Questions that assess the current situation

These questions help you get a feel for how well the space is currently working or not working for your client. Sometimes you uncover some elements of the room that your client is attached to and not looking to change. Use these questions to mark down their primary complaints and make a note of what you should probably leave alone.

1. What do you love about the current design/space?

2. What do you dislike about the current design?

3. Are there any furnishings, decor items, collections, or sentimental art pieces you absolutely want to keep?

Questions that determine the intended use of the space

These questions will help you paint yourself a picture of how your client wants to use their new space and what they’re looking to get out of your design. These are very important questions to ask before you dig into design preferences.

4. What does your family (or if a business - your team) normally do in this room?
- E.g. watching TV, playing with toys, brainstorming, having meetings, doing yoga, playing video games, reading.

5. Can you describe the ages and characteristics of who will be using the space?
- E.g. young children, remote workers, grandparents, boomers, teachers, mixed demographic of professionals.  

6. Do the users of this space have any hobbies or extracurricular activities that need to be factored into the design?
- E.g pilates, cooking, reading, yoga, meditation, daily naps, arts & crafts.

7. Do any users of this space have any special needs that need to be taken into account? - E.g. wheelchair accessibility, inability to reach high places, need for dim lighting, trouble with stairs.

8. What are your goals for the room/ space?
- E.g. a space for one sole purpose vs a space for mixed activities, a space where parents can work while surprising children, a space that encourages collaboration and creative brainstorming.

9. What are your technical needs for this space?
- E.g. surround sound, wifi, home theater, computers, projector, smartboard, hidden cables

Questions that assess your clients’ design style

Ask these questions to narrow in on exactly what your clients like and don’t like when it comes to design.

A heads up - not every client will have the descriptive vocabulary to be able to communicate exactly what you want. It’s on you to help give them some ideas. For these questions, we recommend including both multiple-choice options with some ideas as well as open-ended questions so they can get more specific or mention other ideas that aren’t on your list of options.

10. What colours do you like? 
- e.g. neutrals, pastels, blacks, olive greens, ocean colours, bold colours

11. Are there any colour combinations you like?

12. What colours do you dislike?
- e.g. yellows, mustard, dark colours, overly bright colours

13. What design style(s) do you prefer?
- e.g. modern, beachy, contemporary, traditional, eclectic, bohemian, other

14. What design style(s) do you absolutely dislike?
- e.g. modern, beachy, contemporary, traditional, eclectic, bohemian, other

15. What patterns, if any, do you like?
- e.g. stripes, zigzags, polka dots

16. What patterns, if any, do you dislike?
- e.g. stripes, zigzags, polka dots

17. What words would you use to describe the ideal style of the room?
- e.g. casual, formal, spacious, clean, minimal, sophisticated, lived-in, welcoming, romantic

18. Do you have any inspirational images you can share?
Tip: use a questionnaire tool like Content Snare that lets clients upload their own reference photos

19. How do you want the space to “feel”, or what mood do you want it to create?
- e.g. warm, cosy, airy, bright, lively, glamorous, welcoming

20. What are your preferences for flooring?
- e.g. hardwood, carpet, concrete, tile, marble

21. What are your preferences for artwork?
- e.g abstract, landscape, nature, photographs, architecture

Questions that reveal expected working relationship and client fit

Ask these questions to get a feel for who and how you’ll be collaborating with to get the job done. You’ll need to find out who your primary point of contact is and just how involved they want to be. The answers to these questions will also tell you if the client has enough of a budget to be a fit for your design business.

22. Have you worked with a designer before?
- If yes - ask follow up questions on how the experience was: what went well and what didn’t

23. Who makes the decisions on this project?
- Follow up by asking for their direct phone number and email address

24. How involved are you planning to be with this process?
- e.g. very involved, involved, minimally involved  

25. Do you want your design done in phases or all in one go?

26. If in phases, please list the rooms/areas/functionalities you’d like us to work on in order.

Questions on pricing and budget

These questions help you understand your client’s budget, how willing they are to go past it, and what’s most important to them in the project.

27. What is your budget?

- Provide open-ended questions as well as ranges for budget options

28. What is your preferred time frame for having this project complete?

29. What is more important to you, the budget or the result?

30. Are there any other services you need that I can help you with?