroom countertop against stylish green wallpaper]()
Bathroom Remodeling
Your walls may need an update, or you may be considering a full renovation. Create bathroom spaces you enjoy.
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Lighting Design
Lighting design and fixture selection make an incredible impact on a room. BoCo curates interior decoration Spartanburg SC trusts.
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![Beautiful living room with pink arm chair and gold lamp with brick fireplace]()
Styling
Style your rooms with art, colors, and cherished pieces. Boco’s Greenville interior design can be functional and safe or palatial and decorative.
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![Color Selection and Interior Painting Greenville SC]()
Paint Selection
Paint is a foundational element to your spaces. Our selections and interior painting relationships provide a finish you will love.
“Jenny & Grace with BoCo Interiors did a fabulous job with my renovation. I live four hours away, so I really needed a company that I could trust to handle all aspects of overseeing construction & design in my absence. From start to finish, they were professional and so very helpful. They worked with the contractor and subs to ensure all was correct (lighting, plumbing, etc) in the construction process. The design boards BoCo Interior Designs utilizes made it very easy for me to make decisions remotely from Jenny & Grace’s selections. I highly recommend BoCo for interior design!!”
— The Upstate, SC | BoCo Interior Designs Reviews
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