Interior decorators style and furnish residential and small commercial spaces. They select paint colors, furniture, window treatments, lighting, rugs, and accessories, and they manage ordering and delivery. Invoices usually cover design time, product purchases, and project management fees, often split across several billing events.
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Decorators commonly use one or more of four models: hourly rates, flat room or project fees, a percentage of the total project budget, or cost-plus on products. Hourly billing suits consultations and small tasks. Flat fees per room are common for full-service design and give clients a fixed number. Many decorators also earn a markup on furnishings, typically 20 to 35 percent over their trade price, or they charge a design fee and pass through trade discounts. Some offer e-design packages at a set price per room. Product purchases are usually billed separately from design fees and paid up front, since the decorator is often placing orders in their own name or on the client's behalf. Charges for installation, delivery, and storage are listed as separate lines.
| 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.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room design: concept board, floor plan, and furniture selections (50% of flat fee) | 1 flat fee | $1,750.00 | $1,750.00 |
| Sofa, two accent chairs, and coffee table purchased per approved proposal | 1 lot | $6,420.00 | $6,420.00 |
| Custom drapery panels and hardware, including measuring | 4 panels | $285.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Sourcing trip with client to showrooms | 3 hours | $95.00 | $285.00 |
| Procurement and project management fee on product purchases | 1 15% of $7,560 | $1,134.00 | $1,134.00 |
| Delivery and white-glove setup | 1 flat fee | $375.00 | $375.00 |
| Total | $11,104.00 | ||
Notes: Deposit of $2,500 received on contract signing and applied to this invoice. Balance due within 14 days. Custom and special-order items are final sale and non-refundable. Remaining 50% of design fee will be billed at installation.
Clients with multiple rooms or properties need to see which charges belong to which space.
Keeps the creative work and merchandise clearly distinct, which also helps with sales tax treatment and client budgeting.
Avoids disputes about what was ordered and makes returns or replacements easier to track.
Product sales are taxable in many states, and rules for design services vary, so show the tax separately and check local requirements.
Decorators often collect retainers and product deposits, and the client needs to see the balance owed.
Furniture freight and warehouse holding fees can be significant and are a common source of surprise charges.
States that custom items are non-returnable and gives expected delivery windows, which reduces later disputes.
Most decorators collect a design retainer or 30 to 50 percent of the design fee at contract signing, with the balance at set milestones such as concept approval and installation. Product purchases are commonly paid in full before ordering, or 50 percent at order and the rest before delivery, since special-order items cannot be returned. Standard terms on invoices for services are due on receipt to net 14. Late fees of 1 to 1.5 percent per month are common if stated in the contract. Payment is usually by check, ACH, or credit card, and many decorators pass along card processing fees on large product orders or have clients pay vendors directly.
Never place a large special-order purchase on your own credit without payment in hand. Many custom pieces cannot be cancelled once ordered, so get full or at least 50 percent payment first.
Splitting the fee into deposit, concept approval, and installation keeps cash flowing and gives the client natural decision points. Tie each payment to a specific deliverable.
Keep a simple log of time per project. It shows whether your flat fee covers the real work and gives you data to price scope changes.
Limit the number of design revisions in your contract, and bill extra rounds hourly. Clients who keep changing selections are the most common cause of unpaid overtime.
If you receive deliveries at a warehouse, charge a receiving and inspection fee and storage after a free window. Damage claims are easier when the receiving record is documented.
Hourly works for consultations and open-ended projects. Flat fees per room work better for defined full-service jobs because clients like knowing the cost. Whichever you choose, define the scope and cap the revision rounds.
Either mark up items from your trade price and show clients the retail price, or charge a design fee plus a procurement percentage on cost. Be clear in your contract which model you use so clients are not surprised.
It depends on the state. Many states tax tangible goods you sell but treat design services differently, and some tax both. Check with your state revenue department or an accountant, and use a resale certificate when buying items you resell.
Yes. Sourcing and shopping time is real work. Either build it into your flat fee or bill it hourly, and note the hours on the invoice if billing by time.
Your signed contract should say custom orders are non-refundable once placed and that deposits are applied to those items. Keep signed approvals for each selection, since they are your best evidence.
Send a Interior Decorator estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Interior Decorator estimate template