Home project planning
Write a room brief before buying furniture
A room brief lists what people do in the room, who uses it, what stays and what the space allows. Write it before you look at furniture, so the shopping list starts from walls, doors and daily habits instead of photos.
A text to start with
I am furnishing [room name], which measures [length and width] with [doors, windows, radiators or fixed features]. People who use it: [names or roles]. Activities it must support: [list]. Pieces I am keeping: [list with sizes]. Budget and timing: [details]. Draft a one-page brief that ranks the activities, lists the space limits, and marks every requirement that depends on a measurement I have not taken yet.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Room brief worksheet
Room: [ ] Room dimensions and date measured: [ ] Fixed features (doors, windows, vents, outlets): [ ] People who use the room: [ ] Activity 1 and who does it: [ ] Activity 2 and who does it: [ ] Activity 3 and who does it: [ ] Activity ranking, most to least important: [ ] Pieces staying, with width, depth and height: [ ] Space needed beside each activity: [ ] Clear walking route that must stay open: [ ] Requirements that conflict with each other: [ ] Requirements still needing a measurement: [ ] Budget and deadline: [ ] Agreed by: [ ]
Where room briefs go wrong
A wish list can contradict the floor plan without anyone noticing. A reading chair, a desk and a play area may each be reasonable, yet a room with one clear wall may hold only one of them. Look for requirements with no size, such as a large sofa with no depth given. Check that kept pieces are measured, not estimated. If every activity is marked equally important, the brief cannot settle a conflict later. Doors, swing paths and outlets belong in the limits from the start.
Ask another agent to check the result
Read this room brief against its stated measurements. Find every requirement that cannot fit in the space and every pair of requirements that conflict. Quote the lines involved and name the measurement that is missing. Do not suggest furniture to buy.
Turn the brief into measurements
Measure the room and each kept piece, then add the numbers to the brief and mark which requirements still lack one. Note where people pass, stand and sit during a normal day. Show the brief to everyone who uses the room and record who agreed to which priority. Then compare furniture, using the brief as the filter for each candidate.