Cost Of Hiring An Interior Designer

After all that's been said about interior designers and how to find the one that's perfect for you, it's time to get a little realistic and look at what they charge to do up your home for you.

In most service-based industries, there are always several tiers of rates that cater to different clients.

Time-based
The most common way Singapore interior designers charge is on an hourly basis. Depending on how experienced or sought-after the designer is, the per hour rate may be anything from $50 to $500 per hour. This is probably the most flexible tier for those who know what they want, and simply need the expertise of a designer for an hour or two.

Commission-based
Some designers provide floor plans, colour schemes, and layout designs for free, but they draw commission from the furniture, ornaments and other things you may need to purchase to satisfy their design. The danger is, of course, that they may try to hard sell you the more expensive items in order to pocket a higher profit.

Fixed-rate
Most architects and interior designers offer fixed-rate prices for certain job items, or a set of items. Since interior designing is a mix of a variety of services, it is best to check with the designer beforehand what their rates are before committing to a contract. Depending on how much work you require the designer to do, the quote can go anywhere from $500 to $5,000, or perhaps even more. The advantage for this method is that you can add or subtract items to fit your budget. Be warned that there may be a minimum sum you must reach before the designer is willing to do business with you, though!

Area-based
For this tier, the designer charges a fee based on how much surface area they will be covering. The price you will have to pay depends on how big your house is. Although rather inflexible, it is perfect for the homeowner who fully trusts that the designer will give him the best value for money.

So in short - for those want flexibility and control - go for time-based or fixed rate. For those who would rather leave most of the job entirely in the hands of the designer - try finding someone who charges based on a commission or the area space!