Process in Interior Design

Many people feel that planning a room in their home can be a stressful and overwhelming task. There are many things to consider, including space planning, fabric and color coordination, frame selection and accessories. In order to make these projects enjoyable and stress-free, I follow a simple four-step process with time between each step to assimilate our choices. If you are not a visual person, work with an interior designer to help you through these steps.


Step One

Room Planning

The first step is to create a floor plan. I do this by measuring the room including all doors, windows and open walkways. It is also important to measure any pieces that will be staying in the room, such as an area rug or table. Once these measurements are gathered, I utilize my Room Planning software to create the new room. Then, from conversations with the client on how the room will be used, I create anywhere from three to five different furniture configurations. Some may have a sofa and loveseat, others a sectional and chair. Some differ only in a placement of the pieces. All of these choices are then considered and a favorite is chosen.


Step Two

Once we know which pieces will be in the room, our next step is to select the frames we like the best, such as a deep or shallow sofa; a traditional, modern or transitional piece; a wing chair or club chair. We decide based on comfort, size and look which actual frames are best for the family and use of the room.



Step Three
After frames are selected, we now know which manufacturers make those frames and are able to sort through our vast fabric library to coordinate each piece with each other. We make sure that the scale of our prints and depth of our colors all work together to make a beautiful space.


Step Four
Finally, after the upholstery pieces have been finalized, we turn to the accent pieces in the room to complete the look: coffee table or ottoman, side tables, lamps, area rugs and accessories. If needed, we can also pick paint colors for the room and fabrics and designs for window treatments. The final room will be balanced and comfortable.


Each step leads progressively to the next in an organized manner so as not to become overwhelmed, but instead can truly enjoy the process of making our home our own.

One word of warning...please never select your paint color first!!  This is always decided after the fabrics have been chosen so that the correct color hue for the walls can be drawn from the fabrics themselves.  Good luck in your room planning!

By Karen Dunn

Interior Designer

Woodward SSI