If you’ve ever tried Googling “How much do interior designers cost?” you’ll already know the answer isn’t simple. Different designers charge in different ways, price points vary wildly, and the industry isn’t exactly famous for transparency.
So let’s fix that.
Below, we’ve broken down the real costs of hiring an interior designer in Melbourne, what affects the price, what you actually get for your money, and how to choose a design service that fits your project and your budget.
Whether you’re furnishing an apartment in Carlton, renovating a townhouse in Yarraville, updating a house in Camberwell, or styling a new build on the Mornington Peninsula — this guide will help you make sense of interior design fees.
Why Interior Designer Costs Vary (Especially in Melbourne)
Melbourne’s design market is diverse — from inner-city apartments in Fitzroy or South Yarra to family homes in the suburbs. Your cost will depend on:
- Scope: Are we designing one room, a single area, or a whole house?
- Service Type: Furnishing only, design + product sourcing, or full renovation design
- Experience: Junior designer vs a studio with a decade of work/experience
- Documentation Included: Room mood boards only or detailed joinery drawings
- Complexity: Cosmetic decorating is very different to structural renovation
- Access to Trade / Suppliers: Designers with trade-only or wholesale supplier access can source better prices (and often pass on savings)
All of these factors contribute to why two quotes from different designers can look nothing alike.
How Interior Designers Commonly Charge
Here are the four most common pricing models used by designers in Melbourne (and we’ll highlight the model we use when working with clients):
1. Fixed Fee
A flat, agreed-upon price between designer and client, based on your project’s defined scope.
Typical range: Anywhere from $3,500 for smaller zones up to $20,000+ for larger jobs.
Best for full-service design, multi-room renovations, or major furnishing projects.
2. Hourly Rate
Charged by the hour for work like meetings, mood boards, product sourcing, design tasks.
Typical Melbourne rate: $120 – $300+/hr
*This is the model we at TLC Interiors use as we find it’s the most transparent approach.
3. Percentage of Project Cost
Some designers charge a percentage of the total project when working on a renovation/build.
Typical range: 10% – 20%
Used more often for large-scale builds or when designers are involved from concept to completion.
4. Hybrid Pricing
A combination — for example, a fixed fee for providing you with a design concept for your home, and then charging hourly for changes, product sourcing, meetings etc.
What You Actually Get When You Hire a Designer
A great interior designer does more than “make your home look good.” Their real value comes in making sure every decision is considered, every mistake is avoided, and the end result is both beautiful and functional.
Here’s what you typically get with a professional designer (and with us at TLC Interiors):
- A detailed briefing to understand your style, needs, and budget
- Concept design (mood boards of rooms, furniture orientation)
- Floor plans & space planning
- Furniture & decor recommendations
- Materials and finishes guidance
- Product sourcing (trade-only or wholesale suppliers where possible — more on that below)
- Project support, coordination, and styling
That means you’re not just paying for someone to pick cushions — you’re investing in experience, access, and the know-how to pull everything together seamlessly.
Our Pricing at TLC Interiors (Transparent, Straightforward, and Honest)
At TLC Interiors, we believe in upfront clarity. Here’s how we charge for our design services:
Free Discovery Call
- A 15–20 minute phone call between you and our design director is how it all kicks off
- We’ll discuss your project, your budget, timeframes, and whether we’re a good fit.
- Cost: Free.
In-Home Consultation – $440
- A 90-minute visit to your home. We’ll give advice on room layout, design style, furniture and more.
- We’ll use our image library establish your home’s aesthetic, and take a full brief of your needs.
- After the consult, you’ll receive a detailed recap in a proposal that also covers off the estimated fees and pricing for products.
Hourly Design Rate – $220/hr
- Used once we sign you on as a client. The hourly rate covers works like preparing your design concept, attending site meetings, showroom visits, product sourcing, in-home styling, and more.
We Are Transparent About Costs Upfront
We find by telling the client upfront what our rate is, and how long we’ll spend on the project, it keeps everything very open and transparent. No smoke and mirrors. You know what you’re in for, and so do we.
But again, every designer has figured out what works best for them. You either love their process and feel it makes sense for you, or you look for another designer elsewhere. There’s a hat for every head.
Why Our Team’s Trade-Only / Wholesale Supplier Access Matters
One of our biggest advantages? We buy from suppliers the public can’t access (at least not at the rates we can). Because of long-standing relationships with trusted trade and wholesale vendors, we can:
- Source high-quality furniture, lighting, and materials
- Access exclusive pieces not available at regular retail
- Share trade discounts with you (yes — we absolutely do)
- Provide more design value for your budget
When we send you your product specification sheet with all the items for purchase listed out, you’ll clearly see how much you’re saving off RRP (recommended retail price) — so there’s full transparency.
Melbourne + Suburbs — We’ve Got You Covered
As a Melbourne-based studio, TLC Interiors works across the city and surrounding suburbs — from inner-city apartments to leafy suburban homes and everything in between.
Whether you’re in Fitzroy, Footscray, Brighton, or even on the Mornington Peninsula or further afield, our local experience means we understand Melbourne homes, styles, and supplier networks intimately. (If you’d like to see some of our recent work across Melbourne, check out our portfolio).
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re curious about how much your specific project might cost — or what kind of design service is best for your space — start with a free discovery call. We’ll talk through what you want to achieve, and what it could look like to work together.
Looking for an interior designer in Melbourne, someone that specialises in residential interior design? We’d love to help!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does the initial consultation give me a full quote?
After your 90-minute in-home consultation, a comprehension design proposal is sent to you via email. It contains an estimate of the total design fee for your project, plus the budget we feel you should dedicate to products for each room.
Does the design fee include furniture and materials?
No. There are two fees going into a project when you work with us. The design fee (the hours we spend working on your project) and product fees (the prices of the furniture, finishes, and other materials. We share trade and wholesale discounts off these products where applicable.
What if I only need styling advice?
We offer a full service of design concept, furnishing and styling with selections of materials and fixtures where required. We do not take on advice-only projects at this time.
How does TLC Interiors use trade or wholesale pricing?
We source a range of suppliers across Melbourne and beyond, giving clients access to furniture and materials often not seen by the public. Where a trade discount exists, we share a portion of it with our clients, meaning you pay less than RRP.
What areas of Melbourne do you service?
We work across metropolitan Melbourne including the inner city, Bayside, northern suburbs, western suburbs, eastern suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula. We also travel further for the right projects.
Hi Chris, I’m an interior designer who is just starting out. This post has been super helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insights!
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the post. I find pricing such a hard task so this was really insightful!
In regards to paying for products, may I ask what sort of discounts the designers should expect from decor suppliers? Does that vary much by product e.g. sofas v kitchenware v rugs?
We can obviously see how much suppliers are charging for direct consumers. Just unsure if the trade discounts provided are fair or aligned to the industry.
Thanks a lot, Amelia
We are building a new house in Woodend and are in the early stages. I love the Metricon Bayville and would like to follow a similar theme. At what stage in our build would be the right time to discuss the interior of our new home.
Hi Joy and John. Very exciting about your build. And yes, Metricon’s design team have done a wonderful job with the Bayville – it’s stunning. Given the delays occurring with Covid at the moment (product delays in particular), I would recommend starting to work with us at least six months before your handover date, even earlier if you can. The process to get to the products being delivered to your home is not a quick one (we do a lot of ground work to get it right, as you’ve probably read), but then the suppliers need to have stock, which is the major issue at the moment. So, the sooner the better. Feel free to email us on admin@tlcinteriors.com.au if you need more advice.
Hi Chris,
Thank you so much or the info. This is really useful for an aspiring Interior Designer!
Could you clarify if the hourly design fee includes the time you take to organise trades, furniture deliveries and on-site inspection/installation/styling?
Thanks Devy! Absolutely, bill for all of your time. It all adds up to many hours of work. Or if you’re doing a flat-fee model, factor all of these activities into it.