How do Interior Designers Charge their Clients? Let Me Break it Down

Just how do interior designers charge their clients? I’m sure if you’ve considered working with a designer or decorator, it’s one of the first questions you want an answer to.

So today, I’m lifting the lid on how we charge our clients in the interest of full transparency.

It’s good for you to understand how interior design charges work and why they’re there. It allows you to go into the process feeling confident about where your hard-earned dollars are going. We never want our clients to feel confused about any part of the design journey. And the financial aspect is an important one.

What Do Interior Designers Charge?

Well, here it is quite simply. No smoke and mirrors, just the facts on what this interior design business charges the clients we work with. And there are three main figures to keep in mind here regarding how much it costs to hire an interior designer:

• Phone consultation: Free
• In-home consultation: $396
• Hourly Design Fee: $198

Now Let’s Break It Down…

Below I’ll go into detail about what interior designers charge with regard to the above figures. I’ll also tell you how the process rolls out so you can get your head around when charges occur and why.

Before that, click here if you want to know how long the entire design process takes.

The Phone Consult Costs Nothing

It all starts with a catch-up over the phone to get a better idea of what you need. What do interior designers charge here: zero. It’s free, the call goes for about 20 minutes, and it’s a great way to ask all the questions you need.

It’s also an opportunity for me to assess what it is you’re after, and whether I’m the best designer to help you (more info on how to prepare for the call here).

This is the first step in working with an interior designer. And if you want to take that step, click here to book in a time to chat. I should point out that not all interior designers do this initial call free of charge. Some do longer phone consults or Skype calls with a fee attached.

I find a quick 20-minute call is a nice way to get a feel for one another. And after that, you’re free to book an in-home consult if you wish and if we deem is appropriate.

The In-Home Consult is $396

When it comes to how much interior designers charge, this is the first fee. We get you to pay upfront when you book in the home visit with me (TLC’s founder and lead designer, Chris).

This is what the first meeting consists of:

• A 90-minute visit to your home, to discuss your design needs.
• A look our image library of design styles to identify what your dream style is.
• We’ll examine the spaces you need help with, discussing the best design solutions.
• I’ll note down all of the products/materials needed to resolve the rooms before I leave.
• Post-consultation, a proposal is sent with all estimated costs and next steps.

Outside of the above, the in-home consultation is a great opportunity to pick my brain (with no obligation to go further). Or, let’s use the time with every intention of going further. That’s my preferred outcome.

The Hourly Design Fee is $198

When it comes to how much interior designers charge, it’s all about the hourly rate (when you work with us, anyway).

OK, so you’ve decided you want to work with me after our consult. That’s fabulous news. What happens now is that I estimate how long I think I’ll spend working on your project. This helps me calculate a rough design fee.

As an example, let’s say it’ll take 60 hours in total to work on the design of your home, start to finish. Sometimes it’s more, sometimes less. But let’s say 60 to make it easy. That means in this example, across the course of the project, you’ll spend $198 hourly rate x 60 hours = $11,880.

Consider Whether This Interior Design Fee Works For You

While we aim to make interior design attainable for everyone, the reality is that working with an interior designer is a luxury service. Sadly for some, it’s not a service that works for their budget. 

If you do agree to go ahead after the estimation of hours, we’ll ask you for a 50% deposit to get started on your project. So following on from our current example of a 60-hour project, I’ll ask you to pay for 30 hours upfront ($5940). This allows us to begin work on the tailored design concept for your home.

Once we’ve worked close to the 30 hours on your project, we’ll let you know we’re reaching the end of your 50% deposit. From this point onwards, we’ll invoice you weekly for the remaining hours we work on your home (which should be an additional 30 hours).

Now, Not all Interior Designers do it this way

Some designers don’t break it down for you. Totally their prerogative.

Some will just give you a design fee at the start. Some want you to pay everything upfront. Some ask for 50% deposit like me. Some will only charge you an hourly rate from the beginning.

Having been in the interior design industry for over a decade, we’ve tried charging our clients under a number of different fee models. In the end, doing it with a 50% deposit upfront is in everyone’s best interests. It commits you and the designer to one another, and is very much a pay-as-you-go scenario where you get to see where the hours are being spent each week.

We Like to Be 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.

Outside of Design Fee, You Pay for Products + Trades

Outside of the design fee you obviously pay for any products we specify and you approve. Turns out those pesky furniture and decor suppliers won’t give them away for free – damn!

What you’ll pay for products is also estimated after our consult based on how many rooms you’re furnishing, what level of furniture you want, what style it is, and whether trades will be required to do things like paint walls, install lighting, replace carpet etc.

Things will cost more if we’re wallpapering or painting or tiling, for example, and trades have to come in to carry out those tasks for you (I organise all the trades, by the way).

Of Course, The Initial Product Costs are Also an Estimate

This is because things can change as we move through the process in terms of what you choose to spend your money on.

For example, you might want more product than originally discussed during our initial meeting. Or you might have expensive taste; opting for a sofa you have your heart set on that costs more than some of the other options presented. We can’t know this during our initial meeting.

We do find, however, that the cost estimates are usually pretty spot on. We’ve been doing this for over a decade so we’re pretty good at ball-parking what you’ll spend to furnish your rooms.

If you want to figure out what a decent product budget is for your home, click here for more.

Has this Made Things Clearer?

Hopefully this has answered the most-common question of what do interior designers charge and how much it costs. If you have any additional queries, do drop me a comment below and I’d be happy to answer them. Or, as I said above, if you want to book in a consult, click here.