The Ultimate Guide to What It’s Really Like to Hire an Interior Designer
“What’s it like to hire an interior designer?”
This is a great question. I feel like there’s so much mystery behind hiring an interior designer, but there really shouldn’t be! I’ve been a professional interior designer for over 20 years and can help shed some light on this.
Pricing Structures
First, it’s important to know that every interior designer structures their business a little differently. There are some who charge in hours, some who offer estimates of hours upfront, and some who charge flat fees. At the design firm I own, we charge flat fees for design services so there are no surprises along the way.
I have structured things differently over the years (I opened Innovatus Design in 2011), and I’ve found the best results are flat fee design services. This means that we can focus on the design aspects of the space. I also include a round of revisions in the scope of the project, but they are rarely needed.
When you get charged hourly, you can expect to pay a retainer upfront (usually half of the projected hours for the project) and then get billed monthly. Most designers bill in 15-minute increments. There are too many unknowns and this can be high risk. We simply don’t do this.
When you work with a designer, like us, who charges flat fees, then your interior design services are covered as outlined in the agreed scope of work. They will typically have an outlined revision policy and anything outside the scope of work is billable. It’s rare that any of our projects exceed the revisions laid out in the agreement.
What To Expect – Step by Step Process
Step 1. The Initial Phone Call
When engaging an interior designer, you schedule a phone call to discuss your project with them. This is a great time to ask about their process, share information and details about your project, and understand what you’d receive for your investment.
Step 2. In-Home Consultation
Following the phone call (many designers call this the Discovery Call), then you can schedule an in-home consultation. Experienced interior designers charge for this in-person meeting. Some who have less experience will offer this for free, so you have to figure out what experience level you’re looking for and what you value. (I always recommend hiring someone with an interior design degree. If they are NCIDQ Certified, this is the top credential in the industry and only some designers are eligible for this and have earned it.)
That first design consultation in your home is an opportunity for us to see the real-life feasibility of the project, discuss deeper about your requirements and needs, share ideas, review any inspirational images you may have pulled together, and discuss project budgets.
For example, I had a design consultation today for a new project. I was able to sketch out four different layout options for their new kitchen and discuss the features and benefits of each. I’m able to do this because of my vast experience.
Step 3. Scope of Work
Following the consultation, they will receive a scope of work and design fee proposal for the work in addition to the sketches I did on-site with them. It’s not common to receive a deliverable like that, but it’s an option for the clients we work with. Be sure to ask on the Discovery Call if this is something they do.
When paying flat fees, the pricing of design services is greatly dependent on the scope of the project. We have a system for generating the design fee pricing which involves past project data, project requirements, and construction requirements. That being said, most designers provide flat fees specifically based on the hours required to complete the project.
We send a scope of work which then outlines the deliverables and fee structure. Most designers move to the design agreement which is the contract for design services. We like to make sure that our clients understand what we’ll be providing, options to elevate their home, and where value engineering comes into play which is why we provide a scope of work with options before the design contract.
Remodeling or decor is a big investment for our clients and we don’t want there to be any surprises. It’s incredibly important that your expectations are met.
Step 4. Design Agreement
Once the scope of work is approved, our design firm follows up with a design agreement.
When the design agreement is completed and the deposit is collected, we can really start to make the magic happen.
Design & Installation
Our team comes out to measure the space, take detailed notes, photograph the existing space, and get everything ready for the design phase.
Once the design is complete, then we present it to our clients. They approve it, then we get the contractor walk-through scheduled (if required), and move into the order and procurement phase.
If you’d like more specific pricing information than what I’m able to provide in this post, feel free to reach out to me directly and we can chat about your project and I can provide ranges over the phone. I hope we have a chance to connect together 🙂 Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime here.
