When embarking on a home decorating project, it is natural to feel eager for the finished result. However, with over 20 years of experience, I can assure you that the journey is just as important as the destination. Decorating and furnishing your home is a thoughtful process that requires time, patience, and careful planning.
Following a proven process — and completing each phase in the proper order — is what keeps your project moving forward efficiently and helps avoid costly mistakes, delays, or having to redo work later on. Our process is built around careful coordination, clear communication, and attention to detail.
01. Discovery
Our journey begins with an on-site Design Discovery Session. This initial meeting allows us to understand your project and its scope thoroughly. Afterward, we refine our notes and outline your project details. If we determine we are a good fit for your project, we will provide these notes along with a detailed proposal for our design services within 5 business days.
Effective timeline management starts from the very beginning. We carefully schedule each project to ensure it receives the dedicated attention it deserves, avoiding any overlapping stages with other projects. While this approach may result in a longer wait time to begin, it allows us to maintain steady progress and momentum, ensuring a smooth and continuous process.
02. Design
Within 1-2 weeks of our initial Discovery Session, we schedule a call with you to review the proposal and contract. Once you accept, we set up your Trade Day. Ideally, this occurs within a month, but it may extend up to 3 months depending on our project schedule. During this phase, open communication is key. We set clear expectations from the beginning and address any differing opinions or new ideas to keep the process efficient and on track.
As a client, it can be easy to underestimate how much work goes into developing a complete design concept before any purchasing decisions can be made. While progress may feel invisible, behind the scenes we are creating floor plans, refining layouts, sourcing furnishings and materials, selecting finishes, and coordinating with trades and suppliers.
Once the design has been finalized, we obtain pricing for all labour, materials and products — a process that can take up to two weeks on its own. Because pricing can fluctuate, this step must happen after the design work is complete to ensure the investment plan is as accurate as possible.
The design process itself spans 8 to 16 weeks and culminates in a design presentation, followed by a two-week period for any revisions. While it may seem beneficial or quicker to dive into the work immediately, doing so without a complete and approved plan can often lead to additional costs, extra work, or compromises that could have been avoided.
For example, we have occasionally had clients eager to begin work before the design phase was complete. In one case, hardwood floors were refinished early in the process, only for the finalized design to include a new fireplace surround that exposed unfinished flooring beneath. The floors ultimately required additional finishing work that could have been avoided had the complete design been established first.
The planning completed during this phase lays the foundation for a successful project. The more thoroughly we plan before moving into procurement and implementation, the smoother the entire process becomes. Once you approve the design, we finalize the investment plan, collect your deposit, and conduct a thorough pre-order meeting before the procurement process begins.
03. Procurement
In the Procurement phase, the timeline can vary significantly depending on the scope of your project, and suppliers’ lead times. Unlike renovations, decorating projects do not require permits, but the lead times for furniture and decor items are often longer than those for construction materials. Typical lead times range from 12 to 16 weeks once orders are placed.
Effective management of trade and supplier timelines is crucial during this phase. We diligently follow up weekly on all orders and stay updated on the delivery schedules for goods (tedious work that you don’t have to do!). Each item is carefully inspected upon arrival and issues are promptly addressed to minimize delays. Despite our best efforts, there are almost always backordered items and a punch list of resolutions after installation day.
Please Note: While we aim to provide accurate timelines, we often find ourselves at the mercy of external factors such as trade availability and supply chain issues that can affect everything from initial quotes to final delivery.
04. Installation
Once at least 80% of your items have arrived, we will schedule your project installation. If trade work such as painting or custom millwork is part of your project scope, it will be completed before any new furniture is brought into your home.
Despite our thorough planning, challenges can still arise during this phase. Unlike renovation issues, which can often be quickly resolved with a return visit from a trade professional, decorating resolutions generally have a lengthier timeline. Replacing a deficient product often involves going through the entire ordering process again, which resets the lead time.
We do everything in our power to prevent delays, though some factors remain beyond our control. When challenges arise, we work proactively to minimize any disruption to your daily life — whether that means providing loaner furniture or finding other thoughtful solutions so you can continue living comfortably while we work toward a resolution.
Quick Takeaways: How Long Does It Take to Furnish & Decorate a Home?
- Most full-service decorating projects take approximately 6 months from Trade Day to completion.
- The process includes four phases: Discovery, Design, Procurement, and Installation.
- The Design Phase typically takes 8–16 weeks and includes space planning, sourcing, material selections, and pricing.
- The Procurement Phase typically involves 12–16 week lead times for furniture and decor once orders are placed.
- Much of the work happens behind the scenes before furniture arrives, including design development, supplier coordination, and order management.
- Following a structured process helps avoid costly mistakes, delays, and unnecessary rework.
Ensuring a Successful Decorating Project
A successful decorating project typically takes approximately 6 months from Trade Day to completion. By following each phase in order, we are able to make informed decisions, avoid costly surprises, and create a home plan that supports your lifestyle with ease.
If you are ready to begin this transformative journey, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Yours,
Lori
