When Should You Engage an Interior Designer — After Finalising Floorplans with Your Architect or Before?
If you’re planning a new build or major renovation, one of the biggest questions that comes up is: When should I bring in an interior designer?
After you’ve finalised the floorplans with your architect? Or before?
The short answer: as early as possible. Ideally, you want your interior designer and architect working together from the very beginning.
Why Collaboration Matters
Think of your architect and interior designer as two parts of the same orchestra. The architect sets the overall composition — the structure, the form, the big-picture vision of your home. The interior designer comes in with the details — the flow, the function, the emotion that makes the space sing once you’re actually living in it.
When these two disciplines work in isolation, you get gaps. But when they collaborate? You get a home that feels seamless from the outside in.
Does That Mean Designers “Override” the Architect’s Vision?
Absolutely not. An interior designer is not there to “step on” the architect’s creative direction. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
We see ourselves as the detail partner to the architect’s vision. Where the architect might be focused on the building’s form, compliance, structure, and exterior, the interior designer zooms in on the flow, function, and daily life inside those walls.
Together, the two perspectives enhance each other. It’s collaboration, not competition.
What Happens If You Wait Until After Floorplans Are Finalised?
It’s still possible to bring in a designer once floorplans are signed off — but here’s the catch: the opportunity to perfect the flow of your interiors may be limited.
For example:
That kitchen you love might look stunning on paper, but without detailed input, there may not be enough space for concealed storage or a practical island layout.
A bathroom placement might make sense structurally, but it could miss the chance for natural light or an optimal flow.
A living room might feel generous in square metres but awkward in furniture arrangement once built.
When an interior designer joins the team early, we can make sure the interior layout works as hard as the architecture.The result? A home that’s not only beautiful but also deeply functional for the way you live.
Why Some Architectural Firms Fall Short on Interiors
Some architectural practices have their own interior design departments, and if you’re working with one of those firms, you’ll often get that integrated service.
But many firms don’t. Their expertise is in structures, facades, and compliance — not necessarily the intimate details of how a family will use their kitchen every morning or where the power points need to go next to the bed.
That’s not a flaw; it’s just a different skillset. By engaging an independent interior designer, you’re filling that gap and ensuring your interiors are considered with the same level of care and expertise as the architecture.
What Interior Designers Bring to Early-Stage Projects
Engaging an interior designer from the start means:
Refined floorplans – ensuring rooms aren’t just well-proportioned, but practical for furniture, storage, and everyday movement.
Interior flow – creating natural connections between spaces so the home feels cohesive and intuitive.
Material strategy – considering finishes, textures, and palettes early so they integrate seamlessly with architectural choices.
Lighting design – planning feature lighting, natural light optimisation, and concealed illumination right from the start.
Future-proofing – spotting potential issues before they become costly changes on site.
These details might not be obvious in the first draft of an architect’s plans — but they can make or break your long-term enjoyment of your home.
💡 If you’d like to dive deeper into how layouts are tailored to the way a family actually lives, have a read of our earlier blog post where we explore this in detail. 👉 Creating a Layout that Works for Your Family Lifestyle
The Best Projects are Team Efforts
At TID Studio, we believe the best homes are created when architects and interior designers work side by side. Each brings a different strength to the table, and together they ensure that what you end up with is not only stunning but also practical, timeless, and perfectly suited to your lifestyle.
So, if you’re at the exciting start of your project and wondering who to call first, our advice is simple: don’t wait. Bring in your designer early. Your future self (and your future home) will thank you.
Ready to Start Your Project?
If you’re planning a new build or renovation and want to make sure your interiors are considered from the very beginning, let’s chat. At TID Studio, we work hand-in-hand with architects and builders to create homes that are not only beautiful but brilliantly functional.
👉 Fill in our contact form to book your Introductory Meeting — let’s set your project up for success from day one.
