Payment Stages for an Interior Design Project. What Does Each Stage Cost?
One of the first questions future clients ask me is how payment for an interior design project works and what is paid for at which point. Below I set out the standard payment scheme in detail and explain why it is built this way.
The standard payment scheme
The basic payment scheme for an interior design project is simple and comes in two parts:
- a deposit of 50% before work on the project begins;
- the remaining 50% once the style and the layout have been approved, before the technical documentation is produced.
That sequence protects both sides. By the time the second payment falls due you have already seen and approved the layout and the style of your future interior, so you are paying for a result you understand and have accepted.
Can the payment be broken into smaller instalments?
Yes. The payment stages can be changed by agreement and tied to the actual completion of the work stages. In that case payment is broken into smaller parts on the principle of paying for each stage in advance: you pay for the next step before I start on it. That is useful if you want to spread the budget over time.
What each stage costs within a project with 3D sketches
If payment is split by stage, each stage takes the following share of the total price of a project with sketches:
- site measurements and design brief, 5%;
- layout, 20%;
- style concept and selection of finishing materials (collages), 25%;
- 3D sketches, 25%;
- working drawings, 25%.
These are proportions, not sums: they show what share of the final price each stage represents. The actual price depends on the area and the complexity of the property, so it is discussed individually. There is more about the contents and terms on the services and design project page, and how long each step takes is covered in the article on the design project timeline.
It is also worth remembering that not everything is part of the design project. Design supervision during the renovation, for example, is paid for separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I pay before work on the project starts?
Under the standard scheme the deposit is 50% of the project price. The remaining 50% is paid once the style and the layout have been approved, before the technical documentation begins.
Can payment for the design project be split up?
Yes. By agreement, payment can be broken into smaller stages on the principle of paying for each step in advance: you pay for the next stage before I start on it.
How are the stage shares distributed in a project with sketches?
Site measurements and design brief, 5%. Layout, 20%. Style concept and material selection, 25%. 3D sketches, 25%. Working drawings, 25%. These are percentages of the final project price, and the actual sum depends on the property.
Is design supervision included in the price of the design project?
No, design supervision is not part of the design project and is paid for separately. Its price depends on the floor area, the complexity of the property and how far away it is.
