WHERE TO START?

Every home begins with an idea — a quiet vision that slowly takes shape through choices, proportions, and light. At Found It Design, we see interior design as a thinking process. This interior guide walks you through the first steps of creating an interior.

Thank you for visiting Found It Design — the space where we share insights and observations about interior design, the details and design elements we discover along the way.

We often hear the question: “Where should I start?”— especially when it comes to creating a home or redesigning an existing space.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the main steps we believe are worth considering when beginning a new interior project — whether you’re planning to move into a new place or transforming a space you’ve recently purchased into your new home.

STEP 1 — CREATING AN INTERIOR CONCEPT

Once you have a space that requires a project and a clear vision of what you want to achieve, the process begins with measurements.

Architectural plans or drawings from the existing building are essential at this stage. If these are not available, it’s important to take the measurements yourself. A simple measuring tape will work, but if you have a laser distance measurer, it will make the process much easier.

Measure every possible point that could affect the project later on — accuracy at this stage saves time during design development. Even if you already have architectural drawings of a new building, make sure no essential measurements are missing.

Once you have the necessary dimensions of each area, you can begin developing the concept.

STEP 2 — DEFINING THE FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT

The functional layout is one of the most important stages of the design process — it defines how the space will serve you and how you will move through your home. Every design decision that follows will depend on it.

Take time to think about what truly matters in your daily life: how you use each area, which rooms you want to connect, and which details feel essential to your comfort and routine.

If you’re renovating an existing apartment or working with a newly purchased property, consider the existing walls and structure. Load-bearing walls (also known as structural walls) cannot be moved without professional assessment. If you plan to change the layout, it’s best to consult with an architect or structural engineer first. Any structural changes must be approved through the proper project documentation.

For new developments that are still under construction, you may have the opportunity to request layout adjustments directly from the developer. In this case, make sure to ask about the deadlines for submitting your final layout changes.

To understand what feels most comfortable to you, try experiencing distances in real scale. While there are standard measurements for most spaces, using a tape measure to check distances and furniture dimensions in your own home or workspace can help you see what feels natural and comfortable for you.

A good functional plan becomes the quiet foundation for your home’s design.

STEP 3 — DEFINING THE MOOD AND VISUAL DIRECTION

Your Style

Once you have a functional layout that feels right, take some time to explore interior styles that inspire you. This stage helps you define the visual atmosphere you want to live in — the colours, materials, and details that reflect your personality.

Pinterest is a great place to start — it allows you to gather visual references and see how different styles, tones, and materials work together. As you collect images, pay attention to what naturally draws your attention: light, textures, contrast, or interior details.

Visual Consistency

To create a balanced look throughout your home, start by defining three main tones that will serve as your foundation. For example, wood flooring, white walls, and furniture in soft grey tones. Accent colours can add expression, but try to keep them limited unless you’re intentionally going for an eclectic style.

If you prefer calm and cohesive interiors, a monochromatic palette might be a better fit. Since everyday life already brings plenty of colour through objects and children’s toys, introducing colour gradually can help reduce visual noise and keep the space balanced.

Think about materials that make you feel grounded and comfortable — wood, concrete, metal, glass, tile, or stone. Each comes with its own tactile quality and budget considerations. When choosing, try to visualise how they’ll interact across rooms to maintain flow and consistency.

From Inspiration to Visualization

Once you’ve gathered references and details that you love, group them into moodboards. The more precisely you define each element, the easier it will be to source materials and decor later on. You can create separate moodboards for each room using tools like Canva or Pinterest boards, both of which make it easy to visualise your ideas.

Visualisations — realistic 3D models — help bring your ideas to life. To prepare accurate 3D visuals, you’ll need exact room dimensions, a functional layout, and a clearly defined moodboard. Without these elements, it’s difficult to create a model that truly reflects your space.

Professional visualisations require design software typically used by interior designers and architects. If you’d like to see your home as a realistic 3D image, consider reaching out to a professional who can prepare it for you.

STEP 4 — TECHNICAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

In the technical phase, interior design drawings are prepared for contractors, and all required materials are selected — including flooring, wall paint, tiles, wallpapers if needed, decorative finishes, switches, sockets, lighting models, doors, and other essential details for your project.

Technical drawings that simplify the work for contractors:

Plumbing plans: define the exact locations and types of fixtures to be installed — sink, shower, or bath mixers, whether they are built-in or surface-mounted. The design also includes the choice of sink, bathtub (if needed), shower tray or walk-in shower area, and the toilet type (wall-hung or floor-mounted). Consider whether you’ll include a bidet or hand-held bidet shower.

The towel radiator (heated rail) type depends on your home’s system — it can be water-based, electric, or combined. It’s also important to define any built-in walls or niches that will hold fittings or provide storage for shower and bath essentials.

Kitchen plumbing points: plan connections for the sink, dishwasher, and water filtration system if used. Consider whether you’ll need a drinking water tap, a built-in coffee machine, or a refrigerator with an ice-making function.

Laundry area: if you have a separate laundry room and need a sink, include the connection for it as well as for the washing machine.

Additional functions: for larger homes or houses with pets, you may include a small washing station for cleaning your pet after walks or a convenient spot for filling their water bowls.

This stage ensures that all technical details are coordinated before construction begins — helping you avoid unexpected changes and ensuring a smooth workflow during construction.

Electrical plans & lighting layout

In this stage, the drawings specify all electrical connection points — sockets, switches, lighting locations, and the types of fixtures to be installed. This includes ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, or pendant lighting, as well as electrical points required for a TV or other appliances. Consider whether you will need a smart home system.

To maintain consistency throughout your home, pay attention to the colour temperature of your light bulbs. Colour temperature is measured in Kelvins (K) and determines the tone of the light. Warm white light is the most commonly used option for residential interiors. Warm white light generally ranges between 2700–3000 K, and each tone creates a different atmosphere. A 2700 K light offers warmth and cosiness, yet it can introduce a slightly yellow hue that may not suit all interior styles. For this reason, most contemporary LED fixtures are available in 3000 K — a tone that feels warm but does not create a yellowish atmosphere. This makes 3000 K an easily adaptable choice that helps maintain a unified visual look across different rooms.

When planning your lighting, think about where you will need functional light — enough brightness for reading, cooking, studying, applying makeup, or completing everyday tasks.

Also consider where you would like soft, decorative lighting. These elements create atmosphere during evenings while dining or spending time with family and friends, and they can also serve as beautiful decorative elements in the interior.

Combine both functional and decorative lighting to allow you to shift between different lighting scenarios depending on the mood and situation.

Additional points to consider: wireless charging stations, food waste disposers in the kitchen, built-in sound systems installed in ceilings or walls, and — if you plan to own an electric vehicle — its charging point.

Many electrical elements, such as sockets, light switches, and some wall-mounted fixtures, follow standard installation heights. However, the exact quantity and placement should reflect your lifestyle and personal needs.

Electrical and lighting plans can be coordinated directly with electricians or prepared by professionals such as interior designers and architects.There are also companies that specialise in designing and installing smart home systems.

Ceiling Plans

When developing the ceiling plan, it’s important to determine the placement of the ventilation system, air conditioning units, and fire safety components. Knowing their exact locations will define how much the ceiling needs to be lowered. In some interiors, these technical elements can be fully hidden, while in others certain parts may remain visible — for example, exposed concrete slabs can become a design element in an industrial-style space.

Consider where you will need curtain track niches if you plan to use curtains and prefer the rails to be hidden. If your interior includes any decorative ceiling features, these should also be clearly marked for the contractors.

Possible ceiling solutions include plasterboard ceilings, stretch ceilings, partially exposed concrete, areas lowered with plasterboard to hide pipes, fully exposed ceilings with painted technical elements, or decorative applications such as slatted wood panels or perforated panels. Armstrong ceiling systems are also an option, depending on the functional and aesthetic needs of the space.

Floor and Wall Finish Plans

At this stage, before preparing the technical drawings, take time to select the specific materials for your floors and walls. This includes choosing all final finishes — flooring materials, wall and ceiling paints, decorative elements such as wallpaper or clay plaster, wall or ceiling artwork, and tiles for both floors and walls.

Flooring

Specify which flooring types you plan to use. Options may include solid wood, engineered wood flooring, vinyl (PVC), carpet, concrete, or tiles.

It’s important to indicate the installation heights for each flooring type, as well as the laying direction if you’re using wood planks or creating a patterned floor. All flooring heights must align during construction to avoid visible transitions between materials. If you want to avoid a visible transition gap between different flooring materials, discuss possible solutions with your contractor — for example, using a metal transition strip as a decorative detail.

Wall finishes

Wall finishes may include paint, clay plaster, wallpaper, furniture panels, tiles, decorative murals, picture frame moulding, or wooden slats. Different finishes require appropriate wall preparation.

Tiles

Tiles fall into two main categories: porcelain tiles and ceramic tiles.Porcelain tiles can be used on both floors and walls, while ceramic tiles are less durable and recommended mainly for walls.Choose a grout type and colour that complements the tiles — grout can be cement-based or epoxy.If possible, prepare tile layout drawings (elevations) so contractors understand the placement, especially when tiles have a pattern. Tile layouts also help estimate the required quantity.

When ordering tiles, include extra material for breakage or cutting. If tiles are purchased later from a different production lot, the shade may vary.

For large-format tiles, ensure they can be carried into the home and check that the contractor works with large-format installation.If you prefer not to use metal trim pieces on tile corners, discuss mitred 45-degree edges with your contractor.Recessed or tileable access panels are a clean and functional solution for hiding pipes or valves; consult your contractor to confirm whether this option can be implemented in your space.

Product Selection for Technical Plans

Take time to select all required products for your project and ensure that their technical specifications are reflected in the drawings so contractors can install everything correctly.This includes lighting fixtures; plumbing fixtures such as the kitchen mixer, sink, shower and bath mixers, and toilet; as well as doors and window sills.

Skirting boards

We recommend installing skirting boards after custom-made furniture has been fitted.If skirting boards are installed earlier, carpenters may need to cut into the furniture or remove the skirting later to make everything fit properly.

STEP 5 — CUSTOM FURNITURE DESIGN

In this stage, all custom-made furniture is designed and prepared for manufacturing. This includes items such as the kitchen, wardrobes, bathroom cabinetry, TV units (these can be custom-made or chosen from existing designs), and any other built-in or fitted furniture required in your home.

If you are working with an interior designer, you will discuss the function of each piece, choose materials, and select hardware such as handles and other necessary accessories.

Once the drawings and material selections are prepared, send this information to furniture makers to receive preliminary pricing and production timelines.

After choosing the furniture manufacturer, you will attend a meeting to finalise all decisions. Designers often participate in these meetings to confirm the functional details, materials, and technical solutions. Whether the designer attends depends on your agreement — each project is individual.

After the meeting, the manufacturer will prepare a final proposal. Once the contract is in place, the furniture maker will provide technical production drawings. Review these carefully — if you are working with an interior designer and this review is included in your agreement, you can go through them together. If you have any comments, inform the manufacturer before confirming. After approval, the furniture enters production.

If you are not working with an interior designer or architect, you can coordinate the drawings directly with the furniture makers. Bringing visual references or style examples to the meeting will make the process smoother. Visiting material showrooms (such as furniture board suppliers) in advance can also help you identify the finishes you prefer.

If you plan to use stone countertops — for example, in the kitchen — visit specialised showrooms to see available options in person.

It is also essential to choose all built-in appliances in advance: refrigerator, freezer, cooktop, oven, extractor hood, sink, washing machine, dryer, and any other appliances your home requires.

Having specific appliance models ready before designing the furniture ensures an accurate and smooth planning process. Different appliances require different installation methods — for example, some sinks are mounted under the countertop, others on top. Certain cooktops can be recessed into the surface. Extractor hoods may be integrated into upper cabinets, built into furniture, installed visibly, or even recessed into the countertop.

Metal and glass details

If you plan to include metal or glass elements in your furniture, discuss this before choosing a furniture manufacturer. Some companies can produce custom metal, glass, or stone components in-house. Others work with external partners. In some cases, you may need to coordinate these details directly with specialised companies.

STEP 7 — KEY FURNITURE & DECOR SELECTIONS

This stage focuses on selecting the main furniture pieces and interior details for your home. Here, you will choose items such as the bed, sofa, dining table, dining chairs or bar stools, decorative lighting, and other accent pieces. Interior details — artwork, sculptures, accessories — will shape the atmosphere of your home, add character, and create a sense of story.

When selecting furniture and decor, start by creating a list of the items you need and identifying your overall budget.

If it’s not possible to purchase everything at once, divide your list into stages and prioritise the essentials. You can search for products in physical showrooms or online stores and design platforms. Before visiting a showroom, it’s helpful to browse online — this gives you a sense of whether the style and product range align with what you’re looking for.

If you already have product references, moodboards, or measurements, you can email showrooms in advance and request specific offers. This will save time and help you compare options.

Keep in mind that not all showrooms have their full assortment displayed online — and even fewer have everything physically in the store. Many products are available only in catalogues, and due to the wide selection, showrooms simply cannot exhibit all pieces. If you’re ordering from catalogues, the items will be made to order. Always check estimated delivery times.

Window Treatments

Window treatments — such as curtains, roller blinds, Roman shades, or Venetian blinds — play an important role in the final atmosphere of your home. They soften the space, add warmth, and help control natural light. When choosing textile solutions, consider how much privacy you need, how much daylight you want to filter, and which materials and colours will complement your interior.

Art & Decorative Elements

Artwork and sculpture bring individuality into a space — they reflect your taste and tell your story. Take your time with these choices. Explore artists, designers, and pieces that truly resonate with you and complement your interior. Thoughtfully chosen artwork can become one of the most meaningful layers of your home.

Organization & Everyday Comfort

Thoughtful organisation is an essential part of creating a home that feels comfortable and calm. When objects have a defined place, daily routines become easier — you save time, avoid unnecessary searching, and maintain a sense of order without effort. A well-organised space reduces visual noise and supports emotional wellbeing, allowing your home to feel lighter and clearer to live in.

This interior guide focused on the inside of the home, but if you have outdoor areas, don’t forget to plan all necessary electrical outlets and water connections for those spaces as well.

When working with an interior designer, you may have access to their discount codes or partner benefits. Make sure to ask whether this option is available.

Every interior project is unique. Different specialists work in their own ways, using different methods and systems. Because of this, consider this guide as a set of supportive guidelines — a way to navigate the process with more clarity. Interior design is a complex journey, and every choice depends on your specific space and the professionals you choose to work with.

We hope that creating your home becomes a process with ease – and with time to enjoy it. Thank you for reading this interior design process guide. We truly appreciate the time you’ve spent here.

Found It Design