You’ve envisioned the fresh, breezy interior that makes your soul giddy first thing in the morning + full of contentment at the end of the day. 

Maybe you’ve even imagined some of the details… those stunning wall-to-wall built-ins or that breathtaking stone fireplace or even a custom closet that looks straight outta Sex In The City… or maybe it’s, And Just Like That now, *wink*

But, so often, where people go wrong when making their dreams about their home come to life before their eyes, is they don’t properly assess + plan from the beginning. And sometimes that’s because ya don’t know what ya don’t know.

The reality is… determining project scope is an incredibly important part of designing + organizing your home. 

Cuz friend, when you don’t fully understand project scope whether you’re organizing your whole home, undergoing a large-scale renovation, or completing a new construction home… scope creep will affect your budget, timeline + ultimately steal from the joy of creating your dream home.

So, without further ado… what the heck is project scope anyway?

What Is Project Scope?

Let me go all Webster on ya for a second here... by definition, the scope is “the extent of the area or subject matter that is being addressed.”

In this case, the subject matter is your home, and the extent that's addressed includes all the big, small + wildly awesome things getting the special treatment. From millwork, tile, countertops + closet systems down to window treatments, furniture, and decor it’s really no surprise that the design scope (or organizing) of your home is so important!

Another way to think of project scope is as a way to set boundaries + define goals for creating your home. So, no wonder it’s essential to creating your home!

And the reality is defining your project scope isn’t typically a one-person job… Psst. That’s where we come in. But, more on that later.

Why It’s Important To Identify Project Scope Early?

When you’re working with Elegant Simplicity, we believe in determining the scope of your project early. Without a clear project scope, completion becomes burdened by delays.

That doesn’t mean things are done at lightning speed but rather having a clear understanding of project scope establishes that everyone involved (you, us, contractors/builders, vendors) are not only aligned in the vision of what success looks like in your home but ultimately that a clear process for getting from where we are to where you want to be is thoroughly laid out.

How Does Scope Affect Your Project’s Budget?

If a good project scope sets necessary boundaries for where we should all be focused in designing + organizing your home. Then where exactly does scope + budget intersect?

Well… spoiler alert… they’re two peas + a pod. You literally can't have one, project scope or budget, without the other! *wink*

Now, you might be thinking — I know exactly how much I'd like to invest in my home! And while we love your forward thinkin’ boo… a magic number that you’re willing to invest in isn’t exactly a a budget. 

A design budget is a strategic approach to getting the most value in your home with your investment. When you know not only what you’re comfortable investing + then understand what things typically cost… it helps us grant you more wishes than a genie ;)

Psst… have you checked out our free resource library? It’s full of FREE guides + video courses that will help you wrap your mind around budgets, timelines + more for creating a home with everything you need + nothing more!

Yep, you bet. At Elegant Simplicity we’re all about the serve *wink* + providing you with as much clarity as possible ahead of time is our goal.

So… speaking of “timelines.”

How Does Scope Affect Your Project’s Timeline?

Another aspect of your design + organizing project that’s pivotal to understand is timeline. 

Timeline is simply the time it takes. 

Time is the one thing in this world we can never get back + so we understand how incredibly important it is to get things right the first time (which ultimately saves you tons of time because you’re not doing anything over again). Sheesh, think I could throw in “time” anymore times ;)

Your project timeline is usually determined by the scope of work that is being completed. So, while a new construction home might take 24-36 months, a large-scale renovation might take 8-11 months.

In either case, once we’ve identified everything you want to accomplish, working with our builders, contractors + vendors to coordinate your project will create the most realistic + efficient timeline for you.

Psst… here’s the differences between design IRL + what you see on TV? Spoiler Alert: timeline is one of the biggest differences.

It's possible that if your timeline is too short, your desired scope simply isn't well, possible. 

Of course, this is something we'll talk about during our clarity call + we’ll also discuss it during our trades day when we meet with contractors at your home.

Trust me boo, we got you covered! You'll know well in advance what's doable!

For a guide on how long it takes to get organized, check out this.

What is "Scope Creep?"

If you've been around the world of design + renovations (or binge HGTV on the reg), you've probably heard the term "scope creep."

Sounds a little icky, am I right? Not so, chika! 

Scope creep is simply a term given to a project that grows after it's started.

For example, maybe we're zen-ifying your master suite (bedroom + bathroom) when you realize you want an entryway that makes your heart go pitter-patter as you walk through the front door.

Now, all of a sudden we've added a phase to your project + it will alter your budget as well as your timeline.

Voila! That's scope creep.

Ultimately, it means completing tasks that your design + organizing team or the builders + contractors on your team didn’t expect at the beginning of the project. So things will not only cost more but take more time to accomplish too.

However, sometimes scope creep is inevitable. 

For example, when remodeling an older home the contractors may open up the walls to discover outdated electrical that needs to be completely redone or during a large scale renovation the contractors uncover dry rot that causes change orders.

3 Common Reasons Why Scope Creep Happens

Below are several main reasons why scope creep happens in any new construction or large-scale renovation project. Moreover, scope creep can also happen in what might seem like a fairly straightforward furnishing + styling or organizing project. Whatever the case may be, here’s how…

Unclear Goals / Diluted Focus

One of the most common reasons that scope creep happens is because the project lacks clear goals. In other words, there’s no clarity in exactly “why” you need what you “need.” Without spending the necessary time to establish a clear goal that focuses the design or organizing process then the finished project lacks significance and meaning to you.

What is needed is not only clear goals but also a clear path for getting you there. 

Poor Communication

Another reason why scope creep happens is poor communication. 

You’re going a thousand miles a minute. You’ve got your own set of worldly requirements ;) and ensuring you’ve dotted all your i’s and crossed all your t’s with every single contractor or vendor is time-consuming. But it’s not just the time it takes, it’s speaking the language to understand all the necessary details + potential ramifications that come along with each design or organizing decision that’s made.

No Clear Decision Maker

Especially during bigger projects that span a lot of time, there are literally thousands of decisions to be made. What’s that saying, “too many cooks in the kitchen?” Well, it’s true even when ya aren’t cookin’ *wink* 

From contractors + vendors, everyone needs a single person to answer to that understands + can articulate the specificities of creating your home. Our goal at Elegant Simplicity is to ensure the decisions we make on our clients’ behalf have a purpose, intentionality + a clear “why.” 

How Do We Determine Your Project's Scope?

By now, you know how important project scope is to your whole design project... So, how do you determine what your entire design project entails?

First, know that you won't be alone, my friend — we'll hold your hand every step of the way. From uncovering how you’ll use the space to how you want to feel in your home we start to create those “boundaries” we discussed earlier.

Is your living room going to be the hot spot for after-work Netflix + snuggles with the lil tykes?

Will you be cooking your little heart out + entertaining in the kitchen on weekends? 

Whatever the case, I’m certain you get the big, beautiful picture here. Which is that determining your project’s scope not only comes with years of experience working on similar projects or with an A-team of vendors but from identifying what you want + need from your home ;)

If you’re interested, you can read more about our interior design process here.

And there ya have it — if you’ve stuck with me until now, high five, sister!

But in all seriousness, determining project scope is truly a huge milestone towards achieving the design you want in your home… and the deliciously fulfilling, soul-happy life that goes with it. 

Most importantly, it’s pivotal in creating a home with everything you need + nothing more!

And that my friend is all the complexity around project scope. If you loved this blog post you’re absolutely going to go bananas for our FREE 4-Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home video course.

You can also check out our amazing FREE resource library + if you’re feeling overwhelmed with designing or organizing your home, book a FREE 30 min. Clarity Call and… let’s chat!