The cost of hiring an interior designer depends on what you actually need. A design plan you carry out yourself is a different job from one that includes managing contractors, sourcing products and making decisions on site. At Choc Studio we work across three levels of involvement, each with a fixed quote agreed before anything starts. No open-ended billing, no surprises at the end. Here’s what each level involves and what shapes the price.
Interior designer cost: what’s included, and what determines the total?
Three levels of involvement
The first level gives you a complete interior design plan with 3D visualisations. You see exactly how the spaces will look before anything is ordered or built. You manage the execution yourself, working from that plan.
The second level adds project management. We brief the contractors and suppliers you’ve hired, keep everything coordinated and stay available when questions come up during the build.
The third level can include the furnishing itself: a furniture plan, quotes, logistics, delivery, installation and styling. Sometimes we handle this independently, drawing on our supplier network and product knowledge. Sometimes we visit showrooms together so you stay involved in the choices. How much you hand over is always up for discussion. Some clients pass on the entire furnishing process. Others want help with specific rooms or prefer to stay in the driving seat on product selection. Both work.
Each level requires proportionally different input. A design plan for one room is a different scope from a full scheme for a new build, with a lighting plan, materials schedule and product specifications for every space. Which level is the right fit is something we work out in a first conversation.
How does the pricing work?
After an initial meeting, we put together a fixed quote based on the level of involvement and the scope of the project. That quote covers our fees. Costs for contractors, suppliers and furnishings come on top, and depend on your choices and the market. No open-ended billing, no recalculation at the end. You know what you’re committing to before anything starts.
Our hourly rate of €95 is listed on our website as a reference point for anyone who wants to make a rough calculation. A typical project represents the input of many tens of hours, depending on scope and type. Professional interior design is not a small investment. But it’s not a blank cheque either.
When does the design pay for itself?
Almost always. That sounds like something a designer would say. It isn’t. Deciding early without a plan has a price. The bill just arrives later. A wall that can no longer be moved. A light fitting positioned too close to the window, so a curtain track won’t fit alongside it. A socket in the wrong place that can’t be hidden once the plasterwork is done. These things can usually be worked around. But the workarounds are visible, they take extra time, and they cost more than getting it right the first time.
A couple near Haarlem had already chosen their kitchen finish before they came to us. A good choice, well considered. But the flooring they selected afterwards didn’t sit well with it. Fixable, yes. It cost them more than a design plan would have at the outset. Not an unusual situation. It’s the pattern we see again and again.
For people who’ve recently moved to the Netherlands, there’s another layer on top of this. Unfamiliar suppliers, a building process that works differently from home, and decisions that need to be made quickly and often in Dutch. That kind of local knowledge takes time to build up.
What will your specific project cost?
That depends on what comes out of a first conversation. Based on your situation, your plans and the level of support that fits, we put together a clear quote. No vague estimates, no surprises further down the line.
Have a look at our services for an overview of how we work, or read how we turn inspiration into a considered plan in our blog from inspiration to interior design.
Planning a new build, renovation, or restyling project?
Get in touch for a no-obligation introductory meeting. We’ll talk through your situation and put together a quote that fits your plans and your budget.
About Choc Studio
At Choc Studio we combine expertise with personal attention. Since 2007 we’ve guided interior projects from concept to completion, first from Haarlem and now from our studio in Bennebroek. We think ahead, look further, and make sure our clients end up with an interior that genuinely suits them.