There is no such thing as a "typical" or "customary"
fee for an interior designer. Many factors influence
what a designer may charge for his or her
services. Most designers use one of the following
methods, or combine methods, to set their fees
and may negotiate to suit a client's particular
needs:
- Fixed fee (or flat fee) — The designer
identifies a specific sum to cover costs,
exclusive of reimbursement for expenses. One
total fee applies to the complete range of services,
from conceptual development through layouts,
specifications and final installation.
- Hourly fee — Compensation is based on actual
time expended by the designer on a project or
specific service.
- Cost plus — A designer purchases materials,
furnishings and services (e.g., carpentry, drapery
workrooms, picture framing, etc.) at cost and sells
to the client at the designer's cost plus a specified
percentage agreed to with the client to compensate
for the designer's time and effort.
In addition to the fee structures outlined above,
designers may require a retainer before beginning a
design project. A retainer is an amount of money
paid by the client to the designer and applied to the
balance due at the termination of the project. The
retainer is customarily paid upon signing the
contractual agreement in advance of design
services.
In addition to the designer's fees, there are other
costs to consider. Only you can decide what a
reasonable budget for your project is. If you have
concerns about price, discuss them with the
designer. Don't be shy about asking the designer to
help you optimize your budget. But be realistic,
too. You may need to scale back your project or
consider having the work done in stages. If you are
concerned about the quoted cost of furniture or
furnishings, ask the designer to provide you with a
list of options.
A final word about cost: How you choose to
furnish your interior and how you work with your
designer will have tremendous impact on the final
cost of the project. Items such as antiques or
custom-made furniture, and modifications that
involve altering or moving load-bearing walls or
beams will significantly increase the cost of your
project, as will requesting changes mid-project or
making excessive demands on the designer's time.
The more research and planning you do before you
start, the more you will be able to help keep costs
down during the project.
"If you have
concerns about price, discuss them with the
designer. Don't be shy about asking the designer to
help you optimize your budget."
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