The first design you get back from interior designers Nairobi Kenya clients hire is only as good as the brief you gave them. Vague brief, vague design, three rounds of revisions. Clear brief, and the first concept is usually close.
At R World Enterprise Ltd we start every project with a free consultation and site assessment, and the brief is what makes that meeting useful. Here’s what to put in yours, and a template you can copy.
What a good brief covers
Our interior design work covers space planning, material and finish selection, lighting concept design, furniture and fixture coordination, branding integration for commercial spaces, and styling. A good brief gives us something to work with in each area.
| Brief section | What to tell us | What it shapes |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | What the space is for and who uses it | Space planning and layout |
| People | How many, how they work or live, any special needs | Furniture, circulation, storage |
| Look and feel | Words, photos, spaces you like and dislike | Materials, finishes, styling |
| Light | When the space is used and what it needs to feel like | Lighting concept |
| Brand (commercial) | Guidelines, colours, logo files | Branding integration |
| Must-keep items | Furniture, equipment or features you’re keeping | Layout and coordination |
| Budget | A range you’re comfortable with | Finish choices and scope |
| Timeline | Your deadline and the reason for it | Schedule and phasing |
A brief template you can copy
Purpose: The space is used for [activity] by [number] people.
Look and feel: We want it to feel [three words]. We like [examples]. We don’t like [examples].
Must keep: [items we’re keeping]
Brand: [attached guidelines / not applicable]
Budget range: [range]
Deadline: [date], because [lease / opening / move-in].
Also needed: [construction / fit-out / approvals / furniture]
Send it with photos or drawings through our contact page, or email info@rworld.co.ke.
Three things people leave out (and regret)
- The reason behind the deadline. “By March” is a wish. “By March because our lease ends” is a constraint we plan around.
- What they don’t like. It’s often easier to describe and saves a whole round of revisions.
- Whether construction is involved. If walls are moving or services are changing, we need to know at the start. We can handle interior design together with construction or fit-out, but it changes the plan.
A vague brief and a clear brief, side by side
| Consideration | Vague brief | Clear brief |
|---|---|---|
| First concept | A vague design and three rounds of revisions | The first concept is usually close |
| Deadline | “By March” is a wish | “By March because our lease ends” is a constraint we plan around |
| What you dislike | Left out, which costs a round of revisions | Described up front, which saves a whole round of revisions |
| Construction | Left out | Stated at the start, because it changes the plan |
What happens after you send the brief
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Free consultation and site assessment | We talk through the brief and see the space |
| Concept and planning | Layout, materials and a clear timeline |
| Quote | A free, no-obligation quote based on size, finishes and scope |
| Build and finish | Fit-out or construction, then styling and handover |
If you’re also comparing firms, our guides on how to compare interior designers beyond the portfolio and the buyer’s guide will help. For the cost side, read what drives interior design cost in Kenya.
A filled-in example
Here’s what a short, useful brief looks like for a small office:
Purpose: Head office for 30 staff, mostly finance and operations, with frequent client meetings.
Look and feel: Calm, professional, warm. We like timber and plants. We don’t like all-white, clinical spaces.
Must keep: Existing server room and 20 desks.
Brand: Guidelines attached.
Budget range: [range]. Deadline: end of March, because our current lease ends then.
Also needed: Partitions, new lighting, meeting room joinery.
It fits on one page, and it answers most of the questions we’d ask at the first meeting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a brief before contacting an interior designer?
It helps a lot, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. We’ll fill gaps during the free consultation.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. We start with a free consultation and site assessment.
What if I don’t know my budget?
Give a range you’re comfortable with. We’ll show what different finish levels mean for cost.
Do you work on homes as well as businesses?
Yes. We do residential and commercial interiors.
Which areas do you cover?
Nairobi and surrounding counties.
A clear brief is the cheapest design decision you’ll make
Good interior designers Nairobi Kenya clients work with will ask about all of this anyway. Writing it down first saves time, revisions and money. Copy the template, fill in what you can, and send it over.
Send my brief