What a space-planning brief should include

A space-planning brief is essentially a shared document—formal or casual—that tells your designer what you're trying to achieve, what constraints exist, and what they need to know before they start measuring and sketching. It's the difference between a designer working with fragments of your vision and one working with clarity. The best designers ask for one because it saves time, reduces back-and-forth, and means the first concept they present is closer to what you actually need.

You don't need a polished PDF. Strove's verified designers will work with notes, photos, a voice memo, or a combination. What matters is that you've thought through the shape of your problem before the first meeting.

What the existing space is and does today

Start with the raw facts. Describe the room—dimensions if you know them, or just "small bedroom" or "long narrow lounge". Note the permanent features: where are the windows, doors, built-in cupboards, radiators, power outlets? If there are obstacles (a structural column, a sloped ceiling, an awkward alcove), flag them. Take a few photos from different angles—these are invaluable.

Then describe what's not working. Don't assume the designer will guess. Is the furniture arrangement awkward? Does traffic flow badly? Does it feel cramped or echoey? Does no one have a place to sit and work? Is it noisy? Cold? Too dark? Be specific about what frustrates you daily.

If the space currently serves multiple purposes—bedroom that's also a home office, lounge that's a playroom—explain how. Describe the rhythm: who uses it when, and for what. A designer needs to know whether the sofa has to be moveable, whether there's study that happens at a desk, whether toddlers will crawl on the floor, or whether the space sits empty most of the day.

Who will use it and what they need

List the people: how many, their ages or roles. If you're redesigning a home office, note whether you're video-calling clients or just emailing. If it's a teenager's bedroom, are friends coming over? Does the occupant need a dressing area, storage for hobby equipment, or space to do homework?

Then spell out the non-negotiables. These are the things a brief really needs:

• How many people need to sit, sleep, or work in the space, and roughly at the same time or rotating?
• What specific furniture or equipment must stay (an inherited table, a bed frame you love, a bookshelf).
• Storage priorities (where will shoes live, art supplies, seasonal clothes, toys?).
• Traffic patterns (who walks through the space, and where do they need to go?).
• Ambience and mood (calm and minimal, warm and eclectic, energising, grown-up, kid-friendly).
• Budget range, even if it's a broad one. This shapes recommendations about new furniture or whether the designer is repositioning what you have.
• Timescale (do you need this solved in weeks or can it be phased over months?).

You don't need to guess the designer's language. Just explain what matters to you and your family.

Constraints and preferences

Space planning happens inside boundaries. Mention them upfront. Are there architectural features you must keep or can't afford to move? Are you renting (so nothing structural)? Do you have a specific colour scheme or style in mind, or do you actively want to avoid something (no dark walls, nothing too minimal, nothing too maximalist)? Are there health or accessibility needs—someone using a wheelchair, someone with chronic pain who needs support when standing?

If you have a Pinterest board or Instagram account of rooms you like, share the link or a few screenshots. This is shorthand; it tells the designer whether you're drawn to calm Scandinavian layouts or cosy eclectic spaces or something else entirely.

The more a designer understands upfront—the real problem, who lives there, what can't change, and what you value—the faster they can work and the fewer detours you'll both take. Verified space planners on Strove will guide you through this conversation if you're unsure what matters; the brief itself is just your way of arriving prepared.