An interior design brief template for the first client meeting
An interior design brief template captures who will use the space, room-by-room needs, storage, style preferences, must-keep items, budget range, timeline and who makes decisions. Fill it with the client in the first meeting, read it back to them, and get it confirmed in writing. Every later design round and quotation is checked against this brief.
On this page
The brief template
| Section | Question to ask | Client answer |
|---|---|---|
| Household | Who lives here? Ages, elders, children, pets, guests often? | |
| Use | Work from home? Cooking style? Pooja space? Entertaining? | |
| Rooms in scope | Which rooms, and which are out of scope? | |
| Storage | What needs storing: clothes, crockery, books, luggage, documents? | |
| Style | Words, photos or homes they like, and what they dislike | |
| Keep | Furniture, appliances or art that must stay | |
| Materials | Preferences or no-go materials, maintenance tolerance | |
| Budget | A range for the whole project, and what is fixed | |
| Timeline | Move-in date, festivals or events to plan around | |
| Decisions | Who approves designs and payments? |
Sample questions. Write the client's own words in the answer column.
When to use it
Use it at the first proper meeting, ideally at the site, together with the site visit checklist. For offices, add headcount, departments, meeting rooms, growth plans and brand guidelines.
Use a shorter client requirement form for enquiries. It helps you qualify the lead before investing a site visit.
Field-by-field explanation
- Household and use: design follows daily life. A family that cooks heavily needs a different kitchen from one that orders in.
- Rooms in scope: written scope avoids the assumption that full interiors means everything.
- Storage: the most common complaint after handover is too little storage.
- Style: collect pictures, and ask what they dislike. Dislikes are often clearer than likes.
- Budget: ask for a range. Explain early what moves the cost, such as board grade, finish and hardware.
- Decisions: naming the approver saves weeks of waiting for a family member who was never asked.
Moodboard template for clients
- One board per room or zone, not one for the whole home.
- A colour palette of 4 to 6 swatches, with paint or laminate codes where known.
- Material samples or photos: flooring, woodwork finish, fabric, stone.
- Two or three reference images for mood, plus one image of what to avoid.
- A short line on the idea behind the room, in the client's words.
Interior material selection sheet
| Room | Element | Option A | Option B | Selected | Approved on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Shutter finish | Acrylic, gloss | Laminate, matt | ||
| Living | TV wall | Fluted panel | Painted with niche | ||
| Bedroom | Wardrobe shutter | Sliding, glass | Hinged, laminate |
Sample options only. Link selected codes to the finish schedule and BOQ.
Interior design checklist for clients
- Collect photos of spaces you like and do not like.
- List everything you need to store.
- Decide your budget range and move-in date.
- Agree who in the family approves design and payments.
- Read the quotation exclusions before you sign.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the budget question, then redesigning everything.
- A brief kept in the designer's head, not on paper.
- No sign-off on the brief, so every design round reopens the basics.
Making it in Google Forms or Sheets
- Turn the questions into a Google Form and send it before the first meeting.
- Responses land in a sheet. Print one row as the brief for the meeting.
- Add a tab for the material selection sheet with drop-downs for each option.
Briefs in the D&B Operating System
In the D&B Operating System, designers work from the client brief and site measurements on the project, run design rounds with version history and client comments in one thread, record material and finish selections, and hand them off to quotation. It is built by BRANDSWOT Consultancy and is in early access.
Questions people ask
What should an interior design brief template include?
It should cover who uses the space, how they live or work, rooms in scope, storage needs, style likes and dislikes, items to keep, material preferences, budget range, timeline and who makes decisions. Write the client's own words and get the brief confirmed in writing.
What is a client requirement form for interior design?
It is a short form a client fills before or at the first meeting, covering property type, rooms, budget range, timeline, style and contact details. It helps you understand the project and decide whether a site visit makes sense. The full brief comes later. Keep it short so clients actually fill it in.
What is a good design brief format?
A good format has sections for users, use, scope, storage, style, items to keep, materials, budget, timeline and decision-makers, with a column for the client's answers. Keep it to two pages and read it back to the client before design starts. Update it if the client changes direction, and date each version.
How do I make a moodboard template for clients?
Make one board per room with a colour palette, material samples or photos, two or three mood references, one image of what to avoid, and a line on the idea behind the room. Add codes where known so the board links to the finish schedule.
What is an interior material selection sheet?
It is a table of each room and element, such as shutters, flooring or wall finish, with options, the selected choice, its code and the approval date. It stops site teams from guessing finishes and speeds up procurement. Ask the client to sign or confirm each selection in writing, and keep the approved list with the project file.