Interiors are the place where all the magic happens and it always starts with an idea. It’s the place where you get inspired and make things happen. When it comes to interior designing, ideas come from many different sources. Whether it’s a client or an inspiration from anywhere else, there are many ideas that we think about when we are designing an interior. And in the end, the design is only as good as the plan. So, let’s talk about how to calculate the cost of interior designer in Singapore.

Interior Design Project Costs

How do you calculate the price of interior design? The typical price range for interior design packages in Singapore for particular projects is as follows:

Type of Housing	Estimated Cost
3-room BTO	S$25,000 to S$45,000
4-room BTO	S$33,000 to S$58,000
5-room BTO	S$38,000 to S$65,000
3-room resale	S$30,000 to S$65,000
4-room resale	S$38,000 to S$73,000
5-room resale	S$50,000 to S$82,000
Condominium (depending on size)	S$40,000 to S$120,000

In Singapore, there are numerous different interior design projects. In contrast to certain IDs who offer to tailor the plan to each unit, others offer packages like HDB BTO or resale packages. Prices vary depending on the package, which may include labor and material costs as well as the area of the house being restored. For instance, there are design packages for bathrooms or kitchens that cost between $6,000 and $20,000.

A design fee functions as a service charge for the time and effort the interior designer invested in planning and designing the arrangement of your home. It can be in the form of a pre-set rate, an hourly rate, a flat rate, or a percentage of the project. Having said that, if the company requests a deposit of more than 20% to 30%, requests payment in cash, or requests that you make checks payable to someone other than the interior design firm you are hiring, this may be a clue that they are phony. If you’re interested in learning more about how design firms profit from your renovation.

The design expenses will also be impacted by the floor area, labor, materials, and other incidentals. For either a HDB or a condominium, general design fees would range from about $1,500 to $6,000. 

You must pay design fees, so make the most of the data and knowledge you learn. You can carefully study and review the entire plan arrangement using the sketches you made for your house renovations. Now is the ideal time to smooth out any jagged edges in your design and detail work.

Calculate Interior Design Fees

Flat Fee

The flat or set cost, which is currently the most common type of interior design price, can also be the most difficult to determine. When you provide your charge, you frequently don’t know if the customer will need a lot of extra guidance and be uncooperative, prolonging the project’s scope and timetable, or if they will be cogent and everything will proceed as planned. You can always insert a condition in your agreement to safeguard you from such unknowns. 

If you’ve been in business for a while and can predict what a job will require, choosing the appropriate fixed or flat price is frequently easier. In order to safeguard yourself from unanticipated overruns, you might base it on hours and then add a 15% or higher buffer. In order to encourage my client to pay upfront, I like to give a fixed or flat price that must be paid in full at a lower rate than another payment option. I then work extra hard to finish the assignment.

Hourly Fees

Rates differ depending on the city, the state, the nation, and the amount of experience. Beginning designers frequently charge $75–125 per hour, while more seasoned ones charge $150–450 per hour. The length of time that different stages of the design process take can be difficult to track and, unless you estimate beforehand, can come as a huge surprise to clients. I’ve always been able to estimate my hours per room and then per project as a seasoned designer, and I can state that I won’t go above that estimate without the client’s express written approval. This limits the number of hours to be put in and gives assurance that there won’t be runaway hours.

Percent of Project Cost

The percentage of the project cost is a preferred way for determining interior design fees. From an invoicing standpoint, it is really straightforward and involves total transparency, something that many designers find difficult to do. Give the client a project estimate that takes into account all project components, such as furniture, fixtures, finishes, installation, contractors, and more. If you are worried that they would disassemble it, you can set a minimum project value to guarantee you receive a minimum payment. The percentage you decide on is added on top of the project costs; interior design fees typically range from 30 to 45 percent.

Fees by the Square Foot

This approach is incredibly straightforward and effective when remodeling a large room, such as a great room, master bedroom, or enormous kitchen. If you were taking on a 15 by 20-foot room, your cost would range from $3000 to $5100 depending on whether you charged $10 or $17 per square foot. 

If this is a renovation or remodel, you might choose to utilize this only for design services and add a percentage to cover all furniture that were chosen and acquired. You might also want to include a percentage to fund contractor management.

Fees with Retail Pricing

To avoid being shopped, you must be using a product that your client can’t find anywhere else. Additionally, the retail price pays for all of your design time and any markup you would have on furniture. This strategy is difficult because you have to make sure that your customer can’t find the same item for less online. 

Another drawback of this approach is that you can complete a lot of design work before a customer decides to make purchases. If your only form of payment is based on client purchases, you risk becoming bankrupt soon. They may choose to purchase simply a few things after you have designed the full area and complete the rest on their own.

Fees with a Combination Method

It is uncommon for a designer to be paid just on an hourly basis; instead, most hourly rates are combined with a percentage of sales that can be anywhere between 25 and 35 percent above cost. Another option is for a designer to forgo adding a markup and instead split trade reductions with their client. Unfortunately, that is frequently kept a secret. 

One designer assured me that she didn’t mention the 25% markup since she was certain that her clients were aware of it. Additionally, she did not use a letter of agreement. Imagine the fallout if her clients learned they didn’t “know” as much as she assumed they did. Honesty fosters trust, and transparency is crucial.

How to Save Money for Interior Design?

In order to save thousands on your home renovation project and avoid going over budget, here are some suggestions for picking the best interior designer for your restoration project.

Research

You must invest the time and energy necessary to choose and identify the best interior design firm to work on your remodeling because there are many of them. 

Each interior designer has a distinct aesthetic and specialized expertise for a certain type of design. Do some research and select a few interior designs whose look and feel you prefer, then get in touch with them to inquire about availability.

Understand every detail 

Make sure you are aware of every single element of your home improvement plan in order to avoid spending money that is not necessary. Be careful to speak up if you occasionally believe that certain elements, such a false ceiling or additional lighting, are not necessary because they can raise the price of your home makeover. 

Being strong and communicating your budget, needs, and wishes to your interior designer is another crucial step. By doing this, the designer will be aware of your preferences and will be able to refuse the renovation if the price is too high.

Thematic and reflect your personality

MRD Singapore is the perfect formula for you to make your interior dream come true. One of the main keys to great interior design is that it should thematic and reflect your personality and taste as well as be cost-effective. 

With so many styles, trends and designs to choose from, it’s hard to decide which one to go for. With MRD, you can definitely prevent this situation and get the best dream design you ever wanted but better. No more stress, contact us here to solve your interior problems.