Interior design fees vary based on project scope, location, and the studio’s experience, but they typically reflect the depth of work across Discovery, Concept, Design & Specification, Commission, and Reveal. Rather than a fixed hourly rate, most established studios charge according to the scale and complexity of each phase, the size of the space, and the calibre of materials and finishes involved. Understanding these variables helps you budget accurately and avoid surprises.
How do interior design studios actually charge for their work?
Interior design fees are rarely a simple hourly rate or flat percentage. Established studios—those working on projects like the London Embankment Apartment or Beaulieu Dental Practice—structure fees around the actual scope of work. A residential project in Witham differs substantially from a commercial interior at Tone in Canary Wharf in terms of the hours required, the number of stakeholders, and the precision of specification demanded. Studios typically quote a total fee that covers all work from Discovery through Reveal, broken down either by project phase or as a single engagement.
The fee reflects what the studio actually does: site analysis, material sourcing, coordination with contractors, specification of every finish and fixture, site visits, and the final delivery of the interior. A salon redesign at Fruittii or an estate agent’s office at Keystones involves distinct challenges—client-facing retail space demands different decision-making and budget management than a private apartment or a dental surgery. The studio’s fee accounts for these differences in complexity and risk.
What factors determine whether a project will cost more or less?
Project cost is driven by five primary variables: the size of the space, the scope of intervention (full redesign versus selective refurbishment), the level of custom work required, the quality bracket of materials and finishes, and the location. A London apartment commands different fees than an equivalent project outside the capital, partly because of travel time and the density of specialist suppliers. A commercial kitchen in a hair salon requires different expertise and coordination than reshaping a residential living room.
The degree of custom specification matters greatly. If the studio sources bespoke joinery, commissions pieces, or specifies rare finishes—as would occur in a high-end residential project—the design and Commission phases expand significantly. A straightforward refresh using standard products and existing layouts costs less than a complete spatial reconfiguration. The studio’s role in managing trades, obtaining quotes, and overseeing execution also affects the total fee: more hands-on involvement costs more because it carries more liability and requires more senior time.
Disruption to business or occupation is another hidden cost factor. A commercial project like Tone at Canary Wharf or Fruittii must often work around operating hours or coordinate phased rollout, which affects scheduling and labour efficiency. A residential project like the Witham Project allows more flexibility but may involve temporary relocation costs the client bears separately.
What happens during each phase, and when do costs typically increase?
The studio’s process has five named stages: Discovery, Concept, Design & Specification, Commission, and Reveal. Discovery is the research and analysis phase—site survey, photography, measurements, conversations with the client about brief, budget, and constraints. This phase is relatively contained in time and cost. Concept is where the studio tests ideas, explores spatial solutions, and builds the strategic direction. These early phases refine understanding and set the foundation for specification.
Concept, Design & Specification is where the bulk of detailed work occurs. The studio documents every material, finish, colour, dimension, and supplier. This phase generates the specification documents that contractors and trades use to execute the work. It is labour-intensive and where the studio’s expertise is most concentrated. Commission is the management phase: obtaining quotations from suppliers and trades, negotiating, ordering, and coordinating delivery and installation. Reveal is the handover and final adjustment. The cost of each phase reflects the studio’s time and responsibility—Specification and Commission phases typically command the highest fees because they contain the most risk and decision-making.
Should you expect to pay differently for residential versus commercial projects?
Residential and commercial projects are structured differently and usually priced differently. A residential project like the London Embankment Apartment or Witham Project centers on the client’s personal brief and lifestyle. Timescales are often flexible, and the client is usually the end-user. A commercial project like Beaulieu Dental Practice, Fruittii, Keystones, or Tone at Canary Wharf serves a business function and involves additional complexity: compliance with regulations, multiple stakeholders, user testing, and the financial pressure of lost business during disruption.
Commercial projects typically command higher fees because they carry greater risk and require more coordination. A dental practice must remain sterile during and after the redesign. A salon must balance aesthetics with workflow and hygiene. An estate agent needs the space to remain partly functional or reopen on schedule. These constraints require more detailed planning, more site supervision, and often more specialist input. Residential projects, by contrast, often allow for more creative freedom and simpler logistics, though bespoke materials or complex spatial changes can equally inflate costs.
What should you budget separately from the design fee?
The studio’s fee covers design, specification, and management of the project—it does not include the cost of materials, labour, or construction. That is the contractor’s or trades’ cost, which the client pays separately. The studio helps you manage that spend through detailed specification and by obtaining competitive quotations, but the actual supply and installation budget is distinct from the design fee. A full interior redesign can involve substantial expenditure on joinery, soft furnishings, flooring, and finishes; the studio’s role is to guide that spending strategically, not to absorb it.
Some studios take a procurement fee (a percentage of the goods and labour cost) to cover their oversight of ordering and site management. Others bundle this into an hourly or phase-based fee. This should be clarified upfront. You should also budget separately for surveys, specialist reports (structural, electrical), or statutory approvals, depending on the project. The studio will advise what is needed, but these are your costs, not the design fee.
How do you compare fees between different studios?
Comparing interior design fees fairly requires understanding what is included. Two studios may quote the same total but offer very different scopes: one might include all project management and site supervision; another might charge separately for those services. One might include the cost of mood boards and renderings; another might present the scheme verbally or through technical drawings only. The apparent cost per square metre is misleading if one studio is providing comprehensive specification and the other is providing mood boards only.
The best approach is to define your brief clearly—the scope of the project, the location, any special requirements—and ask three studios to quote the same scope. Their fees will differ, but the differences should reflect their experience, location, overhead, or the depth of their involvement. A studio with significant commercial experience, like one accustomed to working on projects at Tone or Beaulieu Dental Practice, will likely charge more than a less experienced studio, because they understand how to navigate complex stakeholders, coordination, and risk. That expertise is worth paying for if it matches your project type.
Portfolio is your evidence. Look at what each studio has actually completed—not renderings or promises, but finished interiors. The Witham Project or London Embankment Apartment or Fruittii are real evidence of the studio’s standard. Does the quality, restraint, and finish match your expectations? That is a better indicator of whether a fee is appropriate than the number alone.