Interior design questionnaire: 30 insightful questions to ask

Reimagining spaces as an interior designer can be extremely rewarding, especially when you see the joy on your clients' faces after transforming their space into something truly welcoming. But what about those instances when things don’t go as planned, leaving clients less than happy? It can be a rather awkward moment as you wonder how things went wrong. Many interior designers can empathize with that sentiment!

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Often, the issue arises from not asking the right questions to the clients at the beginning of the project.

Creating an interior design questionnaire can help you gather all the necessary information to avoid disappointing your clients. In this post, we’ll share how a client questionnaire can benefit your interior design business and include 30 insightful questions to add to your questionnaire.

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Content Snare assists you in collecting the information you need from clients. By using Content Snare, you get access to a questionnaire template filled with questions to help you create your own client questionnaire.

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How can a client questionnaire help you nail your interior design project?

There are several reasons why developing an interior design questionnaire is beneficial for your design process.

Set clear expectations

The questions you include in your client questionnaire will help you understand your new client and clearly define their expectations. Knowing their tastes, design styles, specific needs, personal preferences, and budget helps make your project proposal specific and ensures that you meet their expectations precisely.

Fill in missing gaps

While you may gather valuable information during your initial consultation, additional questions often emerge later. An interior design questionnaire can fill any gaps missed during the initial consultation, ensuring you are fully prepared to deliver your best work.

Save time

Asking clients about their preferences piece by piece through various meetings or phone calls is time-consuming. Centralizing all their answers in one place via a questionnaire can save you significant time and keep your design business more organized.

Leave a good impression

Sending a new client your interior design questionnaire following your initial consultation demonstrates established business processes and your commitment to understanding their needs. As clients answer your insightful questions, they'll appreciate the value of their investment in your services, enhancing your reputation and helping you secure referrals.

What questions should you ask clients in an interior design questionnaire?

Questions that assess the current situation

These questions help you gauge how well the space currently works for your client and identify any elements they aren’t keen to change. Use these questions to note their primary complaints and what should likely remain unchanged.

1. What do you love about the current design/space?

2. What do you dislike about the current design?

3. Are there any furnishings, decor items, collections, or sentimental art pieces you absolutely want to keep?

Questions that determine the intended use of the space

These questions help you understand how the client wants to use their new space. They are crucial before discussing design preferences.

4. What does your family (or if a business - your team) normally do in this room?

5. Can you describe the ages and characteristics of who will be using the space?

6. Do the users of this space have any hobbies or extracurricular activities that need to be factored into the design?

7. Do any users of this space have any special needs that need to be taken into account?

8. What are your goals for the room/ space?

9. What are your technical needs for this space?

Questions that assess your clients' design style

These questions help you pinpoint precisely what your clients like and dislike about design.

10. What colours do you like?

11. Are there any colour combinations you like?

12. What colours do you dislike?

13. What design style(s) do you prefer?

14. What design style(s) do you absolutely dislike?

15. What patterns, if any, do you like?

16. What patterns, if any, do you dislike?

17. What words would you use to describe the ideal style of the room?

18. Do you have any inspirational images you can share?

19. How do you want the space to "feel" or what mood do you want it to create?

20. What are your preferences for flooring?

21. What are your preferences for artwork?

Tip: You can even take these questions a step further by providing your client with images as examples.

Get this complete list of questions in our questionnaire template

When you use Content Snare, you’ll get access to our complete list of interior design questions pre-loaded into a client questionnaire. All you have to do is send it over to your clients!

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Questions that reveal expected working relationship and client fit

These questions help you understand the collaborative dynamics and client expectations for the project. They also clarify budget-related considerations.

22. Have you worked with a designer before?

23. Who makes the decisions on this project?

24. How involved are you planning to be with this process?

25. Do you want your design done in phases or all in one go?

26. If in phases, please list the rooms/areas/functionalities you’d like us to work on in order.

Questions on pricing and budget

Understanding your client's budget and priorities in the project is crucial.

27. What is your budget?

28. What is your preferred time frame for having this project complete?

29. What is more important to you, the budget or the result?

30. Are there any other services you need that I can help you with?

A. Create online forms like Google Forms, Gravity Forms

Google Forms and Gravity Forms are useful tools but come with a few drawbacks.

1. Clients have to finish forms in one go

Forms require clients to submit all information at once; otherwise, they must start over, causing potential delays.

2. You still need to use email regularly

Using online forms still requires manual follow-ups via email, consuming time.

B. Use a purpose-built tool like Content Snare

Tools like Content Snare can simplify the process.

1. Clients can fill out their questionnaire in their own time

Content Snare allows clients to save responses and return later, ensuring convenience.

2. You don’t need to use email separately

It automates email reminders, prompting clients to complete the questionnaire without manual intervention.

How to get your client to complete your questionnaire

Ensuring clients complete the questionnaire is vital. Here are some tips:

1. Set your expectations early on

Clearly communicate expectations during the initial consultation, emphasizing the importance of the questionnaire.

2. Follow up or use a tool that does this for you

Manually follow up or use Content Snare to automate reminders until the questionnaire is complete.

We hope this post provided helpful inspiration for your interior design questionnaire. Did we miss any great questions? Let us know in the comments!

Create your questionnaire

Using Content Snare to build your client questionnaire simplifies the process for clients and helps you receive needed information faster, streamlining project completion.

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Before you sign a contract or pay a deposit, ask your builder the following questions. It could potentially save you thousands and avoid costly legal bills.

Deposit and Pricing Questions

Once your plans and detailed specifications are finalized, a reputable builder will prepare a contract. The contract should outline both parties' responsibilities and include a progress and payment schedule.

1. How much is the deposit and how much will be kept should we not proceed?
2. At what point will we have the final price?
3. Can you give us a price before we pay a deposit?
4. If we pay for things like soil test and property information, do we get these reports to own should we not proceed?

Land Questions

Finding the right block of land for your new home is an important decision. There are various considerations when choosing the size and location of your land to ensure you can build your dream home.

If you agree to pay for preliminary information like a soil test, property report, and levels, you should ask your builder the following questions:

5. Do I require an engineer-designed foundation?
6. Do I require protection against termites?
7. Does the storm or septic water disposal system need to be engineer-designed?
8. Are retaining walls likely to be required?
9. Will there be soil/fill that needs to be taken away or brought onto the site?
10. Will there be services required to receive distant connections?

Plan & Design Questions

11. How many plans do you have in your range?
12. Can I modify your standard plans and at what cost?
13. Can I bring in my own plans for you to price?
14. Will you inspect our block before we buy it to ensure it’s suitable for the kind of house we want to build?
15. What is included in your floor area total?
16. Will you provide a comprehensive design consultation service? What will this include?
17. Will you provide modern visual design aids and access to professional designers to help me achieve the ideal plan that I want?
18. Will you help me to find out if there are specific requirements or restrictions regarding our home’s location on our block, and are there any protective covenants?
19. Will you give me a simple concept plan with my quote before I pay my deposit?
20. What energy rating will my home be aiming to achieve?
21. Where will the midday winter sun enter the house?
22. How much summer afternoon sun is going to enter the house?
23. Where will the view (if any) be visible from inside?
24. Are there long runs for the hot water and if so how will wastage/lag time be reduced?

Standard Inclusion Questions

25. Is your quote comprehensive in its inclusions?
26. Can you explain what is not included?
27. What soil classification is allowed for in your standard inclusions for foundation and slab design?
28. Will my colour selections be carried out locally?
29. What heating and cooling is included?
30. What floor coverings are included?
31. Do you have a soil test allowance in your standard inclusions?
32. Does the contract or quote include any provisional sums?
33. Have you included full drainage and other service costs or have you listed them as a provisional sum?

Credibility Questions

34. Are you trade certified and affiliated to a recognized industry body such as HIA/MBA?
35. Can you show me through any homes that are currently being constructed, or any completed homes?
36. Can you provide me written testimonials from past clients?
37. Is it a fixed build time?
38. Will you pay me money if you are over contract time?
39. What exceptions enable you to extend the contract time with no liquidations damages payable?

Confidence Questions

40. What health and safety processes do you have in place?
41. What contractors do you use?
42. Do you have a dedicated construction coordinator who will personally manage all sub-trades on my site, keep me informed of progress, and answer my questions?
43. Can I speak directly to the registered builder who’s ultimately responsible for my home construction?
44. How can I be sure your company is financially stable?

Guarantees Questions

45. Who does the builder acquire homeowner warranty insurance from?
46. Does this insurer cover loss of deposit, non-completion, and defects?
47. Does the builder have minimum $10 million dollars public liability insurance and construction insurance adequate for your home?
48. What is the maintenance period?

Technical Questions

Although many of these questions are technical, having responses can accurately compare quotes.

49. Is the supply of concrete pumping included?
50. What wall and ceiling insulation is included?
51. Is a three-coat paint system included? Using whose paint?
52. Is sarking to roofing included?
53. Are COLORBOND® downpipes included?
54. Are eaves standard on our chosen design?
55. What type of toilets and basins are included? Are they china?
56. Is obscure/safety