It's the question everyone wants to ask and almost nobody does: how much does an interior designer actually cost? It's a fair thing to want to know before you pick up the phone, and yet so few designers are willing to talk about it openly. I think that's a mistake. Being upfront about money is the first sign that a designer will be honest with you about everything else, so let's talk about it properly.
What interior designers charge in the UK
There's no single answer, because "interior design" covers everything from an hour of advice to managing a whole-house renovation. But as a rough guide to the wider UK market in 2025, here's what you can expect to see:
- Consultations are often charged at anywhere from £180 to £450 for an initial session, depending on the designer and the area.
- Single-room design typically lands somewhere between £2,500 and £5,000, depending on scope and how much is bespoke.
- Full-service design for a larger project usually starts in the low thousands and rises with the size and ambition of the home, often £5,000 to £20,000 and beyond once you're designing and managing a whole house.
Fees tend to be higher in London and lower in the regions, and any project with bespoke joinery, natural stone or high-end finishes will sit at the upper end, simply because those things take more time, skill and care to design and deliver.
Being upfront about money is the first sign a designer will be honest with you about everything else.
How we keep it simple at Cheshire Property Studio
I've never liked the idea of a client feeling nervous about asking what something costs, so we keep our structure clear:
- Our online design service starts from £220, and it's designed for a single room or a smaller project where you want expert direction but are happy to handle the ordering and installation yourself.
- Our full-service projects are quoted individually, because no two homes or briefs are the same. After a free initial consultation, you'll get a clear proposal, so you know exactly what you're committing to before anything begins.
We're always open and honest about budget from the very first conversation. I'd far rather have an open chat about what's realistic than surprise anyone later.
What actually affects the cost
When people see a quote, the single biggest driver is almost always how much is bespoke. A scheme built around made-to-measure joinery, a hand-made kitchen, panelling and natural materials will cost more than one assembled from off-the-shelf pieces, because it's genuinely made for your home. It's also the thing that makes a home feel truly finished rather than simply furnished, so it's usually where the value is.
Beyond that, the things that move the number are:
- Scope — one room versus a whole house, and whether there's building work involved.
- The level of finish — natural stone, bespoke metalwork and specialist decorative finishes all carry a premium.
- Project management — whether you need us to coordinate the trades and makers, or just provide the design.
Why a designer often saves you money
This is the part people don't expect. The most common worry I hear is that hiring a designer simply adds cost, but in practice, the opposite is usually true. Changes made on a drawing cost nothing; changes made on a building site cost thousands. A good designer plans properly from the start, knows where to invest and where to save, and has access to trade suppliers and craftsmen you'd never find on your own. Applied across a whole project, that knowledge very often saves more than the design fee itself.
A good designer knows where to spend and where to save, and that knowledge often saves more than the design fee itself.
So, what should you budget?
My honest advice: start with a number you're genuinely comfortable with, and be open about it from the first conversation. A good designer will tell you, kindly and clearly, what's realistic for that budget, and where to focus it for the biggest impact. The worst thing you can do is keep your budget a secret, because then nobody can help you spend it well.
If you'd like to talk through your project and get a clear, honest sense of what it might involve, our initial consultations are free and there's no obligation. Get in touch and let's have a proper conversation about your home.
