When interior decorating, we all try to develop unique projects and collect the best creative ideas, which is why interior design can rarely have any rules attached to it.
Thereof, you will hardly find a complete step-by-step guide of interior design tips that apply to all homes – the best designers and experts can do is to suggest a basic framework where all developments and improvements will depend exclusively on individual needs.
The problem is, however, that the more freedom you’re given to developing an interior design concept statement, the more challenging it becomes to depict the right additions.
Image source: Buckingham Interiors + Design LLC
The Interior design concept statement combines the most important ideas and processes contained in your interior design proposal.
In order to understand them better, think of a design competition you have attended, and the visual groundwork statement you had to present there.
In the case of home design or renovation, a concept statement serves as groundwork plans.
A good interior design statement will guide you through every stage of the design process, and spell out everything that needs to be done.
You’re encouraged to include every detail (especially when applying for a client’s project), and continue once your ideas have been approved.
The challenge is to keep the design concept short and concise, and include few sentences (paragraphs) instead of long texts.
As we already said, it is difficult to give readers an applicable interior design concept statement example; because it is their ideas that will help them complete the project successfully.
Image source: Grossman Photography
The rule is as follows: there is little chance common concepts and ideas will necessarily work for you as well. Instead, you should be seriously considering developing a statement of your own.
Nevertheless, there are s few interior design basics that apply to every design concept statement:
Naming the issue: How would you solve a problem if you don’t know what the problem is about?
Image source: Diligence International
Instead of jumping on the concept bandwagon, contact your clients and analyze their brands, audiences, goals, or the market in general.
Doing the homework – Note that the clients won’t always give you the information you need, so research on your own behalf, analyze competing websites and understand where both you and the client are placed on the market.
Once you’ve done this, generating fresh ideas for your interior design concepts won’t be difficult.
This is what you need to know before initiating the concept statement preparation:
Collecting these answers is critical to the success of your design concept statement.
Image source: Michael Molthan Luxury Homes Interior Design Group
When you’re simply remodeling your place, the objective is pretty self-explanatory.
Designing for clients, however, is a different story: the statement has to suit the vision, and the vision has to be real, namely you need a method to explain how you’re planning to execute your client’s idea.
The challenge that distinguishes great from good designers is being able to handle statements even when they don’t really know what the client wants from them.
Image source: Philip Nimmo Design
Don’t make the mistake of neglecting design concept statements, as these are integral parts of every successful design scenario.
You have to master the craft, and learn how to write a design concept statement:: your statements will be particularly important when preparing submissions for your portfolio, even when the client doesn’t specifically require such a competitive requirement.
Your interior design concept statement will make clients trust you’re in your work, so do your best to make them impressive.
Image source: Philip Nimmo Design
Think of whatever simple project an interior designer would take over: a more appealing breakfast nook, for instance. The objective here is more than clear, but you have to consider all available options for completing it.
The client is probably still considering whether to hire you, so the challenge is to use your statement to convince them that you have the most appropriate solution compared to competitors.
In the case of the breakfast nook, for instance, you can suggest a storage unit below the nook, or a couple of cute wooden chairs to accompany it. By sharing interior design principles, you can present a concept statement to your clients.
Image source: Britto Charette – Interior Designers Miami , FL
You might know by now that interior design concept statements are vital. However, you might still be asking “What is a concept statement and why would you need one?” What design concept statements do is to communicate effectively the designers’ approach towards executing a client’s project, or to present a new idea to his audience.
As such, the interior design concept must encompass all operational issues, and invoke a specific feeling similar to the one the final project should create (openness, elegance, energy, and so on).
Creative designers are also invited to include drawings and visual images to depict the final product as closely as possible.
Image source: Melinamade Interiors
The more personal opinions you include in your statement, the more trustworthy it will seem, and it will show the client that you’re not simply repeating what he or she wants, or rotating around the same generalities. Instead, you can use your designer statement to show your unique understanding of the client’s requirements.
‘Comfortable chairs’ don’t tell much about what you’re trying to design, and don’t reveal the professional strategy the client wants to hear.
Instead, you should go into details and explain what the nook is made of, how it would feel, or look under morning sun streams.
That’s the only way to inspire a client to give your statement a second look, instead of tossing it away as irrelevant.
Image source: Kukk Architecture & Design P.A.
Doing so will help prospective readers understand the core of your idea, as for instance your intention to create a warmer environment in an otherwise cold and unfriendly living room.
Therefore, you should be as detailed as possible and depict tiniest details such as lighting, colors, and fabrics.
At the same time, add a personal flair to it, and explain what inspired you to think of such a concept, and mention related projects you’ve accomplished if there are any to draw upon
In case you’re dealing with an average client that doesn’t know much about interior design, start by explaining interior design principles. These include 5 basic bottom lines of décor: lines, shapes, space, colors, and textures.
Image source: ABRAMS
That’s your best bet to convince your client that you’re about to use his space in a smart way, without overcrowding it.
What is of critical importance in similar circumstances is to preserve a descriptive, yet easy-to-understand language, and to stay away from statements that sound too technical.
Finally, make sure you’ve considered all-important correlations, and stored copies of your statement before delivering it. Remember, each new project has the potential to become the masterpiece you’ll refer to when promoting your work in future.
Image source: Blanchard Ltd
Obviously, you shouldn’t exclude facts and descriptions from your statement, but keep it clear and concise.
Try to depict the product with precision, and make sure your adjectives are descriptive rather than ambiguous. Most of the time, ‘marvelous’ won’t be the right way to describe an interior design project.
Image source: Drew McGukin Interiors @drewmcgukin
Keep sentences short. This will help you to describe the concept the clearly. If you need to sideline your imagination, do so, and behave as an editor rather than an artist.
Egocentrism and writing in the first person won’t help customers take you seriously. Instead, staying objective will make your statement look like a professional piece of information.
Unless you’re home interior decorating, the statement has nothing to do with what you like but reflects the concept you’ve developed to meet customers’ expectations.
Thereof, keep it brief, and stick to the most unique and memorable details. Repeating yourself is not an option either.
Image source: MiCasa
Following some of the best practices, we concluded that the strongest interior design mission statements are the ones that possess specific details and discuss the economic aspect of every action the designer is going to make in order to meet his client’s needs and goals.
At the same time, it describes his strategy in detail and presents a well-elaborated plan filled with technical specifications.
In a business concept statement example, if the client wants a homey environment in his office, the designer has to work out a specific lighting, painting, and furnishing approach to deliver the appropriate results.
Image source: Callender Howorth
If you believe concept statements aim to simply list your ideas, you’re wrong. What it does is to sell those ideas to clients, and that’s why its quality has to be impeccable.
This can be achieved in several different ways: you can pick the most powerful and eye-catchy feature and work the mood around it, or pay attention to the emotional reactions your strategy is likely to inspire.
Sometimes, it will take a single sentence explaining how you’ll fix the problem, but in other occasions, it will take much more ‘parroting’ to convince the client that your solution is the right one.
Generally, you should try to explain your idea in the shortest possible way, but without missing any of the important details that would sell it.
Image source: Lovejoy Designs
The concept is critical for both small and big design projects and challenges even most experienced designers to communicate their creative strategies in a way which can win their customers’ hearts.
A perfect concept, nevertheless, requires them to gather as much critical information as possible.
The first step in order to collect information is to consult clients and ask them relevant questions, and they try to place their answers somewhere among your best ideas.
At the same time, we recommend you to do some personal research; get to know your industry, and the effects of your products and services.
A quick look at your competitors won’t harm either, as it is their concepts that will be most helpful for creating one of your own.
When planning your concept statement, think whether you want to present it visually or verbally, depending on your intention.
Visual statements showcase what needs to be done, while verbal ones communicate the way in which it will be done.
Both represent imperative roadmaps that ensure the success of your design, so make sure you’ve developed them properly, and that you’ve chosen the best way to solve the problem.
