Guides
Writing a renovation brief
A clear brief gets better designs and comparable quotes. It does not need to be long; it needs to be specific.
A renovation brief describes what you want to achieve, not how to build it. It lists the rooms involved, what is wrong with them today, what each room needs to do afterwards, and which items are essential versus desirable. Reference images help show the style you like, and notes on what you dislike help just as much.
Decision guides set out how to judge a quote, a programme or a contractor fairly, so the comparison is made on like-for-like information.
Budget and timing belong in the brief too. A range rather than a fixed number helps the contractor suggest the right scope. A target date — and any fixed dates such as a family event or a lease — shapes how the work is programmed.
What matters most on this page
Problems before solutions
Describe what does not work now; let the design propose how to fix it.
Rank your wishes
Must-haves, nice-to-haves and things you can live without.
Share a budget range
It helps the contractor suggest a realistic scope.
What to include
Rooms and uses
Each room, who uses it and how often.
Style references
Photographs of spaces you like and notes on why.
Constraints
Community or building rules, dates, and whether you will live in the property during works.
Before sending the brief
Add photographs
Of every room involved, from several angles.
Include any drawings
Floor plans or previous renovation drawings.
Note what must stay
Furniture, appliances or finishes you are keeping.
Questions we are often asked
Do I need drawings to start?
No. Photographs and a written description are enough for a first conversation.
Should I share my budget?
A range helps avoid designs that cannot be built for the money available.
How detailed should the brief be?
Detailed enough to explain what you want and why; the design stage fills in the rest.
Related guides
- Protecting your home during a renovationAnother decision worth settling at the same stage.
- Renovation variations and change ordersAnother decision worth settling at the same stage.
- What a renovation contract should coverAnother decision worth settling at the same stage.
- Matt vs polished floor tilesA related choice about how the work is organised.
browse the guides, or see all renovation and fit-out services. We work on homes and commercial premises across Dubai.
Tell us about the property
Tell us what you are deciding between and what you have been given so far. We will tell you what is worth checking next.
Phone
+971 58 846 4007Good for talking a job through and arranging a visit.
WhatsApp
Send a messageUseful for photographs, floor plans and measurements.
Next step
Send us your brief
Share your notes, photographs and a budget range. We will tell you what is realistic and what to clarify next.