A useful interior design or fit-out contract explains who delivers what, to which specification, for what price and by when, and how the work will be checked. Start with a written scope and dated drawings and specifications. Connect payments, programme, changes and handover to those documents rather than relying on the phrase complete design and execution.

What this contract outline is for

This is a preparation and review guide with an illustrative outline. It is not SMD’s approved contract or a document ready to sign in every country. The final wording needs to suit the project location, services and applicable law, particularly liability, compensation, warranties, termination and disputes.

Separate design services, physical construction and site supervision. One agreement may include all three, but identify the deliverables, fee and responsible party for each. A rendered image does not automatically include construction drawings, furniture procurement or ongoing site visits.

Identify the project and the contracting parties

Record the legal names of the client and supplier, each representative’s authority and the agreed notice channels. Identify the property, included rooms, occupancy and site access. For rented premises, establish the relevant owner or authorised party’s permission for alterations.

Attach a survey record showing the source of dimensions, existing surfaces and services, and elements to retain or remove. Record inaccessible areas and assumptions rather than declaring that every concealed condition is already known. Assign any further investigations and approvals needed before the affected work starts.

A scope matrix that defines the actual deliverables

Use a checkable list instead of a broad promise. This example organises the discussion; it does not set a price or create an obligation for a particular company.

List exclusions such as appliances, fees, structural alterations, work outside the named rooms or concealed remedial work where these are not included. A turnkey label cannot replace the actual scope.

Specifications, samples and document control

Premium quality is not a comparable product specification. Record the product or technical description, colour, finish, dimensions and intended-use requirements. Establish the approval process for alternatives if supply changes. Review samples under lighting close to the project conditions rather than relying only on a phone photograph.

Create an annex register with the quotation, quantities, drawings, specifications, samples and programme, each with a date and revision. Agree how conflicts will be resolved and which document takes precedence. Give subsequent changes their own reference so an obsolete drawing cannot be mistaken for the approved issue.

Price and payment milestones

State the currency and pricing basis: a lump sum for a defined scope, unit rates with measured quantities, or separate design and supervision fees. Explain area measurement, included or excluded taxes, transport, storage, installation and fees. Comparing a price per square metre is unhelpful when the inclusions differ.

For each payment, define the value or calculation, trigger, inspection evidence and agreed review and payment periods. Any advance, retention or financial security belongs in the negotiated agreement; there is no single suitable percentage for every project. Use the payment recipient identified in the contract and retain invoices and transaction records.

Programme, delay and change control

Connect commencement to verifiable conditions such as site possession, design approval and required permits. Identify design, procurement, construction and inspection stages, client decision periods and long-lead items. Paying an advance alone does not establish that the site is ready for every trade.

A variation record should describe the change, reason, affected drawings, addition or deduction, time effect and authorised approver. For example, adding a cabinet after design approval requires a review of design, price and procurement. An unresolved chat message does not establish that the work is automatically free or automatically chargeable.

Have notice, delay, extension, compensation and termination provisions reviewed for the applicable law and facts. Do not assume a daily penalty or an immediate termination right without a suitable contractual and legal basis.

Illustrative contract outline to customise

Complete the fields, attach the referenced documents and review the wording before signature. Reading this outline does not create an agreement.

• Parties and project: client [____], contracting supplier [____], authorised representatives [____], property and use [____].
• Services: design, construction and supervision scope annex [____]; exclusions [____].
• Contract documents: annex register and revisions [____]; conflict and change approval procedure [____].
• Price: currency [____], price and measurement basis and taxes [____], payment schedule and triggers [____].
• Programme: start conditions [____], stages and dates [____], notice, delay and extension procedure [____].
• Variations: authorised approver [____], documentation channel [____], valuation and time assessment [____].
• Quality and responsibilities: specifications, samples and inspections [____]; permissions, protection, trade coordination and subcontracting [____].
• Handover and aftercare: inspections, defect records and operating documents [____]; defect correction commitments and terms [____].
• Files and privacy: use rights, file delivery and photography [____]; notices, termination, dispute process and governing law [____].

Inspection and handover beyond the final photograph

Plan checks for the actual work: finish-to-sample comparison, door and drawer operation, and relevant service tests by appropriate specialists within the scope. Give each defect a location, description, image, responsible party, deadline and closure evidence. A note saying improve the finish is too vague to close reliably.

Agree the handover package: as-built information where included, product invoices and warranties, operating and maintenance instructions, access keys and material details. Distinguish product warranties from the contractor’s workmanship obligations. Define reporting and response arrangements without assuming they remove mandatory legal rights.

Saudi projects: a limited statutory reference

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Transactions Law addresses contracting in Articles 461–478. Articles 469–471 distinguish payment, unit-rate estimates, lump sums and design changes. Review the applicable provisions before fixing payment and variation terms. This Saudi reference is not the local law for a project in another country.

Read the official text alongside requirements that apply to the actual project. The scope matrix and approval workflow in this guide are SMD’s proposed organisational tools, not a decision on a dispute or a guarantee that every clause will be enforceable.

A practical route from quotation to final documents

1. Compile the brief, survey, available drawings and budget boundaries.
2. Request quotations against the same scope and record exclusions and differences.
3. Review samples, design deliverables and trade responsibilities.
4. Resolve unclear price, programme, payment, change and acceptance terms.
5. Obtain suitable professional review and retain a complete final version with all annexes.

Use a redacted example when discussing a previous contract; remove personal details and confidential prices. Keep approvals and correspondence tied to the project and document references so decisions remain traceable.

Official reference

Saudi Civil Transactions Law — Umm Al-Qura, contracting chapter. Reference checked on 20 October 2026. This guide does not constitute a project-specific legal review or a comprehensive amendment audit.

Define your scope with SMD Decoration

Share the property type, included rooms, available drawings and the design, construction or supervision services you need. We can discuss the deliverables and an appropriate proposal. Project prices, dates and responsibilities are established after reviewing the details; you can request a free initial consultation. Contact the SMD team.

Email: info@smddecoration.com

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