How much does an interior designer cost?

On average, an interior designer will cost between $1,000 and $5,000 per room, excluding the furniture and decoration purchases. Some interior designers charge hourly and expect to pay $50-$500 per hour depending on the interior designer. Larger projects will cost a lot more due to the amount of time it take to design and source all the products.

Online interior design services will save you money because most of them charge a flat fee, but may not be able to fully cater to your redesign needs. If you want to hire an interior designer, there are a few things to consider.

What Is The First Thing I Need To Do Before Hiring An Interior Designer?

First and foremost, you need to have a budget set for your home improvement project before you determine the interior designer cost. This is the total amount of money you want to spend redoing your kitchen or bathroom, freshening up the whole house, or something as simple as having a bathroom remodeled. Are you going to style it yourself? If you have a little bit of extra cash and want the full design experience, I would recommend hiring an interior designer to help maximize style in your space.

How am I supposed to know if an interior designer is within my proposed budget?

Ask for a design consultation. This will familiarize the designer with your space and help you determine if the interior designer is affordable. I would suggest a consultation with a designer before hiring their services. They will let you know if the project is doable within their hourly rate and purchasing that’s needed to be made.

What Kind of Payment Structure Is Typical For An Interior Designer?

Interior designers can be paid in a couple of different ways. Some interior designers only charge for their time. These types of designers source the furniture, tile, fabric, lighting, plumbing, curtains, paint, and accessories at cost. This is probably the interior designer I would choose because they aren’t up charging on the pieces you chose for your home. The interior designer who upcharges on their products isn’t a bad option and usually charges a flat rate designing fee. But, isn’t it kind of annoying when you find the product online for a lesser price than you paid someone else for it? Personally, I’d rather know what the interior designer cost per hour is and go down that path. Interior designers’ hourly rate can range from $30 to $200 to $500 per hour. It’s all based on the designer or interior design firm.

Next, I would communicate with your interior designer about your vision. Let them know up front about what you would like to see and your budget. Make sure you ask the interior designer about the expected hours needed to work on this project. Incorporate that into your budget and communicate with your designer. The last thing you want is a way overbudget project. Have them understand what kind of person you are and how you will be using the space. They will find an amazing arrangement that will fit your lifestyle. If you are more contemporary but end up having a farmhouse design plan, let them know. Remember, this is your space. 

Moving on with the project, you will want to ask the interior designer about a contract. This will denote when the project will be completed, how much the project will cost, and when you’ll pay the interior designer. Most interior designers will ask for a retainer fee. This is the initial design process that the designer goes through with your project. It pays for their time and shows you are generally interested in hiring them for their services. Ask for a design consultation before signing a contract because once you do, you are locked into the remodel.

What Are Some Tips for Working With An Interior Designer?

If It was my house being remodeled, I’d ask for receipts of purchases the designer is making. That way there are no surprises when it comes to the process. I like to know what I’m paying for, how much I’m paying for it, and when they paid for it. Interior design is a service and there will be an up charge on most products they source from you. this is because they get special discount from their vendors. This covers their time associated with finding, buying, and transporting your projects decorations.

At the end of the day, designers charge what they want. You need to ask your designer about every charge they are billing you for beforehand and have it stated in the contract so there are no surprises. Communication is key and if you can have great communication with your designer, you’ll have an amazing space and project experience.