Detailed explanation of indoor decoration process steps

Interior decoration is a complex system engineering that involves the coordination of multiple links and job types. The following are detailed steps and key points of the decoration process to help you clarify your thoughts and efficiently promote the decoration project:

1、 Pre preparation stage

1. Clarify requirements and budget

Functional planning: Determine the purpose of the house (such as self occupation, rental, office, etc.), plan the functions of each space (such as whether the living room needs a projection area, whether the kitchen is open plan, etc.).

Style positioning: Refer to renderings and case studies to determine the decoration style (such as modern simplicity, Nordic, new Chinese, etc.), clarify color tones and material preferences.

Budget formulation: Split the costs of hard furnishings, soft furnishings, household appliances, furniture, etc., and reserve 10% -20% of emergency funds to avoid overspending.

2. Choose the decoration method

Full package: worry free but expensive, it is necessary to ensure the transparency of the decoration company’s qualifications and material list (note whether the “full package” in the contract includes furniture and home appliances).

Half package: The main materials (tiles, flooring, bathroom, etc.) are self purchased, and the auxiliary materials and labor are handled by the decoration company, suitable for homeowners who have time to purchase materials.

Clearance: Purchasing all materials throughout the process requires strong professional skills, and it is generally not recommended for beginners to choose.

3. Design and Disclosure

Room measurement and design: Please have the designer measure the room on site and provide a floor plan, rendering, and construction drawings (including water and electricity directions, ceiling structures, etc.).

Drawing review: Focus on confirming the socket position (such as by the sofa or under the dining table), switch height (usually 1.3 meters), furniture size, and spatial compatibility.

Three party briefing: on-site briefing by the owner, designer, and construction team leader to clarify the scope of demolition and renovation, water and electricity points, special process requirements, etc.

2、 Main body demolition and renovation stage

1. Wall renovation

Demolition project: Demolition of non load bearing walls, old decorations (such as tiles and ceilings), and cleaning of construction waste.

Attention: It is strictly prohibited to dismantle load-bearing walls (walls with a thickness greater than 24cm and dull knocking sounds are mostly load-bearing walls, please refer to the property drawings).

New wall construction: Use lightweight bricks or gypsum boards to build new partitions, reserve door and window openings, and ensure that the wall is vertical and flat.

2. Removal of doors and windows (if necessary)

Dismantle old doors and windows and replace them with new ones (it is recommended to install them before the water and electricity renovation to avoid construction damage).

Before installation, check the size of doors and windows to match the openings, ensuring sealing and safety.

3、 Hydropower renovation stage (core of concealed engineering)

1. Hydroelectric positioning

Waterway: Determine the location of faucets, water heaters, toilets, washing machines, etc., and plan the direction of hot and cold water pipes (hot water pipes need to be insulated).

Tip: Try to keep the kitchen sink and bathroom waterway as close as possible to reduce the length of the pipes; Balcony washing machines need to reserve floor drains and sockets.

Circuit: Plan the placement of switches, sockets, lighting fixtures, and air conditioning (hanging/cabinet/central air conditioning) points, following the principle of “less displacement, more backup” (such as reserving 5-6 sockets in the living room and installing dual control switches on both sides of the bedroom headboard).

2. Slotting and piping

Slotting: The length of the horizontal groove on the wall should be ≤ 50cm (to avoid damaging the wall structure), and the ground can be lined with exposed pipes or slotted.

Pipe laying:

Water pipe: PPR pipe hot melt connection, pressure test (0.8-1.0MPa pressure, 30 minutes pressure drop ≤ 0.05MPa is qualified).

Wire: Strong current (2.5/4/6 ㎡ copper wire) and weak current (network cable, fiber optic cable) are laid separately, with a spacing of ≥ 30cm, to avoid signal interference.

3. Acceptance and backfilling

Take photos/videos to record the pipeline route for easy maintenance in the future.

Toilet backfilling: Fill with ceramic particles or construction waste, cover with cement mortar and level to ensure no water accumulation.

4、 Mud tile engineering stage

1. Waterproof treatment

Toilet waterproofing: Brush the wall to 1.8 meters (shower area), fully brush the floor, and conduct a 48 hour closed water test (if there is no leakage downstairs, it is qualified).

Kitchen/balcony waterproofing: Brush 30cm on the wall, with a focus on treating floor drains and pipe joints.

2. Bricklaying and leveling

Tile laying: First lay the wall tiles, then the floor tiles (to avoid dirtying the tiles), leaving a 2-3mm gap (for beautiful joints), and checking the hollowing rate (single tile hollowing ≤ 5%, overall ≤ 3%).

Ground leveling: When laying wooden floors, it is necessary to ensure that the ground flatness is ≤ 3mm (checked with a 2-meter ruler), and the cement mortar ratio is 1:3.

3. Package riser and flue

Wrap the bathroom and kitchen pipes with soundproof cotton, and then seal them with lightweight bricks or cement boards to reduce sewage noise.

Hang steel wire mesh before tiling the kitchen flue to prevent cracking.

5、 Woodworking stage (if required)

1. Ceiling construction

Light steel keel ceiling: main keel spacing ≤ 80cm, secondary keel ≤ 40cm, matched with gypsum board (leaving a 3-5mm gap at the joint to prevent cracking).

Shaped ceiling: such as double eyelid ceiling and curved ceiling, it is necessary to confirm the drawings with the carpenter in advance to ensure accurate dimensions.

2. Customized cabinet/background wall

On site production of cabinets (such as wardrobes and shoe cabinets): Choose environmentally friendly boards (E0 grade), reserve switch and socket positions, and pay attention to moisture-proof treatment (bottom 10cm off the ground).

Background wall base layer: For wood veneer or rock slab background walls, it is necessary to install keel or base plate in advance.

6、 Painting engineering stage

1. Wall treatment

Batch putty: 2-3 times, after each coat is dry, polish it flat, and check the verticality and flatness of the wall surface.

Apply latex paint: one bottom and two sides (primer to seal the wall, topcoat color matching), roll or spray evenly to avoid sagging and color difference.

Wallpaper/Wallpaper: After the wall surface is flat and dry, pay attention to the splicing of flowers and compact the edges without bubbles during construction.

2. Wood paint and repair

Furniture and ceiling wooden components made on site need to be coated with wood paint (clear or colored) to protect the wood and enhance its aesthetic appeal.

Repair nail holes and cracks on the wall to ensure a smooth and flawless paint surface.

7、 Installation phase

1. Installation of main materials

Sequential reference:

① Kitchen and bathroom ceiling (aluminum buckle board/gypsum board) → ② Cabinet (including range hood, stove) → ③ Wooden door → ④ Floor → ⑤ Sanitary ware (toilet, shower) → ⑥ Switch socket, lighting fixtures → ⑦ Curtain pole, clothes rack.

Attention:

Before installing the floor, ensure that it is dry and reserve expansion joints (8-12mm).

The installation height of the switch socket should be uniform (the bottom edge of the socket should be 30cm above the ground, and the switch should be 1.3 meters) to avoid tilting.

2. Entry of household appliances and furniture

Large furniture (sofas, beds) are given priority entry, followed by small accessories (such as green plants, decorative paintings).

When installing household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines, attention should be paid to the location of the power supply and the heat dissipation space.

8、 Final cleaning and acceptance

1. Land reclamation and cleaning

Thoroughly clean the floor, walls, and glass, remove offset printing and cement stains. It is recommended to find a professional cleaning company to handle it.

Avoid frequent personnel entry and exit after cleaning, and keep the space clean.

2. Completion acceptance

Hard installation acceptance:

Wall/floor: No cracks, hollowing, color difference, and vertical corners.

Water and electricity: The water and electricity supply are normal, the drainage is unobstructed, and the socket phase test (if the neutral wire and live wire are reversed, it will trip).

Doors and windows: Smooth opening and closing, full sealant, no air or water leakage.

Soft decoration acceptance: The furniture is undamaged, securely installed, and the accessories match the design style.

3. Ventilation and odor dispersion

Open windows for ventilation for 3-6 months (formaldehyde releases quickly in summer, can be accelerated with activated carbon and air purifiers).

Check the air quality (formaldehyde ≤ 0.08mg/m ³, benzene ≤ 0.11mg/m ³), and move in after meeting the standards.

9、 Common precautions

Construction period control: Small unit decoration takes about 2-3 months, and high-end/duplex decoration takes about 4-6 months to avoid cross year construction (affecting paint drying in winter).

Material acceptance: All main and auxiliary materials must be checked for brand, specifications, and quantity upon arrival, and samples must be retained.

Contract details: Clearly define the responsibility for project delay, upper limit of additional costs, and warranty terms (5-year warranty for water and electricity, 2-year warranty for hard installation).

Environmental priority: Choose environmentally friendly materials such as low formaldehyde boards, water-based paints, and tile adhesives (instead of cement mortar to reduce dust).

During the decoration process, it is recommended to establish a “problem ledger” to promptly record any doubts and corrective actions during construction, and regularly communicate with the construction party to ensure that each step meets expectations. If conditions permit, a third-party supervisor can be hired to assist in quality control.