Decorators send a proposal or estimate after an initial consultation and before any contract is signed. Clients usually compare the design fee, the product budget, and how much of the work you handle versus what they handle themselves. A clear quote separates what you charge for design from what the furnishings will cost.
When to use estimates: Use estimates to provide project quotes and get client approval before starting work. Once approved, convert your estimate to an invoice with one click to collect payment.
Create an invoice for payment collection
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
A living room and adjoining dining nook can easily be treated as one or two rooms. Naming the spaces avoids disagreement about what the fee covers.
List concept boards, floor plans, shopping lists, paint schedules, and any renderings so the client knows what they get at each stage.
Unlimited revisions erode your margin. State how many rounds are included and the hourly rate for more.
Clarify whether you place orders, the client does, or both, and whether your fee is separate from product costs.
Clients should know whether they pay retail, trade, or trade plus a fee, to avoid trust issues later.
State who coordinates delivery, assembly, hanging art, and styling, and whether those are billed separately.
Lead times for furniture can run 8 to 16 weeks. Spell out that delays in approvals push back installation dates.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | flat fee | $100-350 |
| Hourly design services | per hour | $75-200 |
| Full-service room design | per room | $1,500-6,000 |
| E-design package (concept board, layout, shopping list) | per room | $200-700 |
| Color consultation | flat fee | $150-500 |
| Shopping and sourcing with client | per hour | $65-150 |
| Installation and styling day | per day | $500-1,500 |
| Procurement and project management | percent of product cost | 10-25% |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
Present two or three options, such as e-design, design plus shopping list, and full-service with procurement. Clients can choose their level of involvement and you avoid a simple yes or no.
Product prices change by the time you order. Give a range with a reasonable allowance and say the final figure depends on selections.
Estimate hours for planning, sourcing, meetings, and installation, then add a buffer of 15 to 20 percent. Convert to a flat fee only if the number still pays your target rate.
Furniture prices and your own schedule change. A 14 to 30 day validity period keeps the quote from sitting open indefinitely.
Many decorators charge a consultation fee of $100 to $350 and credit it toward the project if the client signs. This filters out casual inquiries and pays for the site visit.
Detailed enough to show rooms, deliverables, fee structure, and product budget range. You do not need to list every furnishing item before design starts, but you should explain how products will be priced.
Include a change clause stating that added rooms, major design changes, or new scope are billed at your hourly rate or a revised fee, and get the change approved in writing.
Use the Interior Decorator invoice template to bill the client, or convert this estimate once it's approved.
Interior Decorator invoice template