Where can I find an affordable interior designer?
If you’ve already started searching for your interior designer, you might have come across some beautiful websites from interior design companies displaying fabulous high-end projects. But if your first thought is, ‘My budget is nowhere near this!’ you’re probably looking in the wrong place. You might also have found that such companies turn you away, saying that they don’t do small or domestic jobs, leaving you feeling a little hopeless, as well as vaguely affronted. An affordable interior designer can be hard to find.
Freelance interior designers and sole traders
Generally, you will find that freelance interior designers or small interior design firms are well accustomed and experienced in tackling domestic or smaller commercial projects. A freelance interior designer should also be more affordable, offering a more competitive fee than larger companies because of their lower overheads.
Naturally, freelancers or small companies can be more difficult to find. They don’t usually have a big marketing budget for websites and marketing material as a larger firm might. Instead, they often rely on word-of-mouth recommendations for new work.
Fortunately, we at Design for Me have created a database so that you can find an affordable interior designer in London (and beyond!) who is perfect for your small or domestic project. You can find them on our platform by registering your project below. We’ll match you with up to three interior designers for a consultation, and it’s completely free!
Click on the images below to see these affordable interior designers’ full Design for Me profiles and shortlist the ones you like for your project.
Margarida, Freelance Interior Designer, London
Stephen, Freelance Interior Designer, London
Oana, Freelance Interior Designer, London
Tom, Interior Designer (small firm) London
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS AN ‘OFFICIALLY QUALIFIED’ INTERIOR DESIGNER?
Unlike ‘architect’ the title ‘interior designer’ is not protected, meaning that anyone is able to call themselves one.
However, there is a national body that interior designers can join; the British Institute of Interior Designers (BIID). To register with this body, a designer must:
- have 6 years of education and work experience
- hold current professional indemnity insurance
- provide 2 professional references
- complete a face-to-face Registration Assessment where extensive professional practice knowledge must be evidenced through presentation of a completed design project
- comply with the BIID’s Professional Code of Conduct.
However, not all interior designers join this body and that does not necessarily mean they would not qualify or are less talented. You can do your own checks with your interior designer before you appoint them:
- Get references from their past clients.
- Ask if they have professional indemnity insurance (particularly important if you are doing any architectural work, such as moving walls).
- See examples of their past projects.
There is a designer out there for you. Use Design for Me to help you find them.
Emily Design for Me
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Maggie
Need some help with my flat in Belsize Park.