How much does it cost to hire an interior designer?

HOW MUCH DOES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER COST?

Whether you're decorating your living room or building your dream home, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the vast amount of choices, options, and decisions to make. Hiring an interior designer is a great way to ease the overwhelm and help to create a cohesive and beautiful space. But every professional comes with a price tag, so how do you know whether hiring an interior designer will fit in your project budget? While hiring a design professional may not be cheap it can save you money in the long run when you consider the amount of time saved and avoiding buyer’s remorse or shopping mistakes.

HOW DO INTERIOR DESIGNERS CHARGE?

There are many factors that go into how much an interior designer’s fees are. A designer’s rates will vary based on location, their experience level, and how extensive your design needs are.

Most interior designer’s charge their fees one of two ways: hourly or a flat fee.

Hourly rates will typically start at $100/hr and can go up to $500/hr. A designer’s experience as well as their geographical location are all factors that go into this hourly rate. In short, expect to pay more for a senior or principal designer’s time as they have the knowledge and experience behind every decision they make on the job. A junior level designer or a firm located further from a metropolitan area will be on the lower end of this rate spectrum.

Designers who charge flat fees usually calculate this by a price per square foot or after calculating how many hours they anticipate your project requires. Depending on how extensive your design needs are (ie: custom millwork drawings, custom architectural details, and bespoke finishes) you can expect a designer to charge $5-10/sf. Again, location and experience level of the designer will also affect the rate. If you are custom building a 5,000 square foot home in Houston, TX you can anticipate spending $25,000-50,000 on design fees.

In the end, price should not be the ultimate determining factor and it’s important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Finding the right fit is as much about communication and personality as it is about style preferences and taste. You will likely be working closely together for anywhere from 6 months to a couple of years so it’s important to pick someone you feel comfortable with and can trust. Interview 2-3 designers to get a feel for who is going to be the best fit for you and your project.

WHAT ABOUT PURCHASING FURNITURE & FIXTURES?

Every designer charges differently when it comes to purchasing for a project so it’s important to know these details when you are interviewing designers.

As members to the trade, designer’s receive exclusive pricing on furnishings and fixtures that are then passed along to the client with a markup percentage. In the end you can factor in the designer’s fees and their furniture markup you may be paying close to retail price but while having the added benefit of their expert design advice.

WHAT ABOUT LUXURY BESPOKE INTERIOR DESIGN?

One of the greatest appeals to hiring an interior designer is having access to bespoke furniture manufacturers or custom-made pieces for a truly one-of-a-kind designed home. As with anything, going custom comes with a higher price tag. Adding bespoke details to a project goes beyond furniture, think custom wallpaper murals or mosaic tile designs. If budget allows, having a few custom-designed furniture pieces will truly add distinction to your space. It’s what designers do best after all!