How Much Does an Interior Designer Cost to Hire in 2023?

Hiring an interior designer can seem like a significant investment, but the expertise, efficiency, and guidance they provide often makes the cost well worth it for major home projects. This guide breaks down the average rates, fee structures, and factors that influence interior designer fees so you can set an appropriate budget.

Average Hourly and Project Rates for Interior Designers

Interior designers typically charge between $50 and $500 per hour, with most falling between $100 to $200 per hour on average. For larger-scale projects like whole home renovations or new construction, many designers charge 10-45% of the total project budget.

Here is an overview of typical interior designer billing rates:

• Hourly Fees: $50-$500 per hour (averages $100-$200/hour)
• Flat Project Rate: $450-$1,500 per room
• Commission on Purchases: Separate from hourly fees, often 15-20% commission
• Percentage of Total Budget: 10-45% for major renovation/new build projects

Interior decorator rates are often lower than designer fees, averaging $75-$150 per hour. The key difference is designers have more specialized expertise in architecture, layouts, lighting, and navigating structural changes.

Key Factors That Influence Costs to Hire a Designer

Several variables impact average fees charged by interior designers, including:

• Project Scope and Specifications: Size of home, number of rooms, overall budget, timeline
• Designer’s Expertise and Reputation: Education, years in business, specialty skills
• Geographic Location: Hourly rates 25-50% higher in big metro areas like NYC/San Francisco vs. smaller cities

Additionally, fees tend to rise for:

• Luxury or imported furnishings and materials
• Significant structural/layout changes
• Obtaining work permits and legal compliance
• High cost-of-living areas like New York City or San Francisco
• Extensive revisions/change orders mid-project

Tips for Finding the Right Interior Designer

The best way to maximize value is to be very clear on your budget, timeline, needs and preferred style upfront when soliciting bids. Compare the experience and expertise of 3-5 designers while checking that communication styles align. Be explicit about the exact scope of work expected at the fees quoted to avoid “scope creep” leading to inflated costs.

Interior designers are well worth the investment for larger, more complex home projects. But carefully vetting candidates helps ensure optimal results.

Should You DIY or Hire a Professional Interior Designer?

Benefits of DIY:

• More affordable overall cost
• Greater personalization and flexibility
• Sense of accomplishment

Benefits of Hiring a Pro Designer:

• Expertise gained from years of formal training
• Access to wholesale discounts and contractor connections
• Efficiency from full-time focus and established process
• Objective aesthetic eye and training in spatial planning
• Oversight of all details from start to finish

FAQs on Hiring Interior Designers

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

• Designers have specialized training in technical skills like lighting design, acoustics, layouts, building codes. Decorators focus more on furniture placement, colors, accessories and styling.

What are typical payment details when hiring designers?

• Many designers require a retainer fee upfront of around 35% of projected costs. Some offer payment plans at project milestones. Hourly fees due monthly.

How long do typical interior design projects take from start to finish?

• Smaller scale redesigns can be 2 to 3 months. Whole home renovations often take 6+ months with new builds sometimes lasting 1-2 years.

Hiring an interior designer represents a significant investment, but the value is well worth it when undertaking major home projects. Their expertise in spatial planning, project management, and design vision leads to beautiful, highly functional results.