Whether you’re DIY-ing your space or reaching out to a pro, having a description of your project ready to go will keep you focused on your goals. The description should be a few sentences that communicate exactly what you want to accomplish as simply as possible. We’re going to use the classic editorial formula to create a quick and precise description for your project. The only difference is that we’re going to start with the “where”.

Where: The best place to start when building your description is with the location. This is simple if you have one room or a whole home you’re looking to upgrade. If you’re updating part of a nonresidential space or home, you want to get really specific about which space gets the focus. For instance, you may want to update your kitchen and laundry room together because they have the same flooring. Or you may want to do a reception area and conference room for your office space.

Who: Who will be using the space? This is key in focusing on who gets priority in terms of materials and solutions. If this is your home, this could be you, your partner, your kids, or the whole family. If this is a nonresidential space, like a boutique store, the “who” could be you, your customers and your employees.

What: I know that making decisions about what you want to do in these situations can be hard, but we want to identify 3 key features to update. Are we updating a bath? Then you might want to see new shower tile, fresh paint, and brand new tile floor. Updating a cafe space? You may want to see a new cash wrap, floor, and wall art..

When: In considering the timing for your project, what you decide is completely subjective to your lifestyle. On the one hand, you may have a hard deadline because of an upcoming event, like the holidays or a launch party. On the other, you may not want to start until something is over, like the end of the school year or once your business reaches a growth milestone.

Why: Now you may think the reason why is completely unimportant, but it can absolutely reveal design considerations for your project. Be real about it and get personal if need be. Your why could be as basic as, “I’m tired of looking at this bland wall,” or as serious as, “My husband was in an accident and now needs to be able to get around in a wheelchair.” From a business perspective, you could want a safe way for customers to get in and out quickly.

Now let’s see how this would work in practice! Let’s say we want to update a dining room. The family is using it, so 2 adults and one 7-year-old. We really want to see a new table, large buffet and a big chandelier. We also want to start the project in June. Our reason for updating the space is that we really need a gathering space for family meals, some entertaining, and homework time. Here’s how it would look.

We’re looking to update our dining room for our family unit: myself, my husband, and our 7-year-old daughter. We want a table, large buffet, and a big chandelier, and we’d like to start the installing in June. We really want this done so we have a better setup for family dinners, game nights, and homework time.

And that’s it! We just wrote our project description! Now, you try and share what you come up with in the comments. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. Talk soon!