UNDERSTANDING INTERIOR DESIGN FEES: HOW I PRICE YOUR PROJECT

How scope, complexity, and collaboration shape your interior design fee — and how a detailed proposal helps you understand the value behind it.

“How much will the design cost?” is an understandable question when you’re considering a renovation or planning a space.

Interior design fees vary with the scope of the project and the support involved. Even two spaces of a similar size can require very different amounts of design work.

At ORIA Interiors, I prepare a proposal around each particular project. To explain what goes into that proposal, I’d like to take you through the considerations behind the design fee.

First, I look at what we are actually designing

A list of rooms gives me a starting point, but I also need to understand what will change within each space.

Are we keeping the existing layout? Updating finishes and furnishings? Reworking cabinetry? Designing a bathroom renovation? Does a room need a few thoughtful adjustments or a complete design?

One project may include a detailed redesign of the main living areas alongside lighter updates to the private rooms. Those spaces don’t all require the same level of work, and the proposal should reflect that.

Defining these differences early helps me prepare a fee that relates to your actual needs.

I consider the complexity of the space

The size of a space tells only part of the story.

A small room with cabinetry, integrated lighting, plumbing fixtures, and several materials meeting together can require substantial planning. Each decision affects the others, and those relationships need to be resolved in the design.

For example, choosing cabinetry involves more than its colour and door style. I may need to work through storage requirements, proportions, clearances, appliance dimensions, lighting, and how the cabinetry connects with the surrounding space.

This is also why choosing a more affordable product doesn’t automatically reduce the design fee. Adapting ready-made cabinetry to suit a particular space can still involve detailed planning and coordination. The product cost and the work required to design with it are separate considerations.

I define the drawings, selections, and visualizations you need

Once the scope is clear, I look at the work required to develop and communicate the design.

Depending on the project, that may include measurements and existing-condition plans, space planning, concept development, material and furniture selections, interior elevations, cabinetry details, and lighting layouts.

I also consider where 3D visualizations will be most useful. They can help explain proportions, materials, and how different elements work together. The areas shown and the number of views form part of the scope.

These deliverables take the project from an initial direction to a more detailed design. Identifying them in the proposal helps you understand what you will receive and helps me account for the work involved.

I include time for collaboration

A design develops through conversations as well as drawings.

Presentations, feedback, revisions, site meetings, and supplier visits all need time within the process. A meeting with trades may help resolve practical questions. A showroom visit may help us compare options and confirm a selection.

When preparing the scope, I consider the meetings and revision rounds included at each stage. This creates a clear framework for your involvement and allows time to refine the design together.

I separate the design phase from implementation support

In the proposal structure I use, the defined design phase has a fixed fee. It covers the agreed planning, drawings, selections, and other listed deliverables.

The renovation labour and installation begin during implementation. At that point, further design support may be needed to answer questions, coordinate details, or address issues as the approved design is carried out.

That implementation support is billed separately on an hourly basis because the amount of involvement can vary with the project’s progress and needs.

Separating these stages makes it easier to understand what the design fee covers and how support during the renovation is handled.

What if the scope changes?

A fixed design fee relates to a defined scope of work.

Adding another room, expanding a cosmetic update into a full renovation, or revisiting an approved design direction can create additional work. The proposal sets out the included services and revision allowances so there is a clear starting point for discussing those changes.

The design fee is one part of your overall budget

Your design fee covers the professional services outlined in the proposal. Furniture, materials, fixtures, fabrication, construction labour, and installation are separate project costs.

When we discuss your budget, it is helpful to clarify whether you mean the total investment or the amount available for purchases and renovation work. That allows us to consider the design scope alongside the cost of bringing it to life.

Why my proposals are detailed

My background as a lawyer influences the care I bring to preparing a design proposal. I value clear language, well-defined responsibilities, and a shared understanding of what we are agreeing to.

I want you to understand what sits behind the design fee: the creative development, technical detail, research, and collaboration involved in shaping your space. My proposals describe the stages of work, the services included, and what you can expect to receive along the way.

That detail helps make the value of the work visible, so you can make an informed decision about the investment before we begin.

A proposal built around your project

My starting point is understanding what you want to achieve, what the space needs, and how much design support is involved.

From there, I define the scope, the deliverables, and the stages of work. That is what gives the design fee its context—and gives you a clearer picture of what working together will involve.

---

If you’re considering a project, get in touch with ORIA Interiors to discuss your space and priorities. We can begin by identifying the work involved and the support you need.

---