It’s a common misconception that interior designers are only for the super wealthy. Allow us to expel that myth and discus an interior designer cost in more detail.
The average UK hourly rate of an interior designer is between £30 and £50. This will vary depending on the experience of the designer in question, the size and location of your property, and how many rooms you want to be worked on.
| Package | Overall Cost | Interior Designer Charge |
| Basic | Up to £5,000 | Up to £500 |
| Design Only | £5,000 – £20,000 | £500 – £2,000 |
| Design, Supply & Install | £20,000 | £2,000+ |
It is imperative that you have a clear idea in your head from the beginning on the final goal from your interior designer. Sure, they can help you along the way and give you ideas and inspiration, but you need to have the below questions answered:
- What do you want to achieve from the project?
- How many rooms need designing?
- What features do you require?
- Do any repairs need to be carried out?
With the above question already answered in your head, you’ll find it much easier to work with an interior designer who will confidently give you a price breakdown with your wishes in mind.
Have an idea of the materials that you want to use. These can impact the final price. The last thing you want is to be shocked by the price and go above budget.
Interior Designer Cost: Rooms
Naturally, the number of rooms that you want to redesign will impact your overall cost. The more rooms, the higher the price.
In the long run, such renovations will positively impact your property value, and make for a more comfortable home life.
Take a read of our room breakdown and see where in your home you would like to have redesigned.
Living Room
Aside from sleeping, the living room is where most of us spend the majority of our time at home. With this in mind, you want this space to be as comfortable as possible.
Furniture, lighting and space utilisation are all areas that a professional interior designer can advise on.
Home Office
If you work from home, you will have laughed at our previous point of the living room being where you spend most of your time.
When done right, an office design can help to improve productivity. Lighting, furniture placement, and window layout are all essential when considering a home office.
Bedrooms
Our very own area of tranquillity. You will of course want your bedrooms to be as comfortable and peaceful as possible. Colours are important in a bedroom, particularly for a child’s room. Brighter colours can help to bring out their inner creativity. While most people opt for carpet in their bedroom, a wooden floor can help to keep the room cooler in those warm summer months.
Kitchen
All the best parties take place in the kitchen, right? However, if your kitchen is on the small side, you’ll be thankful for the help of a professional in designing a layout that utilises the space.
You’ll want to ensure that you have enough space to prepare food and cook. Our recent blog discussing which kitchen layout is the most functional should answer any questions you may have.
If you are after a complete kitchen redesign, you may need to consider a rewiring. Our kitchen rewire cost comparison will give you an understanding of the prices involved.
Fencing installation
The Installation of a Fencing in the back garden. It took about 2 hours, to be completed by one person. The fencing has keeps the dogs from getting into the garden.
Bathroom
Given that bathrooms can suffer from damp and mould, they are often the room that requires a redesign the most.
An upgrade to your bath and shower can increase the value of your property, while the choices you make in terms of tiling and flooring can impact on the final quote.
Is An Interior Designer Worth It?
Absolutely. We’re all about a bit of DIY, but bringing in an expert interior designer will benefit you more than you realise. They are on hand to evaluate your requirements, while also listening to your design wishes, while using their expertise to maximise your space.
Of course, the overall interior designer fees will vary depending on the size of your property, and just how much of your home you are looking to be updated.
It goes without saying that an interior design project for a living room will be considerably cheaper than an entire property.
How Much Do Interior Designers Charge Per Hour in the UK?
While some jobs may come cheaper than others, taking into account some of the factors mentioned already, you’ll want to know the hourly rate before committing to an interior design price.
The UK average rate is between £35 and £50. We wouldn’t advise accepting a rate too much lower, as the quality of design may not be up to scratch. On the flipside, there really isn’t any need to pay above £50 per hour. That is more than enough to assure that you have hired an expert.
How Do Most Interior Designers Charge?
Once again, the overall interior design cost is dependent on a number of factors. We will break it down into packages to give you a clearer understanding.
The Basics
A total package worth up to £5,000 may include a consultation. This can happen in person or over the phone, although the latter can help to keep the fees down.
The basic package would also include a furniture placement plan, a concept board and a shopping list to help you make the required purchases yourself.
Design Only
A design only package can cost anything between £5,000 and £20,000. The exact cost is very much dependent on the property itself.
The interior designer would perform a consultation at the property, with room measurements, a detailed furniture plan and lighting suggestions. Sketches of how the completed job will look would be provided, along with detailed documents to assist with quotes from builders and decorators.
Design, Supply & Install
The full package. Costing anything north of £20,000, this option includes everything quoted in the above two packages, with much more.
The interior designer would project manage the builders and decorators and take care of the purchasing on your behalf.
In essence, the job is done for you, by the professionals.
Given that most interior designers charge around 10% of the overall interior design cost for their service, the below table is helpful to ascertain which package works best for you.
| Package | Overall Cost | Interior Designer Charge |
| Basic | Up to £5,000 | Up to £500 |
| Design Only | £5,000 – £20,000 | £500 – £2,000 |
| Design, Supply & Install | £20,000 | £2,000+ |
Our quotes calculator is without question the best place to start when figuring out an interior designer cost.
