How much does an interior designer cost?

An interior designer can be hired for anything from a one-room consultation to overseeing the design of an entire new home or commercial space. Common interior design styles include contemporary, eclectic, traditional, coastal, craftsman, farmhouse, industrial, mid-century modern, shabby chic, rustic and southwestern. Clients frequently need help with space planning and layout, color palette and paint selection, choosing furniture, lighting, window treatment, flooring, accessories and art work. Interior design costs are affected by several factors.

Reputation

The demand for a particular designer plays a large part in the cost of their services. Celebrity designers and those with high-profile jobs on their resume tend to have higher rates.

Hourly rates

Most interior designers—especially those who work on smaller residential projects that don’t involve construction—offer hourly rates. Here are some hourly pricing examples:

• Visions of Variation with Victoria in Surprise, Arizona:

  • $75 per hour for shopping and consulting

  • $95 per hour for physically staging, moving and using client’s furniture and accessories

• 13 Design Lane Interiors in Portland, Oregon:

  • $100 per hour for consultations and drawings

  • $50 per hour for project management such as shopping, administration, travel time, etc.

• InFocus Designs in Crete, Illinois:

  • $175–$225 for new client consultations with no time limit (price depending on travel)

  • $50 per hour for project management after intake. Hourly rate may vary, depending on tasks

Percentage-based rates

Interior decorators charge percentage-based rates when they contribute their services to a large remodel or new home construction. In this case, the interior designer will receive a percentage of the total billed to the client for the project, including construction, furnishing and material. For example, if the client was charged $200,000 total for a project and the interior designer negotiated a 10 percent rate, he or she will receive $20,000.

Flat rate

Flat rate totals are costs for services that designers and clients agree to prior to the start of a project. These projects could entail anything from a complete home makeover to shopping for one piece of furniture. Each flat rate is negotiable with the interior designer and is based on specifics of the individual task.

Square footage

Interior designers—especially those working on larger homes or commercial projects—may charge by the square foot for an entire project. For example, a 5,000-square-foot space with a rate of $3 per square foot would cost $15,000.