The right order of work
Most new-home furnishing mistakes come from the wrong sequence: buying furniture before walls and floors are finished, then discovering the dimensions have changed. The correct order:
- Fit-out first: electrics, plumbing, AC, gypsum, flooring and paint.
- Measurements second: after the fit-out, not before.
- Design and sample approval third.
- Production or purchase fourth.
- Delivery and installation last, after the final clean.
What the fit-out must finish before furniture
- Sockets, TV and data points placed to suit the planned furniture layout, not the other way round.
- AC unit positions and grilles.
- Gypsum, concealed lighting and chandelier points, especially above the dining table and bed.
- Curtain boxes and tracks.
- Tiles or parquet and skirting.
- Paint, sometimes leaving the final coat until after installation if deliveries must pass through narrow corridors.
Decide where the bed, TV and sofa will go before the electrics are run; it saves you sockets hidden behind wardrobes and switches out of reach of the bed.
Measuring after the fit-out
Once floors and gypsum are complete, measure each room again: walls, doors and their swing, windows and sill height, sockets, AC units, ceiling height, and the route from the entrance to the room via lift or stairs. Send photos and a clear sketch with measurements to the designer.
Room-by-room checklist
- Majlis: sofas or floor seating, coffee and side tables, rugs, curtains, lighting, a serving area.
- Family lounge: comfortable sofa, coffee table, TV unit, storage for toys and everyday items.
- Dining room: a table for the number of seats you need, chairs, sideboard, lighting above the table.
- Master bedroom: bed and mattress, bedside tables, wardrobe, dressing table, blackout curtains.
- Children's rooms: bed, study desk, storage that can grow with them.
- Guest rooms: bed, small wardrobe or rail, bedside table.
- Entrance: console or shoe cabinet, mirror, lighting.
- Kitchen: cabinets and appliances are planned with the fit-out because they depend on plumbing and electrics.
- Laundry and storeroom: shelving, storage units and hanging rails, among the most forgotten items.
- Outdoor seating: if there is a courtyard or roof terrace, choose furniture suited to sun and dust, and postpone it if it is not essential.
Write the approximate size from the plan next to each item on the list; it shows early whether the room can take everything you want or whether something has to go.
A realistic timeline
- Before the fit-out: settle the overall style and a preliminary layout.
- During the fit-out: approve electrical, AC and lighting positions, and start designing the kitchen and wardrobes.
- Right after the fit-out: final measurements, sample approval and signing the quote.
- Production: depends on order size and the lead time written in the quote; ready pieces arrive sooner than made-to-size ones.
- Final week: deep clean and prepare the house for delivery.
Start with the longest-lead items such as the kitchen and built-in wardrobes, and never tie your move-in date to a delivery date that is not in writing.
Approvals before production
Before production starts, make sure you have approved:
- The final dimensions of every piece.
- Wood type, colour and finish from a physical sample.
- Fabric and colour from a sample viewed in daylight.
- Price and lead time in writing.
- What the quote includes: delivery, installation and removal.
Keep a copy or clear photo of the approved samples with their reference numbers, and put any change you request after approval in writing, because altering a size or fabric mid-production can change both the date and the cost. If you are ordering for several rooms, approve colours and materials for the whole house in one session so you see them side by side.
Preparing for delivery day
- Finish the final clean and clear fit-out debris before delivery.
- Book the lift with building management if needed, and secure parking close to the entrance for the truck.
- Protect floors, doors and wall corners along the route.
- Clear boxes and belongings from each room so the team can move freely.
- Have a copy of the plan showing where each piece goes.
- Inspect each piece as it is installed and check it against the approved quote before the team leaves.
At Arti Design our own team handles delivery and installation, and you can book a free survey visit to measure once your fit-out is finished.
