Stage 5 of 12. See the full curriculum and choose your starting stage
The decision to make
Create a restrained concept brief before collecting dozens of products. Identify the fixed finishes that will remain and the visual relationship between adjoining rooms. Decide which elements carry the concept and which provide a quiet background. Avoid using a trend as proof that guests will pay more. Design can be evaluated for coherence and usefulness without inventing an occupancy or nightly-rate uplift.
How to carry it out
Test physical samples in the actual property, in daylight and with the installed evening lighting. Compare color, texture, reflections and visible wear. Obtain care instructions for the exact product and finish. Ask whether covers, spare parts or matching units can be purchased later. Keep the approved sample, SKU, finish and revision together. If a selected item goes out of stock, compare the substitute against those requirements instead of approving it on color alone.
Worked planning example
Illustrative scenario; not a client case or performance result.
A hypothetical host selects a pale upholstered dining chair from a screen image. Sample review shows that the care method is incompatible with the local team’s process. The host compares another fabric or chair model before placing the order, retaining the overall palette while changing the practical specification.
Decision gate: evidence before moving on
Approve the palette when the exact samples, care requirements and substitution rules are recorded. Keep product-specific technical requirements with the manufacturer instructions.
Build the working record
Use one record per property and decision. Replace the prompts with verified information, retain the source documents and mark anything that still requires confirmation. Assign a person and a date to open questions instead of leaving them buried in conversation.
| Field | Your property evidence | Owner / next action |
|---|---|---|
| Concept statement and room role | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
| Retained fixed finishes | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
| Sample and exact product identifier | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
| Daylight and evening observations | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
| Care restrictions and cleaning owner | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
| Replacement and spare-part options | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
| Approved alternative criteria | [Record verified facts or mark unresolved] | [Name and date] |
Download the blank CSV worksheet
Use the record with your project team
Start with the current approved revision. Send the same document to the owner, designer and local coordinator so each person can see which decisions are settled. Keep quotes and manufacturer information attached to the relevant line. When a decision changes, record what changed, why it changed and which downstream documents must be updated.
At the next review, compare the installed or contracted result with the recorded requirement. Close an item only when the required evidence exists. If the record describes a planned purchase, do not relabel it as installed inventory until receiving and site checks confirm it. If the property is already operating, schedule work around the actual calendar and communicate the affected rooms and amenities to the person responsible for listing accuracy.
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