A Complete Guide to Planning an Interior Design Project in Dubai

Interior designing can be a very exciting journey in Dubai; but, at the same time, it can also be quite difficult if you do not know where to begin. It can be anything from designing your apartment or villa to setting up an office or a commercial space. There are many aspects that need to be taken into consideration before taking on the project.

Selection of colors and furniture is a relatively smaller factor involved in interior designing projects. Interior design projects require good planning, realistic budgeting, space planning, appropriate materials, coordination and professional execution.

The diverse properties of Dubai imply that each interior design project will come with its unique needs. An interior design project for an apartment will definitely have very different requirements from those of a villa or even a commercial showroom.

Start With a Clear Vision

Before discussing materials, furniture or colours, think about what you want your space to achieve.

Ask yourself how you will use the property and what you want to improve. If it is a home, you may want a more comfortable living room, better storage, a modern kitchen, or a relaxing bedroom. If it is an office, functionality, employee comfort and brand identity may be more important. A retail or hospitality space may need to focus more on customer experience and movement.

You do not need to have the complete design figured out before meeting a professional. Even a collection of ideas, photographs, preferred colours or examples of spaces you like can give your designer a useful starting point.

The purpose of the first stage is to turn your general ideas into clear requirements that can eventually become a practical design.

Know Your Place Before Designing It

Each place has its own layout, proportions, natural light, and architectural elements. All of those should be taken into account prior to making any big design decision.

A professional interior design agency will analyze the current layout and examine how people move in and out of the premises. They will discover unused zones, awkward layouts and even suggest how to introduce storage facilities and make the most out of the place.

For instance, a huge living room is not always needed for more furniture. Sometimes zoning into areas for relaxation, entertainment, and dining makes the space well-balanced.

In the same way, a compact flat needs some storage options, multi-functional furniture, and clever lighting instead of decoration.

Determine a Realistic Budget

Budget planning is supposed to take place in the early stages of the project but not afterwards, when the design is already done.

The budget is to cover all the expenses associated with the process: design services, materials, furniture, joinery, lighting, construction, installation, approvals, etc.

It is also important to determine what is absolutely necessary for the project and what can be implemented only if the budget allows for it.

A professional interior design company will definitely discuss the budget with you and explain how the investment will be spent. Moreover, budgeting helps to avoid surprises during the project.

Bernini uses the design-and-build approach, which includes design development, approvals, procurement and construction.

Select an Interior Design Style That Will Suit Your Lifestyle

The interior design style of a Dubai house could be anything – whether it is a minimalist and contemporary interior design or luxury and classic interior design.

But choosing an interior design style just because it is the trend of the time might not necessarily be a good idea.

Look at how you lead your life. If you like an environment that is tranquil and clutter-free then, the minimalist interior design style will suit you well. Or, if you love hosting people at your place, then there might be some considerations with regard to your living and dining areas.

The most effective interior design takes into consideration both your personal preference and the practical requirements of the house.

It is fine to get inspiration from the latest interior design trend but the design style should suit you rather than just look like an imitation of the showcase.

Think about Space Planning

One of the most crucial aspects of an interior design project is space planning; and it is also one of the least considered ones.

Think about how people will move around in the room and how different areas will be utilized before making any decision with regard to the furniture. There should be ample of space around the furniture, doors should open easily, and frequently used areas should remain accessible.

Good space planning can also make a property look larger despite having no change in its actual dimension.

For example, in an apartment space planning can help in creating a separate workspace without compromising on the living area. Similarly, a villa can be divided into zones using space planning techniques.

Select Materials Wisely

Materials can affect both the appearance and durability of an interior.

The floors, walls, counters, cabinets, textiles, and fittings should all be chosen based on the purpose of the space.

While a family home might call for easy-to-maintain materials, a luxury home might favor more natural stone, custom finishes, and elaborate craftsmanship.

The idea here is not necessarily to choose the most costly materials. The idea is to choose the materials that will strike the right balance between appearance, durability, maintenance, and budget.

This is one way interior designers add value. Designers can coordinate materials so that they do not clash but complement each other.

Consider Lighting at the Design Stage

Lighting should always be a part of the design process from the beginning.

Even the best furniture can make a room look uninviting if there are poor lighting conditions in it.

Contemporary interiors usually include various types of lighting. There is general lighting which illuminates the entire room, task lighting which facilitates certain activities, and accent lighting which helps draw attention to certain objects.

The lighting can also depend on the natural light that comes into a room through its windows, curtains, and mirrors.

The right positioning of lighting fixtures can transform them from mere functional appliances into decorative elements.

Consider Bespoke Joinery

Furniture in the standard range may not be able to utilize the available spaces of the property to the fullest extent possible.

However, bespoke joinery could be developed on the basis of the specific dimensions and requirements. This would include wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, entertainment units, wall panels, storage systems, and any other such built-in furniture.

It is especially useful for apartments and villas of Dubai where the property owner desires to have as much storage capacity as possible in a clean and sophisticated way.

According to Bernini, bespoke joinery forms an important part of their portfolio of expertise along with interior design, project management, authority approvals, and design and build.

Understand Authority and Approval Requirements

Certain types of approvals and documents may be needed in certain projects in accordance with the regulations of the authorities.

This might complicate matters for property owners who do not understand the whole process.

Before starting the project, you should ask the interior design company whether there are any approvals and documents needed in order to start the project and who will handle that job.

Authority approval services of Bernini involve documentation, drawings, submissions, coordination, revisions and final clearances among other things.

Create a Realistic Timeline

Each interior project has its unique requirements. Therefore, the timeline of the project would depend on the size and complexity of the project.

Renovation of a room would take lesser time as compared to a full scale fit out of a villa including bespoke joinery, construction, lighting and flooring, etc.

The timeline would include the aspects of design development, approvals, materials procurement, construction and installation.

It is also worthwhile to note that construction changes can also lead to delays in the project.

Bernini’s project management service includes planning, coordination, site supervision, quality control, time management and final handover.

Working With a Group That Can Execute It Well

A good design may still require a good execution.

The interior project may involve various parties, including designers, engineers, construction team, joiners, suppliers, etc. And the coordination of such a large group is needed for the flawless execution.

That is why it might be useful to work with a company that manages both design and execution processes.

The design-and-build service by Bernini includes design development, approvals, procurement and construction all in one coordinated process giving you a single point of responsibility.

Check the Design Prior to Construction Start

Before starting implementation, take some time and check your design thoroughly.

It is necessary to examine the layouts, materials, lighting, colors, furniture arrangement, custom items, etc. And in case something seems to be wrong, you have the possibility to correct everything before the start of the construction.

It is also the moment to discuss the practical aspects like storage, electric points, lighting location, built-in appliances, etc.

Making decisions in the planning process is usually simpler than making them during the process of construction/fabrication.

Maintain Open Communication During the Whole Process

The communication between the client and the design team must continue during the whole project.

It might be necessary to make decisions regarding materials, finishes, site conditions or design corrections. And regular communication helps to avoid any miscommunication.

A well-established project management process will allow you to understand where the project is, what was done, what is currently being made and what will be next.

And in case of bigger projects, it is very important due to the fact that several processes can run simultaneously.

Consider Functionality of the End Product

One of the key questions one should answer in case of an interior design project is the following: “How is it going to function in real-life circumstances?”

In other words, the designed space should be not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and convenient.

This includes the place to keep things, ease of movement between spaces, comfort of seating places, maintenance of surfaces and effectiveness of lighting at any point in time of the day.

Thus, the best interior designs combine aesthetics and functionality.

Interior Design Process of Bernini Interiors

The company Bernini Interiors implements an organized process that starts with understanding the vision and expectations of the client. The company outlines its process in terms of initial consultation, design & planning, implementation and project handover.

The services offered by the company include interior design, bespoke joinery, project management, authority approvals and design & build service. It has a variety of residential, commercial, hospitality, office, retail and showrooms projects in its portfolio.

For instance, the Grande Apartment project in Downtown Dubai included space planning, bespoke joinery, flooring and lighting enhancement among other interior finishes as part of design-and-build residential project. According to Bernini, the 45 days period was required to complete the project.

This kind of approach might be quite helpful if the client requires the cooperation of design and implementation stages of the project.

Conclusion

The process of interior design for any property in Dubai need not be complex, but it does demand some level of preparation.

The first step is knowing what you hope to achieve with the interior and setting your budget, while conducting an analysis of the layout and designing in the right direction. After all this is done, one needs to take care of the approvals, planning the timelines, procurement and implementation.

However, it should always be kept in mind that interior design is more than just making the property look good.

Through the right planning and right professionals, your Dubai property will be turned into a functional and personalized interior.