Mapping the objects a room already holds

The question behind the worksheet

An inventory of a room's existing objects can reveal what a new piece must work with. The aim is to understand relationships, not to judge which belongings deserve to stay.

Work through the observation

List the objects that will remain, their main visual features and their everyday uses. Put movable accessories in a separate group from furniture or fittings. Mark any object whose position is still undecided. A quick annotated photograph can keep this inventory short and concrete.

A worked example to compare

A dark cabinet, patterned rug and bright wall art each draw attention differently. Calling all three “bold” loses information; describe the cabinet's mass, the rug's pattern and the artwork's colour separately.

Questions to put in your notes

Use these prompts to produce a short record you can revisit. Date the sheet, identify the reference you used and leave unknowns explicitly unanswered. Keep site facts, personal preferences and requests for confirmation separate.

• Which objects stay?
• Which positions are fixed?
• What is visually or functionally important about each?

What this exercise cannot establish

An inventory is a planning record, not permission to replace existing objects. Do not assume the new piece should match every material already present.

Choose the next question

Keep the resulting note with your current brief. Before sending it, check that it explains one decision clearly and does not turn a preference into an agreed detail. Use the current linked page for the relevant website guidance, and bring any piece-specific uncertainty to the atelier.

Read the related guidance ↗