My Interior Design Process – Step-by-Step Guide

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1. Introduction

In this post, I’ll walk you through my complete interior design process, sharing a step-by-step approach I use in every project. From the initial client meeting, crafting a mood board, to creating stunning 3D renders using 3ds Max, V-Ray, and Photoshop, you’ll get an inside look at how I bring spaces to life.

For this project, I’m designing a space with a kitchen, dining area, small living room, and a corridor connecting these spaces to the main living area. It’s part of a villa in Saudi Arabia owned by Ibrahim, a client with a deep love for Kuwaiti culture and design. His rich personal history and connection to his environment played a significant role in shaping the final concept.

Interior design is about understanding each client's unique preferences. It’s not just about aesthetics—it’s about grasping how they live, how they want to feel in their space, and interpreting their personal style to create a home that truly reflects who they are.

2. Client Meetings: Laying the Foundation

The first step in any interior design project is a meeting with the client. Communication is key, whether it's over Zoom or in person. During this meeting, I aim to understand their preferences, lifestyle, and the overall vibe they want for their space. It’s not just about design—it’s about connecting with the client on a human level.

For one of my recent projects in Saudi Arabia, I was tasked with designing the kitchen, dining area, living space, and a corridor connecting to the main living room of a villa. My client, Ibrahim, had a deep love for Kuwaiti culture and an appreciation for nature, which greatly influenced the final design.

3. Creating the Mood Board

After the initial meeting, I compile my notes and distill them into key themes or words. For Ibrahim’s project, those keywords included:

• Curved and soft edges (feng shui principles)
• Yacht interiors
• Nature (plants, aquarium)
• Glossy dark wood
• Coastal vibes

To organize these ideas visually, I create a mood board using Canva. This process is simple yet effective, allowing me to arrange images, textures, and color palettes to reflect the client's vision. After creating the mood board, I send it to the client for feedback. Ibrahim loved most aspects, except for a light wood texture and a wooden ceiling, which we later adjusted.

4. The Influence of Feng Shui on the Design

Feng Shui played a crucial role in shaping the design of this project. Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy, Feng Shui aims to harness positive energy through the thoughtful arrangement of colors, shapes, furniture, and even architectural elements. One key principle is the use of curves over straight lines, as straight lines are believed to channel negative energy, while curves encourage positive energy flow. The design reflects this concept, where curved forms help create a more harmonious and inviting atmosphere.

Beyond shapes, the color palette and finishes are also heavily inspired by Feng Shui principles. Blues and dark grays, symbolizing water, are used to attract abundance, while browns and greens, representing wood, are included to promote health and prosperity. By thoughtfully incorporating these elements, the design looks beautiful and promotes well-being and balance, according to Feng Shui teachings.

5. From Sketch to 3D Design

Before diving into 3D design, I typically sketch a 2D space layout. This allows me to make subtle adjustments to improve functionality. However, the client had already collaborated with the architect on the layout for this project, so we kept the original plan and moved straight into the 3D modeling phase.

Using Autodesk 3ds Max, I began by modeling the current space, rotating and exploring it from different angles to visualize how the design elements would come together. Interior design is about creating captivating scenes where every object and wall treatment is carefully placed. It’s important not to emphasize every part of the space equally. Instead, I always identify focal points—key areas that draw attention and anchor the entire design around them.

A focal point is the first feature that catches your eye when entering a room. It could be a wall, furniture, or even an architectural detail. Designers often enhance focal points to make spaces more inviting and visually striking. For example, the bed is often the focal point in a bedroom, and its surrounding wall is typically designed to stand out. The remaining walls, which I call "invisible walls," are more subdued to create balance.

In this project, I chose three focal points: the wall adjacent to the sofa in the living area, the corridor (the most frequently used part of the space), and the partition wall between the living area and the kitchen.

The main walls in the living area and corridor are unified with the ceiling, extending to form graceful curves that soften the space. In the corridor, the positioning of the elevator, washing room, and toilet doors creates a rhythm of arches, inspired by the traditional Kuwaiti architecture that the client loves.

The third focal point is a wall that subtly separates the kitchen from the living area, where I placed a striking aquarium. The aquarium serves as a visual connection between the two spaces, and the vibrant red-orange Koi fish, a symbol in Feng Shui, adds an artistic touch. This wall also includes shelving beside the dining table, providing both functionality and style.

The remaining walls are painted in dark gray and blue tones, allowing the bright white walls and ceiling with hidden lighting to stand out. The entire design is balanced to ensure functionality and visual appeal, adhering to the principles we established from the start.

6. Yacht-Inspired Living Area and Dining Room Design

To evoke a yacht's cozy, luxurious feel in the small living area, I designed a custom-made L-shaped sofa that fits perfectly into the space. The sofa's curved angle allows plants to be placed behind it, enhancing the natural vibe of the room. The brown leather upholstery adds warmth and elegance, complementing the striking coffee table sourced from “Store 54.” I added a sleek armchair to create balance, which ties the room together beautifully.

For the dining room, I paired a one-of-a-kind dining table from the brand Hatch_KSA with stunning chairs from the renowned Italian brand Cattelan Italia. The combination exudes sophistication and brings a touch of European flair into the space.

The TV is mounted on the wall next to the sliding door, equipped with a rotating mechanism. This allows viewers to watch from either the living area or the kitchen, making the space even more functional.

7. Finalizing the 3D Model and Client Feedback

Once the 3D model was complete, I set up the lighting and materials in V-Ray and ran a few test renders to achieve the most realistic scene possible. Afterward, I proceed with the final renders, ensuring everything is polished and detailed.

The next step is post-production in Photoshop, which is an absolute game-changer. It allows me to enhance the raw V-Ray renders, bringing out the finer details and making the image truly come to life.

After sending these renders to my client, I was thrilled to hear his feedback. He loved the design and only requested one minor change—replacing the circular LED light above the dining table with a chandelier. I found one with a similar shape to maintain the original concept of an egg-shaped ceiling light.

Now, you might wonder why I don’t keep the client updated throughout the entire process or why I don’t share unfinished work. The reason is simple: in my experience, presenting an incomplete idea—no matter how original—can ruin it, especially when the client doesn’t have an architectural background.

Instead, I recommend taking the time to fully understand your client’s vision during the first meeting and encourage them to share any additional thoughts afterward. This approach helps streamline the process, ensuring the final design is clear and usually approved on the first attempt.

8. Moving on to the Final Drawings and BOQ

Now that the 3D model is complete, it's time to work on the final drawings. We achieve this by converting the 3ds Max file using the "Illustrate" plugin, which I might cover in a future video to explain how it works.

The output is a PDF that contains several detailed plans, such as the floor plan, furniture plan, ceiling plan, wall elevations, and many other essential details. Each plan will be annotated with dimensions, material names, and finish specifications.

But we’re not done yet. The final step involves producing a BOQ (Bill of Quantities) that lists all the materials used, along with their quantities and prices. We also create a shopping list for the furniture, making it easy for the client to source everything needed for the project.

Remember, the design process is not a straightforward ABCD path. It's an iterative process that often involves back-and-forth. Sometimes, it’s not until we see the 3D renderings that we realize the wrong material or furniture was chosen during the mood board phase.

You’ve probably heard me mention fundamental design principles like unity, balance, and rhythm—foundational elements in interior design. If you're not familiar with them yet, I highly recommend doing some research, as mastering these principles will significantly enhance your work as a designer.

9. Conclusion

I hope this detailed walkthrough of my interior design process was helpful and inspiring! From understanding the client’s needs to creating mood boards, 3D modeling, rendering, and finalizing plans, every step plays a crucial role in achieving a design that truly resonates with the space and its owner.

if you want to learn more about costume interiors, you can read this blog, where I explain this concept deeply.

If you're interested in learning more or want to dive deeper into topics like 3ds Max, V-Ray, Photoshop, or interior design principles, make sure to check out my YouTube channel, where I share in-depth tutorials, tips, and tricks to help you refine your skills as a designer.

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Thanks for reading, and I look forward to seeing you in the next post or video!

 

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Written by Khireddine Z