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How much does an Interior Designer cost?

Average Price
$75 - $150 per hour

How much does an Interior Designer cost on average?

Want to make the most of your space with an interior designer but unsure how much it’ll cost? Here’s everything you need to know about how much an interior designer will charge based on the number of rooms, their experience, your location and more.

What is an Interior Designer? 

Your home is your sanctuary from a hectic world, so it must be a comfortable and enjoyable place to spend your downtime. If you’re not sure how to make the most out of your living space, that's where an interior designer comes in. 

An interior designer is an expert in creating a beautiful home to reflect your personality, choosing the right furniture and colour schemes, and bringing them all together to create a stylish and cozy space. They’ll have an eye for visual aesthetics and will be able to bring your home vision to life, no matter how big or small the space you’re working with is. 

What’s the average cost of an Interior Designer? 

When it comes to the cost of an interior designer there is no fixed fee, as the price can vary significantly depending on your requirements and the professional’s experience. To give you a rough idea, here’s a breakdown of average costs based on the prices of local professionals across Canada: 

Average cost (per hour)$75 - $150
Minimum cost (per hour) $10 - $50
Maximum cost (per hour) $100 - $500

Factors influencing costs 

The cost of an interior designer can vary depending on a range of factors: 

  • Project size

  • Materials 

  • Experience

  • Location 

  • Part service vs. full service

Project size

By far the biggest cost driver is how many rooms you want to renovate, as interior designers charge based on the time taken to complete the job.

But it’s not all bad news if you’re looking to renovate every room in your home - interior design can add significantly more value to your home, so you’ll be thanking yourself for putting in the effort with an interior designer if you want to sell your property later down the line. 

Materials 

Materials range from being lavish and luxurious to cheap as chips second-hand items. What you opt for will depend on your budget and taste, but expect costs to jump up considerably if you want high-end materials. 

Experience 

When it comes to hiring an interior designer, a bit of professional experience can go a long way. After all, you’re trusting your professional to completely transform your living space, so don’t scrimp when it comes to hiring someone who is experienced. 

The best way to check this is by asking to see their portfolio of past projects. This will also help you to get a taste of whether you like their design approach. 

Here’s a rough breakdown of how much you’ll pay for an interior designer depending on their experience: 

Experience levelAverage cost (per hour)
Junior - medium level $10 - $50
Experienced$75 - $150
Highly senior $100 - $500

Location 

If you live in a major city like Toronto or Montreal, expect prices to be higher to reflect the higher costs of living. 

Part service vs. full service 

Most interior designers offer the option between a part service and a full service.

  • A part service may include a proposed layout, but it will be the responsibility of the client to purchase and implement the materials. 

  • Full service means that the designer will be involved in all aspects of the project’s life cycle, from design and planning to liaising with contractors and assisting with installation. 

It should come as no surprise that a full service will cost more than a part service. If you’re unsure which service you need, your interior designer will be able to guide you through your options. 

Other price factors to consider: 

Consultation fees

Your professional will normally charge for a consultation at the beginning to find out what you’re looking for based on your budget and preferences. 

Travel fees

Your expert will likely factor in travel fees into the overall cost, so it's best to hire someone local if you can. If you live in a remote area or distance is an issue for your interior designer, why not ask if they offer the service remotely? This involves your professional creating a virtual room and filling it with furniture that is available to purchase - pretty neat stuff.

Fixed fee

Some interior designers prefer to charge a ‘fixed fee’ where they will assess the scope of the project and provide a fixed quote at the beginning. 

Keeping Interior Design costs to a minimum 

We’re all entitled to a beautiful home, regardless of costs! Read on for our top tips for keeping costs down:

  • Revamp old furniture - your sofa or table might be looking a bit worse for wear but that doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money replacing it with something brand new. Sometimes all it takes is a lick of paint on some wooden furniture or some new covers to spruce up your sofa. If you can’t visualize this, ask your interior designer for some style inspiration. 

  • Shop smart - If you’re willing to shop around and do some digging, you can get some beautiful interior items in charity shops or websites selling second-hand items like Facebook marketplace. 

  • Choose your colours wisely - While it may seem tempting to opt for vibrant, out-there colours, you could quickly tire of having them in your home every day and could end up spending more money on repainting in a few months. If you want to stick with current colour trends, remember these go out of fashion pretty quickly too, so it's best to go for a timeless, classic colour you won’t get bored of. 

Transform your living space with the help of a reliable Interior Designer on Bark. 

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