The 10-step framework

1. STEP 1

   Decide between designer, decorator or stylist

   Interior designer scope covers the fitout: joinery, kitchen and bathroom layouts, lighting design, fixed finishes, cabinetry. Interior decorator focuses on soft furnishings and paint. Interior stylist prepares homes for sale or photoshoots. Each is a different service and a different fee point.

2. STEP 2

   Engage the interior designer at the right stage

   The strongest outcomes come from engaging the interior designer at the same time as the architect or building designer, not after construction begins. Early involvement lets the interior brief shape the internal layout rather than fitting around structural constraints.

3. STEP 3

   Understand the fee structures used

   Interior designer fees fall into three patterns: hourly (typical for consulting scope), fixed fee (for defined project scope like a kitchen or bathroom), or percentage of the finishes budget (for whole-home fitouts). Compare offers from at least three designers on your specific scope.

4. STEP 4

   Clarify what the fee covers

   A full interior designer scope typically includes: concept development, materials palette, joinery drawings, lighting plan, sample sourcing, and construction site visits. Confirm each element is in scope. Common omissions: sourcing (which can be a separate fee), site visits during construction, and post-completion styling.

5. STEP 5

   Get a fixed budget for finishes at design stage

   A skilled interior designer will work within a specified finishes budget from concept onward, rather than designing first and pricing later. Ask them at engagement for an all-in finishes budget range for your brief; if they resist, they may be scope-creepers.

6. STEP 6

   Confirm samples and supplier relationships

   Interior designers typically have preferred supplier accounts (tiles, tapware, joinery hardware, appliances) at trade prices. Ask whether trade discounts are passed on to you or retained by the designer. Both models exist; either is fair if disclosed.

7. STEP 7

   Review the joinery and lighting drawings before signing

   The construction documentation for interior work is often kitchen and bathroom joinery drawings plus a lighting plan. Review these carefully at fitout drawing stage: measure the drawer heights, count the power points, confirm the joinery finish specifications.

8. STEP 8

   Discuss selection lock-down policy

   Late changes to finishes selections are the number one source of interior design cost overruns. Agree at engagement how many selection revisions are included, and what happens beyond that. Some designers offer three revisions; others charge per revision beyond concept sign-off.

9. STEP 9

   Plan for construction site involvement

   Some interior designers visit site during construction to verify installations; others hand over at drawings and disengage. Site visits catch small execution errors before they become permanent. If your designer is not on site, someone else needs to be watching for you.

10. STEP 10

    Get post-completion styling in writing if you want it

    Post-completion styling (furniture placement, art hanging, styling for photography) is typically a separate scope. If you want it included, negotiate it into the initial contract; retro-engaging the designer after completion often costs more.

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