What is Interior Designer?
A person whose work involves designing the interior decoration of a room or building.
How Much Does IT Cost To Hire An Interior Designer In South Africa
| Project type | Cost range | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | R 6700- R 18 500 | R 12 600 |
| Dining Room | R 5200- R 11 500 | R 6 350 |
| Bedroom | R 5800- R 17 000 | R 11 400 |
| Kitchen | R 6 700- R 20 000 | R 13 350 |
| Home office | R 5 200- R 14 000 | R 9 600 |
| Entry/Hall | R 4500- R 8 200 | R 6 350 |
| Bath | R 6 700- R 18 500 | R 12 600 |
| Patio/Deck | R 4 500- R 18 500 | R 11 500 |
| Nursery | R 5 200- R 14 000 | R 9 600 |
Hourly rates based on the interior designer’s experience
Some interior designers will choose to charge you per hour, especially if the project is small and needs just a general consult on colors, fabrics, or minor renovations.
Junior interior designer (1-3 years of experience)
- 1 year: R200 per hour
- 2 years: R350 per hour
- 3 years: R400 per hour
Mid-level interior designer (4-10 years of experience)
- 4-5 years: R400 per hour
- 6-7 years: R550 per hour
- 8-10 years: R600 per hour
Senior interior designer (10+ years of experience)
- 10-15 years: R700 per hour
- 15 years +: R800 per hour
How Do Interior Designers Charge?
- Per hour – Depending on the type of work required, an interior designer might choose to charge you per hour. This is often the case with smaller jobs that involve more of a consulting or advisory role.
- Per project – The interior designer may choose to look at the project as a whole and charge you a flat rate for the job. They will then, of course, specify what that flat rate will entail. It could include advice, planning, execution, and project management. This is something they will discuss with you beforehand.
- Commission-based – Interior designers spend years building good relationships with their suppliers. One of the ways they might choose to price a job is to arrange the furniture, fabrics, lights, etc at a discounted price from suppliers and then mark up the difference as a cost to you.
- A percentage – Alternatively, a designer maybe looks at the overall project and charge a percentage of the cost of the overall job as their fee. For example, they might work out the overall costs of furniture, contractors, materials, and supplies and then charge a % of that total budget as their design fee.
Factors Affecting The Interior Designer’s Cost
When determining an interior designer’s cost, there are a few basic factors that can influence the design quote.
The size of the project – The nature of the project is probably the most important factor determining the interior designer’s cost. If you’re planning on a small redesign such as converting a room into a home office or sprucing up your bedroom then your interior design cost won’t be through the roof. However, if you’re planning on giving your entire home a complete overhaul then your quote will be much higher. Always ensure that your interior designer understands what you are hoping to achieve with your budget so she can advise you accordingly.
The scope of the project – The more complex the job, the higher the interior designer’s cost will be. If you’re hiring an interior designer for advice on color swatches, fabrics, and lighting options then your interior designer will generally quote for the hours involved in the consultation and design. But, if you need the interior designer to also purchase the furniture, fabrics, and accessories plus coordinate with electricians, contractors, etc your quote will be much higher. Your interior designer may be able to negotiate with sub-contractors so don’t be put off by her quote – they may be saving you in the long run.
Your budget – Ultimately, the cost of your interior design job depends on your budget. How much can you actually afford to spend? Interior designers can analyze your budget and tell you what they can achieve within your financial parameters. They’ll also be able to advise on what you can do immediately and what you can put on hold.