How Much Does An Interior Designer Really Cost?

Miss Alice Designs

Good Design Takes Time and Time Costs Money

I’ve had potential clients reach out to me who have never worked with a designer before and have no idea how much hiring a designer actually costs. There are expectations of how much things should cost (lots of different information floating around online) versus how much they really do cost. Quite often, a client’s budget expectations don’t align with the reality of costs, so I wanted to write this blog post to educate people on what to expect when hiring an interior designer.

Many factors come into play when it comes to how much an interior designer costs as each interior designer works differently and has a different pricing model. Costs depend on the education, experience, training, knowledge, and location (SF Bay Area versus Seattle) as well as the project scope.

Some designers only charge by the hour, others charge by the hour with a markup on materials, offer a flat rate fee (fixed fee), work off the square footage of the project, or charge a percentage of the total overall project budget. What it comes down to is their experience. You are paying designers for how they use their knowledge to achieve the outcome you want.

One of the best responses I have heard from another interior designer when a potential client complained about her design fees and asked how long it would take to design a kitchen was “17 years and as long as it takes me”. This particular interior designer knew her worth. Her talent, knowledge, and years of experience was presented in her response.

Below are the most common pricing models interior designers charge for their services in today’s market.

1. Hourly Rate

It can cost anywhere from $75 an hour for an interior designer just starting out to $500 an hour for a seasoned and reputable designer with over 20+ years of experience.  Yes, a seasoned designer can cost as much as a lawyer.

Along with their hourly rate, most designers charge for travel time when they shop for furniture, pick up samples, or travel to your home. They also bill for email correspondences, text messages, and phone calls as these communications between vendors, contractors, tradespeople, and clients add up over time. Next time you send emails to a coworker or call a store, track how much time it takes throughout the day. Sometimes it’ll take only 5 minutes. Other times, it can take 30 minutes, 1 hour, or more, but you get the point. Time adds up with multiple communications over the span of a design project. And, time is money, so designers should absolutely bill for that time.

There’s also time that is spent thinking about design that many designers don’t bill for. I find myself thinking about a design for a project multiple times throughout the day - when I’m out on a walk, before I go to sleep, when I’m sleeping (dreaming about design), and so on.

2. Hourly Rate + Markup

Along with their hourly rate, most designers provide a markup (or purchasing fee) on furniture and accessories purchased through them. This markup can be anywhere from 20% to 50% on top of the designer’s wholesale cost. So, if the retail price for a one-of-a-kind chair is say $1,000 to keep it simple, and a designer’s trade discount is 40%, the designer’s purchase price is $600. If the designer’s markup is 25%, you will be paying below retail for these items even with a markup, especially if they are unique custom pieces.

So, if you prefer vintage, custom, or one-of-a-kind pieces versus mass-produced items from Crate and Barrel for example, it makes sense to purchase through an interior designer as you'll most likely be paying below retail price for these distinctive items.  Plus, some designer showrooms do not sell to the public while others do. However, if you are on a tight budget and prefer the prices and lead times of retail shops like West Elm, Pottery Barn, CB2, or Crate & Barrel, these sites consistently have a sale and you can purchase items directly through them.

3. Flat or Fixed Fee

More and more designers have a flat fee pricing model or are moving to a fixed fee structure. However, it’s challenging for designers who don’t have enough experience estimating how much time a project will take compared to designers who have been in the business long enough and know what to expect from past projects.

The average flat fee can cost anywhere from $3,500-$10,000+ per room design. And this is just for the design. A full-service design will add to the overall flat fee cost.

With this pricing structure, you know exactly what you are paying regardless of how much time it takes the designer to do the work. Some designers may charge an hourly fee if it exceeds X # of revisions. Everything should be outlined in the letter of agreement. With a flat fee, you pay an upfront fee and then in several installments throughout the design and construction process.

4. Percentage of Total Budget

Another way designers charge is based on a percentage of the total budget which is usually about 10-30%. Some charge up to 45%. So, if your total project budget is $100,000, then the design fees would be anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 which may or may not include full-service design. Some designers also mark up on furniture while others will pass on their trade discounts for materials, furniture, and accessories with this pricing structure if the project budget is larger. Again, every designer works differently.

5. Cost per Square Footage

Finally, some designers charge per square foot or between an average of $20 and $40 per sq/ft in today’s market rate. This means that designing a 100 sq/ft room costs about $2,000 on the lower end while a 2,000 sq/ft whole home design costs around $80,000 on the higher end. This pricing model is more commonly used for large-scale commercial projects when the space is well over 5,000 square feet.

Keep in mind that these fees are for design services only and some designers may charge additional fees for any changes or iterations to the designs. In addition, you have to take into account the costs of furniture and accessories which could be anywhere from an additional $15,000 on the lower end to $40,000+ on the higher end per room, depending on the size of the room, style, and pieces selected.

The reality is many factors and variables come into play when it comes to the cost of hiring an interior designer. It not only depends on the education, experience, location, and knowledge of the designer but also on what they do with their expertise and how they use their knowledge. In addition, every designer runs their business differently and has a distinct pricing model. Plus, the scope of your project plays a vast role in cost and the type of service you need (design only or full-service). Lastly, and this is a big one - it depends on you. Yes, you. If you are super clear about what you want and what you like and are generally decisive by nature making decisions quickly and sticking with them, the project will move along at a more rapid and smooth pace. If you don’t know what your design style is, have a hard time deciding on a direction, or change your mind frequently, then many iterations of the design may be needed to get to a place where you feel comfortable and happy. And, well, that just adds more time. In addition, if your priority and focus is only on price versus value and desired end result, then be prepared to get what you pay for.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” - Red Adair

I recommend first asking family and friends if they know any designers they have worked with and would recommend, or going online and searching for designers who have a similar style as yours. Interview the designers that resonate with you, check out their reviews online, and if possible, speak with their past clients for their personal experience working with the designer.

If you want a designer’s expertise to help guide you in transforming your space and are ready to jump in with your design project, please contact me for a 30-minute discovery call.  To schedule your call, click here.   In the meantime, happy decorating!