How to Engage an Interior Designer for Your Whole-Home Remodel
A whole-home remodel involves thousands of decisions: flooring, tile, countertops, fixtures, paint colors, hardware, lighting, and more. An interior designer prevents costly mistakes, ensures cohesive aesthetics, and often saves money through trade discounts that offset their fee.
Quick Summary
Time needed
2-4 weeks to hire
Difficulty
Moderate (finding right fit)
Cost
$100-$300/hr or 10-20% of purchases
Why Hiring a Designer Is Worth It
Many homeowners think they can "do it themselves" with Pinterest and showroom visits. Some can. But most underestimate how complex finish selections become when everything needs to work together—and how expensive mistakes are once tile is installed or cabinets are delivered.
A good designer doesn't just pick pretty things. They understand scale, proportion, light, and how materials interact. They anticipate problems and have relationships with suppliers that can save time and money.
The Math of Designer ROI
Consider: A designer charges $15,000 but gets 30% trade discounts on $80,000 in furnishings and fixtures. That's $24,000 in savings. They also prevent a $5,000 tile mistake you would have made. Net cost: -$14,000 (they paid for themselves and then some).
- Prevents expensive mistakes: Wrong grout color, mismatched finishes, poor lighting plans—designers catch these before they're permanent.
- Creates cohesive aesthetics: Everything works together: colors, materials, styles flow from room to room.
- Saves time: Instead of visiting 20 showrooms, your designer brings curated options to you.
- Access to trade resources: Trade-only showrooms, manufacturer connections, and professional discounts.
- Manages complex timelines: Ordering 50+ items with different lead times requires professional coordination.
Understanding Designer Fee Structures
Interior designers use several fee models. Understanding these helps you compare proposals and choose what works for your budget and project.
Hourly Rate
Range: $100-$300/hour (senior designers and design principals may charge $300-$500+)
You pay for actual time spent. Good for well-defined scope or consultations. Can feel unpredictable for large projects.
Flat/Fixed Fee
Range: $5,000-$75,000+ depending on scope and designer prestige
One price for a defined scope of work. Provides budget certainty but may limit revisions or scope changes.
Percentage of Purchases (Cost Plus)
Range: 10-35% markup on furniture, fixtures, and materials
Designer purchases items at trade discount, marks up to retail or beyond. Aligns incentives for larger budgets; less transparent pricing.
Hybrid Models
Example: Flat design fee + cost-plus on purchasing
Combines elements of other models. Common approach: flat fee for design work, then percentage markup or passed-through trade pricing on purchases.
Typical Designer Costs by Project Scope:
Step-by-Step: Finding and Hiring Your Designer
1. Define What You Need
Not all projects need full-service design. Clarify your scope before searching.
Service Levels to Consider:
A few hours to review your plans, suggest direction, and identify potential issues. $500-$2,000.
Help choosing finishes, fixtures, and colors. You manage purchasing. $3,000-$10,000.
Complete design plans, specifications, and mood boards. You execute. $10,000-$30,000.
Concept through installation, including furniture and accessories. $25,000-$100,000+.
2. Find Candidates
Build a list of 5-8 designers to research, then narrow to 3-4 for interviews.
Where to Find Designers:
- • Referrals: Ask friends who've remodeled. Ask your architect for recommendations.
- • Houzz: Browse portfolios, read reviews, filter by location and style.
- • ASID/IIDA directories: Professional associations maintain searchable directories.
- • Showroom recommendations: Kitchen and bath showrooms often refer designers.
- • Instagram: Many designers showcase work on social media.
- • Shelter magazines: Designer credits in publications you like.
3. Review Portfolios Carefully
Style alignment is crucial. A designer's portfolio reflects their taste and expertise—make sure it matches what you want.
Good Signs
- • Style matches your taste
- • Variety of project sizes
- • Completed residential projects
- • Attention to detail visible
- • Cohesive yet varied work
Concerns
- • All projects look the same
- • Only commercial work
- • Very different aesthetic than yours
- • Photos seem like renders
- • No full-room shots
4. Conduct Interviews
Meet with your top 3-4 candidates. Initial consultations may be free or low-cost ($100-$300).
Essential Interview Questions:
Experience
- • Have you worked on whole-home remodels before?
- • Can I see a similar completed project (or visit one)?
- • What's your experience with my home's style/era?
Process
- • What's your design process from start to finish?
- • How do you present options and handle revisions?
- • How do you coordinate with architects and contractors?
Logistics
- • What's your fee structure and what's included?
- • How do you handle trade discounts?
- • What's your availability and expected timeline?
5. Compare Proposals and Decide
Request detailed proposals from your top 2-3 candidates. Don't just compare price—compare scope, process, and value.
Proposal Should Include:
- • Clear scope of services
- • Fee structure with total estimate
- • How trade discounts are handled
- • Number of concepts/revisions included
- • Meeting and presentation schedule
- • Deliverables you'll receive
- • Payment schedule
- • Contract terms and cancellation policy
What Your Designer Will Deliver
Understanding deliverables helps you know what to expect and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Concept Development
Mood boards, color palettes, and initial direction. Usually 2-3 concepts to choose from, then refinement of the selected direction.
Finish Specifications
Detailed selections for flooring, tile, countertops, cabinetry, paint colors, hardware, fixtures, and lighting. Includes manufacturer, model numbers, and pricing.
Lighting Plan
Specification of all light fixtures, locations, switch layouts, and dimming requirements. Coordinates with electrical contractor.
Kitchen and Bath Design
Detailed layouts, cabinet specifications, appliance selections, plumbing fixture selections, and tile layouts.
Furniture Plan (Full-Service)
Space planning, furniture selections, custom pieces, and accessory recommendations. Includes placement drawings.
Procurement Management (Full-Service)
Ordering, tracking, receiving, and installing all specified items. Managing lead times and coordinating deliveries.
Working Effectively with Your Designer
A successful designer relationship requires clear communication and realistic expectations from both sides.
Share Your Real Budget
Designers can work with almost any budget, but they can't read minds. If you hide your real budget, you'll waste time on options you can't afford. Be honest.
Show, Don't Just Tell
Words like "modern" and "cozy" mean different things to different people. Share images of spaces you love (and hate). Visual references prevent miscommunication.
Trust Their Expertise
You hired a professional for a reason. If they push back on an idea, hear them out. They may see issues you don't. That said, it's your home—final decisions are yours.
Make Decisions Promptly
Design timelines depend on client decisions. Sitting on selections for weeks delays the entire project. When presented with options, decide within a week.
Consolidate Feedback
If multiple family members are involved, present unified feedback. Contradictory directions waste everyone's time. Discuss amongst yourselves first.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Hiring based only on portfolio aesthetics
Why it's a problem: Beautiful photos don't mean they're good communicators or reliable partners
What to do instead: Check references, meet in person, and assess working style—not just visual style.
Engaging too late in the process
Why it's a problem: By the time construction starts, many design opportunities are lost
What to do instead: Bring in a designer during architectural design, before construction documents.
Not clarifying fee structure
Why it's a problem: Surprise charges create frustration and budget overruns
What to do instead: Get everything in writing: what's included, what triggers additional fees, how trade pricing works.
Expecting them to read your mind
Why it's a problem: Vague direction leads to concepts you hate and wasted time
What to do instead: Over-communicate your preferences. Share images, be specific, explain why you like things.
Micromanaging the process
Why it's a problem: You hired an expert but won't let them do their job
What to do instead: Give clear direction, then trust them to execute. Review at milestones, not every step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an interior designer cost for a whole-home remodel?
Designers typically charge: hourly rates of $100-$300/hour, flat fees of $5,000-$50,000+, or percentage markup on purchases (10-30%). For a whole-home remodel, expect to spend $10,000-$75,000+ depending on scope and designer experience.
What's the difference between an interior designer and a decorator?
Interior designers have formal education and may be licensed. They can modify spaces and coordinate with architects. Decorators focus on furnishings and styling without structural changes. For a remodel, you want a designer.
When should I hire an interior designer during a remodel?
Engage a designer during the architectural phase, before construction drawings are finalized. This allows influence on layouts, electrical placement, and built-ins. Waiting until construction starts means missing opportunities.
Do interior designers offer trade discounts?
Yes, most designers get 20-50% discounts on furniture and fixtures. How this is handled varies: some pass savings to clients and charge a design fee; others keep the discount as compensation. Clarify in your contract.
Can I use a designer just for selections?
Yes, many designers offer consultation or selections-only services for $500-$3,000. You get guidance on choices without full-service design. Great option for budget-conscious homeowners who want professional input.
Ready for the Next Step?
With your design team taking shape, it's time to find the person who will actually build your vision: the general contractor. They manage everything on-site and turn drawings into reality.