Interior Design

Find an interior designer near San Diego, CA

Find an interior designer near San Diego, CA

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Top 10 Interior Designers near San Diego, CA

Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

What do interior designers do?

Interior designers do much more than pick complementary paint colors and choose matching furniture — although those tasks are important parts of the job. Unlike decorators, interior designers usually have an associate of science degree or certificate of achievement in interior design from an accredited program. They’re trained in drafting, lighting and computer aided design (CAD), and are experts in room-specific design and residential space planning. Interior designers use these skills to plan and design safe, highly functional and beautiful interior spaces, from kitchens and bathrooms to family rooms and bedrooms. They determine space requirements, work within building codes and inspection regulations, and meet accessibility standards. An interior designer’s day-to-day job includes creative and technical tasks, both of which often require great communication skills:

  • Creating model rooms and visuals using design software.
  • Researching different textiles, materials, finishes, lighting and furniture.
  • Hiring suppliers, vendors, and contractors.
  • Estimating costs and making bids on potential jobs.

What’s the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?

Interior designers operate more on the architectural side of building projects. In conjunction with architects, they work on the design of a building or home to best suit the needs of the users or residents. Interior designers are generally experienced in construction and understand how architectural planning works, according to NewSchool of Architecture & Design. And some interior designers will perform the duties of an interior decorator.

Interior decorators, on the other hand, work with fabrics, accessories, furniture, art, colors, textures and materials to make the inside look fashionable and pleasant.

How much do interior designers charge?

You can hire an interior design for a job as basic as a one-room consultation or as complex as supervising the design of an entire new home, helping with space planning, choosing color palettes, and shopping for furniture, flooring and artwork. The size and scope of the job will determine how much an interior designer charges; the average national cost for an interior designer ranges from $75 to $100 or more per hour. Other cost factors include the person’s reputation — interior designers to the stars are usually more expensive — and region. Most interior designers charge an average of $100-$225 for an initial consultation, but some will charge an hourly rate, usually starting at an average of $50, for larger projects that require extensive consultations. Hourly rates may be available for smaller projects, such as redecorating a living room or staging a home for sale; for instance, shopping and consulting can cost an average of $75 to $100 per hour, while staging costs and average $95 per hour. For many homeowners, a percentage of an interior designer’s cost is recouped through the professional discounts they receive from their vendors.

How do you choose an interior designer?

Choosing an interior designer is all about finding one whose signature style fits well with your tastes and who can work within your budget. To choose the right professional for your interior design project, ask yourself these five questions:

  • What is your signature style? Good interior designers can both describe their personal aesthetic and demonstrate their signature style through their portfolios. Make sure it appeals to you.
  • How will you make sure the design fits my lifestyle? Good designers understand that the interior design must improve a homeowner’s experience in their home and fit into their lifestyle; for example, a white suede sofa is a poor choice for a family with large dogs and small children.
  • How much do you charge? Depending on the project, an interior designer may charge an hourly rate, a flat fee or a percentage of the project’s total cost.
  • How will you stick to my budget? An interior designer should have a plan for staying within your budget, which includes full transparency of costs and flexibility when choosing materials and furnishings.  

Because an interior design project is highly collaborative and based on hard-to-define personal preferences, it’s most important to choose a designer who communicates clearly and listens closely to you.

How do you find a good interior designer?

For many homeowners, the difference between a good interior designer and a bad one is simply a matter of taste — but all good designers have similar skill sets. Interior designers usually have a degree or certificate in interior design, with training in design principles and lighting, drafting, and computer aided design (CAD) software. Good interior designers have strong color balancing skills and understand how different colors influence spatial perception and moods. They know the building and electrical codes in the areas where they practice, and they make sure that any contractors they hire also work to those codes. They are knowledgeable about different upholstery fabrics and draperies, stay ahead of residential design trends, and maintain their own individual creativity. Also, good interior designers have excellent space designing skills, so they can arrange a space efficiently and with ideal traffic flow. Ultimately, hiring a good interior designer means pinpointing one whose signature style is complementary to your personal style — so checking out many designers’ portfolios is a must — and whose communication methods match yours.

Reviews for San Diego interior designers
Thumbtack Customer
Fadi was the best Interior designer and I did get estimates from other ones. He was able to give me 3D render with a finish product even before the improvements got started. I strongly recommend him to any future projects, my office design is very unique and it came out beautiful. He is very dependable and a very talented designer
Fadi Soudi Interior DesignFadi Soudi Interior Design
Jonathan L.
I was unsure about this whole interior designer thing, but the customer service alone was so good that it put me at ease. I felt so comfortable with the whole process I immediately signed up with Ghiasi Designs. The care and passion makes them stand out and I couldn't be happier.
Ghiasi DesignsGhiasi Designs
Thumbtack Customer
Prompt and courteous. I hired Rachel on three different homes for my clients. She is knowledgeable in the field of interior design and works well with my clients in helping them transition their home to sell on the market.
Tiger VeilTiger Veil
Nandan S.
We were so impressed with how well Carla's concept fit our style. She helped us decorating living room, master bedroom, toddler bedroom and patio. She designed everything after taking into consideration our requirement of toddler safe home. She had always answered our questions quickly and adjusted designs as per our taste. Shopping was quite simple with her, she gave us plenty of options to choose right from furniture to accessories. Carla helped us to put our vision into reality. Thanks Carla and we definitely recommend Novo Interiors for designing your space in your way. I'll post pics shortly.
Novo Interiors By CarlaNovo Interiors By Carla
Cora G.
I am so sorry for my very late review, Carla. First, my family and I strongly recommend Carla for your interior designing needs. Second, Carla was from start to end, always pleasant, professional and punctual in her arrival at our home. Our request to Carla was to freshen up our Mom’s & Sister’s room with a total makeover. Again, Carla’s performance from the start til the end was outstanding and at an affordable cost. Carla, thank you so much for all of your help and for your patience throughout our project time. My family and I sincerely appreciate Carla for always being pleasant and yet her professionalism and the quality of her work is amazingly inspiring. Thank you, beautiful Carla.
Novo Interiors By CarlaNovo Interiors By Carla
Michelle G.
I hired Fadi to do a complete interior remodel of my 2,500 sq ft home. Fadi, has a great vision. He is creative, with an eye for beauty and function. At first, I tried to do everything myself, but I was quickly overwhelmed with all the choices and trying to make everything work together, all while working a full time job. I was hesitant to call a designer, not knowing what the experience would be like. Hiring Fadi was the best decision I made in the entire project. From there, everything has flowed. He has presented me with design choices, I would have never thought about. Design Process: Fadi made sure to understand what I wanted. He then presented me about 3 choices for flooring, paint color, cabinet colors/style and configuration, counter-top material, master bathroom configuration etc. He provided me with concept drawings which were excellent. Importantly, he understood my budget and took that into account in his design choices. Construction Process: Fadi also helped me to find the construction team for implementing his concepts. I was grateful for that, as Fadi was excellent in working with the construction team (which meant that I could focus on my job and not worry about the remodel details). Fadi, has dropped by the project weekly (and more) to make sure the construction was going correctly, sometimes finding things here and there that needed to be corrected. He also had weekly meetings with the construction team. This was such a great value to me. Fadi has made my remodel project a priority. Fadi has impeccable taste, an excellent eye for color, and very creative ideas to make any home beautiful and outstanding. I highly recommend him and I would hire him again in a minute for any upcoming projects. You cannot go wrong in going with Fadi.
Fadi Soudi Interior DesignFadi Soudi Interior Design
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