How Long Does an Interior Design Project Take?
One of the first questions nearly every new client asks me is “How long does an interior design project take?” or “Can we have it finished by this date?” The truth is, interior design projects almost always take longer than people expect, even a straightforward furnishing project for a single room can involve months of planning, ordering, and coordinating.
Too often, homeowners wait until the last minute to reach out, only to discover the timeline is already too tight for their goals. With just a little advanced planning, they could have had the transformation they envisioned, right on schedule.
If you’re hoping to refresh your home by a specific date it’s smart to start the process at least 4–6 months in advance. For example, summer is the perfect time to launch a project if you want to entertain in a newly finished space by Christmas.
The Typical Interior Design Project Timeline:
Planning a design project means understanding the realistic phases involved. A well-managed interior design project timeline helps ensure your finished space looks effortless, even though it takes significant effort behind the scenes! Here’s what you can expect:
Discovery & Consultation (2–4 weeks)
From your first inquiry to officially kicking off the project, you should plan for about 2–4 weeks. During this time, we’ll schedule an in-home consultation to review your needs, measure the space, discuss the budget, and align on the scope. After the consultation, we prepare a detailed proposal outlining the investment, estimated timelines, and design fees. Once that’s approved, we onboard you as an official client and get started!
Design Development (6–12 weeks)
This is where the design magic happens. We begin with space planning and furniture layouts, then build out material palettes, finishes, fabrics, lighting, and custom furnishings to fit your vision. Approvals, revisions, and sometimes sourcing alternates can add time, so even a one- or two-room project often needs at least 6–8 weeks in this phase.
Procurement & Ordering (8–16+ weeks)
High-quality, heirloom-grade furniture takes time, especially when sourced from top-tier makers or made-to-order artisans. Pieces are ordered from around the globe, manufactured, shipped, and then inspected at our receiving warehouse before they can be scheduled for delivery to your home. For someone who has never gone through the interior design process before, its’s often surprising how long lead times for quality designer-grade furniture can be, but quality takes patience — and ensures a beautiful, durable result.
Construction & Renovation (4–12+ weeks)
Most of our projects involve at least some construction, even if it’s just lighting swaps or painting. These trades need to be scheduled, materials delivered, and quality checked. Even light construction requires thoughtful planning — ideally not too close to a major holiday or event, since contractor calendars fill up fast.
Installation & Styling (1–2 days)
Once everything is complete, we coordinate an install day where all furniture, rugs, and accessories are placed at once — giving you that HGTV-style “big reveal” moment. We style the space to perfection so it’s ready for photos, guests, and stress-free entertaining!
Pro Tip: Many of these phases overlap, and as your designer we help coordinate them to keep the schedule as efficient as possible — even if it feels slow sometimes. Trust the process, and you’ll get a result that’s worth the wait.
How Long Does an Interior Design Project Take for Different Spaces?
Every room has its own complexities, so your interior design project timeline will vary depending on the type of space, how much construction is involved, and the level of customization you want. Here’s a quick overview to give you a realistic sense of timing from project kickoff to final installation:
Living Room or Bedroom: 4–6 months
Furnishing-only projects can move a bit faster, but still require time for design, ordering, and any light trade work like painting or minor electrical. Custom furniture or window treatments often drive the schedule out several months.
Kitchen Remodel: ~6 months
Kitchens are the most complex room in the house — involving plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, appliances, and a million details. Even a “simple” kitchen redesign with updated finishes takes significant coordination, so plan for about six months from first meeting to the final reveal.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into the timeline for a kitchen remodel, check out our blog post on how long a kitchen remodel takes.
Bathroom: 3–4 months
Smaller than a kitchen, but still complex with plumbing, waterproofing, and tile installations. Design time, material lead times, and contractor scheduling all add up, so give yourself a realistic 3–4 month window.
Whole Home: 8–12+ months
A whole-home design project — especially with renovations — is a marathon, not a sprint. Custom cabinetry, permitting, construction phases, and furniture procurement all combine into a timeline that usually stretches to a year or more for a cohesive, polished result.
Keep in mind, these timeframes are only estimates. Your actual timeline will depend on project scope, local permitting, material lead times, and contractor availability. Starting early is always the best way to hit your target deadline.
How to Keep Your Project on Schedule
While delays happen, and are a normal part of any design project due to things beyond anyone’s control — like weather, trade availability, or global supply chain disruptions (thanks pandemic!) — there are ways you, as the client, can help keep your interior design project timeline on track.
First, having a clear vision from the very beginning is essential. Defining what you want your space to look and feel like, along with its functionality, gives your designer a roadmap to work efficiently. Gathering inspiration images, listing priorities, and knowing what doesn’t work for you can save weeks of revisions down the line. This is also something we help our clients with if you’re unsure (totally normal!) and you can read exactly how we find your interior design style in this blog post.
Equally important is trusting your designer’s process. Interior design is a layered, technical discipline that requires thoughtful sequencing and often involves waiting periods between phases. When you respect that roadmap, you help keep the momentum moving rather than forcing unnecessary, and often costly shortcuts.
Being decisive once selections are made also supports a smooth timeline. Every time you change your mind after approvals, you risk reordering items, paying restocking fees, or pushing trades off schedule, which can easily add weeks or even months to a project. Staying confident in your choices (and the designer you hired) allows your designer to execute your vision.
Realistic budgeting also plays a critical role. Unexpected budget gaps are a top reason projects stall, since they often require redesigning or sourcing more affordable alternatives. It’s important to discuss your investment level openly and early with your designer, so your we can build a plan that works for you without financial surprises.
Finally, maintain open and regular communication. Responding promptly to questions, attending scheduled check-ins, and voicing concerns right away can prevent small problems from growing into major delays. Projects thrive on proactive collaboration, and a strong client–designer partnership is always the best way to keep things moving smoothly toward that “big reveal” moment.
So, when should you start your interior design project?
The earlier the better, that will give you more options and more budget flexibility. If you’re hoping to enjoy a newly designed space for the holidays (as many do!), planning early is absolutely essential. Summer might feel far away from December celebrations, but in the design world, it’s prime time to get started.
Booking your project in the summer means you’ll have a much better chance of reserving the trades you need before their schedules fill up in the busy fall season. Plus, furniture and material lead times are longer than many clients expect, especially for custom pieces or specialty finishes. Starting sooner allows enough time to place orders, navigate potential shipping delays, and still have everything arrive for a coordinated installation.
Even light renovations can reveal surprises behind walls or floors that add unplanned time to a schedule. Starting in July or August gives you the breathing room to handle those challenges without the stress of a looming holiday event. You’ll also secure your installation day before calendars get packed, ensuring you get the finished, photo-ready space you envision — without a last-minute scramble.
Essentially, if you’re hoping for a refreshed space ready for holiday entertaining, July and August are the ideal months to kick off your project.
Great design takes careful planning, thoughtful collaboration, and time to execute with the quality your home deserves. Starting early gives you the best chance to achieve the transformation you’re envisioning without the stress of a last minute scramble this holiday season.
Our schedule for holiday installations fills quickly, and summer is the window to start your project to ensure it’s installed before the holidays. If you’re ready to explore how we can bring your dream space to life — on time and on budget — let’s talk.
Book a complimentary project planning call to discuss your goals.
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