How much does hiring an interior designer cost?
and do you need one?
(5 min read) In this colorful age of the 30-minute home reveals and practical (and less practical) DIY internet tutorials, any average Joe might think they have what it takes to fabulously design and decorate their home. However, once you embark on that adventure, it is likely to become an adventure of self-discovery, because you will quickly find out that interior designers are here for a reason.

So whether you’ve rolled the dice and now you need to fix the mess you’ve made, or you want a skillful and experienced interior designer with you from the start, you will need to check your valet. Filthy-rich often say that discussing the prices is in poor taste, but we don’t really care over here, because we’re not filthy rich. Not financially anyway. We’re rich with talent, witty banter, and knowledge, and that won’t stop us from spilling the beans when it comes to interior designer fees.

First of all, every interior designer takes different things into consideration when creating their fee, and that’s what you need to do as well. Some designers tend to charge a commission percentage of the total cost, while others take into account the size of the project. Some designers charge hourly rates, while others have a flat rate. As a potential client, you should be informed of all those variables before you start looking for an interior designer that will meet your preferences.

Your job
Choose your style
This doesn’t mean you have to go for one particular style. Chase two or three, but make sure you’ve narrowed it down before you decide to present them t your designer. The more decisive you are the less time you’ll waste, and time is money. So hit some interior design quizzes, consult your Pinterest board, and check your phone gallery.

Establish your needs
There are always some things that MUST be incorporated into your interior. For example, you work from home, so your space has to include a desk and a chair, or you’re a fitness buff, so a workout area with all of your gear must be included. It is important to establish these necessities beforehand because that can considerably lower your expenses.

Determine your budget
The budget that you provide is what ultimately drives the project forward, so it is of utmost significance for you to know your budget. So starts making lists and writing down prices. start with the necessary things and branch out from there. make sure to leave some wiggle room for some unexpected costs. You never know when you’ll need a repair or two, how hefty the shipping costs can get, and what amazing piece of decor you’ll fall in love with.

Average costs
Now that you’ve determined all f the above it is time to browse some realistic interior design costs. The usual interior designer cost goes from $2,000 up to $12,000, without the furniture. On that note, many interior designers will charge you an hourly rate between $50 and $500. If there are no architectural needs, some interior designers will opt t charge you a flat fee that will usually include all of the revisions needed before the project is finished.

Some interior designers charge a monthly fee which is paid upfront each month before the job is completed. Some determine their price based n the square footage of the space. This particular way of pricing structure is usually reserved for large spaces, such as commercial or hospitality projects. Often used type of pricing is also commission. That basically means that your designer will buy everything your space needs at a discount, and then charge you the full retail price, taking the difference as their fee. The last and rarely used way of pricing is through percentages. That means that the designer’s price is calculated by multiplying the percentage of the total cost.

How can you save money?
Well, you can always take the obvious route and try doing everything by yourself, but if you wanted to do that you probably wouldn’t be reading this article. Fortunately for you, we have another less drastic solution. You can always employ the services of an online interior designer and save literally thousands of dollars. Online interior design services can cost anywhere from $70 to $2000, with the fees being typically flat. There is a variety of online interior design services, make sure to visit forums and read the reviews before you choose one.

So there you go! We hope our extensive analysis helped. Whichever route you decide to take when it comes to your interior design, make sure it has your own personal stamp. Try not to lose yourself in trends, prices, and other people’s opinions. It’s the interior designer’s job to make your space look stylish and awe-inspiring, but your individuality should always be woven into it and easy to spot.




35 Comments
I would love to hire an interior designer to decorate my house. That would be so much fun.
I found the article on hiring an interior designer super informative and helpful. It’s great to have a breakdown of the costs involved in such a service. Thanks for sharing!
thanks for giving us some idea. really curious too regarding this topic hehe
Loved reading this article. Budget is so important here as there is no upper limit and one can easily lose track.
Your insights have been immensely helpful in providing a comprehensive understanding of the different factors that influence the fees charged by interior designers. The details you provided about the different fee structures adopted by interior designers, including commission percentage, hourly rates, flat rates, monthly fees, and percentage of the total cost, were particularly informative.
It is such a sensitive topic and it is a pain to find the one who works best for you and your family as well as your budget. Wonderful points here!
I think if you’ve got a lot of space to design and you have the money an interior designer could be a great idea. I know we’d love to have one to help guide us with our ideas x
To me the cost is worth it. Especially if you are not talented in the creative department, which I am not, in the decorating sense.
Thanks for sharing all this information with us. It’s so helpful, I will save this for the future.
I’ve never hired an interior designed so this was interesting to read. I’ll keep it in mind if I need one in the future.
I love the benefits of hiring an interior designer but I know it can also cost a lot of money.
I am a big fan of interior design, so I like to try and figure out styles on my own. It would however be amazing to hire one!
Ooo now this is exactly what we need. Someone to come along and put all our ideas together and make out house work for us x
Oh goodness it’s quite expensive! I think if you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t know much about decor it’s something to look into. I’ve always love interior design and art…I love collecting ideas on Pinterest and magazines too. Great info on the topic.
I like that, “we’re rich with talent, witty banter, and knowledge, and that won’t stop us from spilling the beans when it comes to interior designer fees.”.
It would be nice to have an interior designer for a few of my rooms. Just don’t have time to do it myself.
Hiring an interior designer can really help bright life to a space. I once had an online consultation with a designer who told me what color walls to paint my house to better match my fruniture and vibe I was going for!
Fantastic article! Interior designers are definitely talented. I think for me, I find budget always the limiting factor.
I would never need an Interior Designer…. I can. do it all myself….. it is really about having the money to buy whatever you need in your space. If I had an unlimited checkbook… my home would be decked out exactly the way I want it and it would be perfection but I know people love using and need the help of an interior designer. Some of the spaces I see on the designer shows are spectacular and they create stunning spaces for people to enjoy in their homes.
This is very much detailed. Thanks for sharing the approx costs too.
Thanks for the ideas, very helpful and informative. I will save this for the future.
I haven’t thought about hiring an interior designer myself. But this gives a very good insight on not only prices, but what you want in an interior designer in general. Thanks so much for sharing!
I would love to have a designer to design my rooms. All is about how much I am willing to dish out for it. Great post!
It can be costly to hire an interior designer but the results are pretty amazing and worth it.
Thank you for your insight. I have always wondered if having the skill of a professional interior designer would help improve our living space
I have always wanted to hire an interior designer but just assumed they were outrageous. This was a helpful article.
Having an interior designer is a must if you can afford it, their expertise and talent is so crucial especially in maximising the space and making it special
Hiring an interior designer should be considered as a good investment in making over a space. They can transform the space.
It’s definitely a cost but it seems like it’s always worth it – less of a headache too! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this article on interior designer costs is incredibly informative! It breaks down the different factors that affect pricing and provides examples for better understanding.
These are some really useful tips and information about hiring an interior designer. I’d love to hire one an interior designer.
I am glad to know about it! Thank you so much for sharing!
I have never heard about anything like this before! It was helpful to have the information you provided. Your sharing of it is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for providing insightful information about hiring an interior designer and their associated costs. Your article highlights the importance of understanding various factors that affect interior designer fees and provides practical tips for clients to reduce their expenses.
We would love to hire an interior designer to help re-design our living room space. I think it would be worth the investment.