How Much Does An Interior Designer Cost?
If you’re searching for how much does an interior designer cost the answer may surprise you. An increasing number of interior designers now provide various services to suit a wide range of needs and budgets.
An interior designer costs, on average, between £500 to £1500 for an e-design package per room. Whilst a traditional on-site consultation right through to a full design installation can cost in the region of 5 to 10% of your overall project. The cost of an interior designer depends a lot on the project size, the type of work they need to do, as well as, the amount of experience that they have.
So what can you expect from an on-site interior design service vs. an online interior design service, and which approach is best for your project and budget? In this post I’ll provide you with the information you need to have a greater understanding of interior design services, and help you towards knowing which option is best suited for your project and budget.
This article may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
The Benefits of Hiring An Interior Designer
There are numerous advantages and benefits that justify the cost of hiring an interior designer as, ultimately, an interior designer is trained in the process of enhancing the function and form of a space within a home. The benefits include:
A designer’s training and experience
The large majority of interior designers are professionally educated and have had the opportunity to be exposed to different rooms and scenarios. This time enables the designer to develop their knowledge and ability to conceive and see projects through to fruition. Experience enables them to be skilled within each phase of the process, so they know how to identify a client’s wants and needs, what will work within the room and budget, and how to deliver on installation.
A designer’s creativity and fresh ideas
It’s not only their knowledge and expertise that benefits a project, but it’s also their creative outlook and ability to provide innovative solutions.
A designer’s network
A big advantage of hiring an interior designer is, through them, you can have insider access to their network of suppliers and tradespeople, that they’ve built a strong working relationship with over time. Therefore, your home may benefit from the reliable and competent contractors that the designer entrusts with their projects, and also presents an opportunity to have rare, unique and custom elements in your design.
On-site Interior Design vs. Online Interior Design
On-site Interior Design Service
Due to the bespoke nature of this approach, an on-site interior design service will tend to be more expensive than the online route. An interior designer will provide a fee proposal dependent upon the project and agreed work. Depending on the designers fees the cost, on average, is equal to 5 - 10% of the projects overall cost.
The on-site option really facilitates an interior designer getting to know you on a more personal level which helps in the design process.
An interior designer will always ensure that they ask a series of questions in initial meetings, in both the on-site or online option, so as to gain an understanding of your likes, dislikes and anticipated use within a space.
However, the face-to-face interaction through an on-site interior design approach enables a designer to clearly observe and therefore gain a clearer narrative on how a space is used and see opportunities for improvement throughout the design process.
An on-site interior design service tends to include:
On-site consultations, measuring and visits
Access to trade discounts
Sample ordering
Product sourcing
Communication with contractors
Final installation and styling
Online Interior Design Service
If you’re already in a position where you have an idea in mind but you’re struggling to visualise the design and need some guidance, or don’t have the budget for an on-site interior designer but still want a convenient and comprehensive design of your room that you can implement yourself, then an online interior design service is a great option for you.
Usually, interior designers who provide this service will have different packages to suit different budgets. Packages tend to range from premium packages with 3d renders of the room, right through to smaller packages that help you with the finishing touches in a room.
Speak to your chosen designer about what’s included within their packages but here is some general guidance on what to expect:
A premium package. Average cost £500 - £1500 per room, depending on the room size.
Prior to your online consultation you’ll need to provide your room measurements – your designer will be able to guide you on how best to measure the room – photos of the room and images that provide an indication of what you like.
The online consultation will then take place, usually on a Zoom call, where you’ll have the opportunity to discuss your needs and wants for the space, your personal style and your budget.
Following the consultation you may then receive multiple mood boards to discuss, followed by design boards, 2D recommended room layouts to-scale, 3D room renders so that you can visualise how the finished room would look from different angles, and a list of the decorating finishes, furniture and accessories used within the design accompanied with links for purchasing the items in your own time.
This type of package may also include access to samples.
A less comprehensive package. Average cost £200 - £700 per room, depending on the room size.
This option is helpful if you’re not after a comprehensive room design but need guidance with a particular aspect of the room (for example, the decorating approach within your existing kitchen).
This level of package follows the same initial approach as the premium package, such as having a consultation and receiving design boards, but tends to not include comprehensive 2D floorplans, 3D renders of the room or samples..
There are interior designers who enable you to tap into their expertise through a one-off consultation, also known as a trouble-shooting call, which is ideal for anyone who wants to discuss ideas and needs guidance with a particular problem area. On average, a 1 hour call to hear an interior designer’s professional suggestions costs between £170 to £250.
How to choose the right interior designer for your project
Choose the specialist in the style you like
The majority of interior designers will specialise in a particular style. Therefore, if you love industrial interiors, for example, then it’s usually not advisable to work with an interior designer who specialises in farmhouse interiors.
Therefore, to make sure you choose the right interior designer for your project, invest some time into looking at an interior designer’s past projects to see if the interiors are similar to the approach you’d like to achieve in your own home. A designer’s projects will usually be available to view on their website and social channels and are intended to provide a good sense of the style they specialise in.
The benefit of the designer being a specialist within a certain style is that they’ll know all of the finest materials available, the appropriate colour schemes to use and the best suppliers to go with within your budget.
Check if it seems too good to be true
In a rare scenario where a designer’s prices seem extremely low, you may want to check whether the designer is an affiliate partner with a brand.
The reason being there’s more incentive for them to recommend the brand’s products to you, so that they can earn a commission, as opposed to being unbiased and providing you with a truly tailored approach that suits your needs.
Interior Design Books
If hiring an interior designer isn’t the approach you want to take but you’re still keen to approach designing your home with a greater understanding of basic design principles, a good interior design book can really help guide you in the right direction. If you favour a particular high profile interior designer the likelihood is that they’ll have a book that will provide insight into their interior design approach.
One book in particular, that I can personally recommend, is by design consultant Frida Ramstedt, called The Interior Design Handbook. Whilst there are many interior design books that offer visual inspiration and an element of practical insight, Frida’s book offers uniquely detailed and informative insight on how to approach each element of designing and styling a room. The book is packed full of practical tips and tricks of the trade so it’s great value for money. I’m currently renovating my first house and this book has genuinely helped shape my decorating approach for each room.
Also, it’s worth noting the online courses that are available from highly regarded interior designers that are accessible, for a relatively small fee compared to what I imagine their design rates are, on sites such as Masterclass.
Conclusion
I hope this guide has provided you with a greater understanding of the interior design services available to you, knowing how much interior designers cost, and helped you towards knowing which option is better suited for your project and budget.
If you’re interested in seeing how I approach interior design within my own home, take a look at my post showing my Victorian terrace renovation or my renovation diaries on my YouTube channel.