Interior Design Costs: How much should you be paying?

Imagine this.

You’ve decided it’s time to build your home. Budgets have been set. Your mother-in-law has greenlighted the plans. You cannot wait to start on them.

And then comes Mr Sharma – your mother-in-law’s best friend’s husband. He says that he too got the same size house built, but for about two-thirds of the price.

Is everything starting to fall apart?

Now, we know that your first instinct is to slash anything unnecessary from the budget, and what pops into your mind is, usually, the interior designer cost.

But before you do, we urge you to go through it again. Let’s see how you can still have your dream home without compromising on the features you were so excited to install.

HOW TO ARRIVE AT INTERIOR DESIGN COST?

A home gives happiness and stability to a chaotic life, and things like furnishing, basic amenities, even a well-painted wall add to this joy. So, before you opt for a low-cost interior design, only to be pound-foolish in the end, we ask you to answer these three questions:

What is your project goal?

Interior design can mean many things – renovation, redecoration, painting, modernizing the electricals, and so on. Many times, the interior design cost may include getting the right furniture, even though you may already have some. Define your project goals as clearly as possible to arrive at the right budget.

What are the dimensions of the space?

Square footage, and more importantly, the number of rooms is everything when it comes to interior design. A 2 BHK interior design cost is obviously lesser than that of a 3 BHK.

But, remember – a smaller space doesn’t necessarily mean low-cost interior design. It depends a lot on the work involved, too. That’s why you have to answer question no. 1.

What is your budget?

A well-designed budget is the secret of a project’s success. So, make sure you’re absolutely certain of what your budget is. Lock the things you need, like repairs, woodwork, and electricals, and deprioritize things that can wait, such as the soft furnishings.

The beauty of interior design, aside from its obvious visual appeal, is that you can always shelve certain aspects until a better time comes along.

WHAT PRICING MODEL SHOULD I SELECT?

Though this is a decision that the interior designer makes, you have some say in it too. There are three pricing models for you to choose from, depending, again, on your project goals:

Hourly rate: This pricing model is ideal if your scope of work is small – for instance, some basic carpentry work, which is labour-centric and not design-centric.
Flat retainer fee: This pricing will work for you if the interior designer and you have defined the project goals with extreme precision. Then, the designer knows how much time and effort the project will take. Typically, projects with extensive architectural needs do not use this model.
Square footage fee: In India, this is perhaps the most common pricing model. The project is broken down into mini-projects, and each is priced based on the amount of square footage work involved (design costs included). Though it is task-dependent, about Rs. 1500 per square foot is a reasonable cost for any major work.

WHAT ARE SOME FAIR PRICE QUOTES?

As mentioned earlier, a price quote depends on multiple factors like scope of work, the number of rooms, the cost of materials, even the city you live in.

Typically, interior design cost comes up to 10% of your total budget for building a house. For specific types of apartments, here are some price quotes we’ve observed in the years:

1 BHK flat interior cost: Though 1 BHKs are thought of as a “bachelor’s paradise” an increasing number of people in the city are looking at these as an enjoyable long-term living option. A modern 1 BHK flat interior cost – including modular kitchen, basic furniture like dressing unit, wardrobe, TV unit and bed, false ceiling with LED lights – can range from Rs. 2.5 lakhs to Rs. 4.5 lakhs.
2 BHK flat interior cost: 2 BHK is an option most people go for when buying a home. When they give it out for rent, the interiors play a big part in its market value. A high-end 2 BHK interior design cost – including a modular kitchen with chimney, granite countertop, furnishing with home improvement – starts from Rs. 6 lakhs.
3 BHK flat interior cost: Most people who invest in a 3 BHK opt for end-to-end interior design services. A high-end 3 BHK interior design cost – including a modular kitchen with chimney, granite countertop, furnishing with home improvement – starts from Rs. 8 lakhs.

ASK CONTRACTOR BHAI!

At Contractor Bhai, we believe that an aesthetic interior design turns your house into a home. And we know that pricing can often come in the way of this transformation. To counter it, we offer a detailed costing guide for all types of expenses – starting from painting a studio apartment to a 3 BHK interior design cost.

So, when it comes to setting up your dream home, you know you can always ask Contractor Bhai!

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