If you’re planning your next interior design project, and you’ve read some of our recommendations on where to begin this exciting journey of updating or creating your home, you probably already know there’s one very important piece to consider: the interior design timeline.
Whether you’re renovating, building from the ground up, or giving your space a fresh new look through decorating, it’s natural to imagine a dream deadline like “Let’s be done by summer,” or “We’ll move in before the holidays.” But the reality? Interior design timelines can vary greatly depending on the scope, materials, approvals, and even the season. That’s why deciding when to start your project is so important.
As designers who live and breathe this process every day, we’re here to help make it all a little less overwhelming. Think of this guide as your experienced (and honest!) design friend. We are here to walk you through what actually shapes a project timeline, and how to plan with realistic expectations so your vision comes to life beautifully and on time.
To really understand how long an interior design project takes, it helps to look at the whole process. From the moment you start researching and reaching out to the right interior design firm, all the way to the final deliveries and checking off the last items on the punch list, every step plays a role in the overall timeline.
There’s more involved than most people expect, and each phase—concept, design, planning and specifications, selections, staging —comes with its own moving parts and potential delays. The more you know what to expect, the better prepared you’ll be to plan with clarity and less stress.
So, how do you figure out how long your project might take? Setting a realistic timeline starts with understanding a few key factors that can influence the flow of your design journey. Here are some important things to keep in mind:
One of the biggest factors in your timeline is simply what you’re doing, meaning, the scope. A quick decor refresh is one thing, but designing a home from the ground up is a whole different story, with many more steps involved. Fully renovating a space, especially when it includes custom elements, is also a much more layered process.
Even two projects that seem similar on the surface can take different paths depending on the level of detail. Custom interiors, built-ins, and architectural changes all require more time (and coordination) than a straightforward furniture install. The larger and more detailed the scope, the more time you’ll need to bring everything together smoothly.
At our firm, we handle all kinds of projects, from decorating a room to building a home from scratch, and each one has its own steps and timeline. As always, the key to a shorter lead time is always a good plan of which we take very seriously. Here’s a general idea of how long each type of project might take, from the quickest to the longest:
The quickest timeline, focused on furniture, accessories, and finishes to give new life to an existing space. Here, the driving factor is the lead time of furniture and accessories. Typically on these projects we begin with the selection process to be able to place orders as soon as possible and then we’ll design anything that will be made locally such as custom millwork and/or window treatments.
Accessories can tend to take a smaller amount of time however the more unique, the less available. We have a great amount of resources that we can shop locally for furniture and accessories which is always a good option when you’re willing to compromise your selections to whatever is available. As a general timeline (many exceptions apply) we typically plan for an interior decor and styling project to take between 5-8 months. This allows the typical 16-20 week lead time for furniture and/or accessories.
Giving new life to an existing structure with structural changes involved. This includes construction, trades, permits, and custom design elements, which means more coordination and time. On these types of projects there are a lot more factors involved and here we typically start with anything construction related which means to collaborate with an architect when needed, and get started with space planning and the design of anything that will require permits and construction work such as kitchens, bathrooms, lighting etc.
Once these areas have been designed we will work with you to review 2-3 bids for the labor, hire a General Contractor and work around the construction schedule that they have provided us with to propose furniture and accessories so that the delivery of these items align as closely as possible with their completion date. These types of projects can typically take anywhere between 6-18 months depending on the scale and complexity of the project.
The most time-intensive, starting from the ground up with full design development and collaboration with builder and architect teams from the early stages. This project includes all phases of an interior design project and will also begin with the collaboration with an architect. In our experience, new construction projects including the furniture and accessories stages, take between 24-36 months.
The design process and the interior design project timeline go hand in hand, but they’re not the same. The process is the step-by-step journey we take to bring your space to life, from meeting us to finalizing all the details. The timeline, on the other hand, maps out when each of those steps will happen. Think of the process as the “how” and the timeline as the “when”, both are essential to keeping everything moving smoothly and on track.
This is the starting point. We meet to learn more about your space, your needs, and your goals. Whether you’re decorating one room or building a home, this is where we ask the right questions and listen carefully to understand the full picture. After that, we prepare a project estimate based on the scope of work and put together a preliminary budget for you.
Once you feel comfortable with us and aligned on the plan, we move forward with signing the contract. As a result, this phase is essential for setting the groundwork and usually takes a few days to weeks, depending on how quickly our clients are ready to make decisions.
This is the official beginning of your project! Your home is a reflection of your life, which is why we take the time to understand what matters most to you. In this initial phase, we lay the groundwork together for a personalized design experience, including planning for budget and timeline. We’ll clearly outline the scope of your project so you know exactly what to expect.
At this stage, we’ll provide a detailed presentation where we’ll show you how we can further your ideas, bringing your vision to life. Let’s show off your style, who you are, and how you live through a cohesive, timeless, and unique design concept. In many cases during this presentation we also add some space planning ideas before we begin the design and selection process to help you visualize how this can provide lots of new options for how you live in your space.
Our talented team will bring your project design to life with realistic renderings, sketches and sample presentations. You’ll approve everything along the way, ensuring that everything meets your expectations with no surprises later.
Once both the design and selections for your home have been approved by you, the implementation process begins. The execution of the design is just as crucial as the design itself.
Detailed plans and specifications —from construction documents to design packages— are developed to guide the construction process, preventing costly mistakes and ensuring a smoother process. These plans also make it easier for our collaborators to work with us, providing clear direction.
After establishing the first layer of materials and features in your home, we develop ideas and presentations regarding furniture, lighting, window treatments and accessories. In addition to our in-studio presentations, we also schedule meetings at local showrooms to view the proposed furniture in store. Each item is meticulously specified to be sure its the correct size, finish and any other options are clear during the purchasing process.
We’ll curate the perfect combination of furniture and decor with no added markups that reflects your style and needs to complete your home.
Experience the thrill of seeing your vision come to life with our seamless turnover process. This is a crucial turning point in the project, where every last detail is solidified.
We’ll curate the perfect combination of furniture and decor with no added markups that reflects your style and needs to complete your home.
During this time, we all pull together to complete key tasks: shopping for accessories, wrapping up any last-minute touch-ups with our subcontractors, carefully moving in your brand-new furniture, and cleaning and hanging every piece of wall art. We’ll get everything prepared to welcome you into a move-in-ready home.
One of the biggest timeline influencers is how quickly decisions are made. In any interior design project, we need our clients to be involved and responsive, especially when it comes to reviewing designs, providing feedback, and approving selections.
Think about it this way: to keep the design process moving smoothly, we need your green light at key moments. We’ll always guide you through the options and help you feel confident in every decision, but if there are delays in approvals or extended time spent deciding, the timeline naturally stretches.
It’s totally normal to want time to think things through, this is your home, after all, but knowing that your availability and pace of decision-making have a direct impact on how quickly we can move forward helps us all stay on track.
Bringing a home design to life takes more than just great ideas, it requires both the expertise and coordination of several teams and vendors. From builders to installers, every step needs careful planning and timing. Getting all these moving pieces in sync is key to keeping your project on track.
That’s where our project manager comes in. We take the stress out of coordinating the schedules, ensuring that each team is lined up and ready to go when needed. The timing of each phase, like wallpaper installation or furniture delivery, needs to be carefully planned to prevent delays. If one part of the project runs behind, it can impact others, causing a ripple effect that can stretch the timeline.
To avoid this, we actively monitor and adjust the schedule as needed, ensuring that every team is aligned and on track. With multiple moving parts, unexpected changes or delays can happen, so having someone dedicated to reviewing and adjusting the schedule ensures things keep running smoothly.
When selecting the perfect pieces for your space, like that beautiful coffee table we’ve been eyeing, it’s important to remember that availability plays a big role in the timeline. We want to ensure your dream items are ready to be delivered on time, which is why lead times become a key factor in planning.
Lead times refer to the time it takes for furniture, fixtures, and custom materials to arrive once ordered. Some pieces might be available within a few weeks, while others, especially custom-made items or high-demand designer pieces, can take several months to arrive. However, these timeframes can vary greatly depending on the vendor and the item itself, and that’s something we factor into every decision we make.
Being aware of these lead times from the start helps you plan ahead and adjust expectations accordingly. For example, if you’ve fallen in love with a particular light fixture that takes months to arrive, we’ll help you plan for that wait so it doesn’t affect the overall project. Understanding these details up front allows us to fine-tune your timeline, so everything arrives and comes together as smoothly as possible.
One thing we’ve learned over the years of working on interior design projects is that surprises are almost always part of the journey! Whether it’s a simple decorating project or a full-scale new build, even with the best planning, unexpected challenges can arise.
Sometimes it’s a shipping delay for a key piece of furniture, or an issue that pops up during renovations that we didn’t anticipate. Other times, it might be a change in the design, like when you fall in love with a new idea or decide to add a custom feature you hadn’t considered earlier. And, believe it or not, sometimes life surprises us. For example, one of our clients found out they were expecting a baby in the middle of their project and decided to add a nursery to the plan. Situations like this happen more often than you think!
We’re always happy to accommodate these kinds of changes and add new elements to your design, but it’s important to keep in mind that any revisions or additions can impact the overall timeline. Adding extra rooms or making significant design changes may take additional time for planning, sourcing, and construction, which can extend the timeline.
That’s why we always recommend building a little flexibility into your interior design timeline to account for the unexpected. Being prepared for these challenges helps make the entire process not only smoother but also less stressful.
We hope this gives you a better idea of all the factors that can impact the timeline for your interior design project, and how important it is to be prepared. The more you understand the behind-the-scenes work, the easier it will be to plan. If you have an ideal interior design timeline in mind, it’s always best to start the project in advance. We’re here to design your dreams, reach out today to get started!
