If you’re thinking about giving your home a facelift, you might be thinking about doing a whole host of big jobs; a conversion, an extension, maybe even knocking down a wall or two to open up your space.
Luckily, before you unleashed on your home with a sledgehammer, you’ve thought about making interior changes instead, which is a great ideas. You can definitely change the look and feel of your home with a focus on your interior design.
Even better, there are professionals out there with a keen eye for interior design and experience in transforming homes. They can help you to create and refine your vision, and best of all, make your ideas a reality.
You need an interior designer!
How can I find an interior designer near me?
By going onto Checkatrade and seeing Checkatrade-approved and homeowner-reviewed interior designers near you.
There are two easy ways to do this:
Option 1: Submit a request a quote form
By requesting a quote for your job, you can reach out to multiple local interior designers in minutes.
Provide a few basic details and interior designers will contact you for more information, or arrange a quotation.
Follow these steps:
- Add your details to the form
- Tell us what work you need
- We’ll search our leading directory for you
- Our approved interior designers near you will get in touch shortly
Option 2: Browse our online directory using your postcode
If you have some time to search through our recommended interior designers’ profiles, enter your postcode below and peruse through your area’s highly rated and approved interior designers.
Let’s answer your questions about interior designers
What does an interior designer do?
Interior designers work closely with their clients, often homeowners, landlords or business owners, to design indoor spaces which are practical and aesthetically pleasing.
Interior designers can also help to maximise your available space and choose essential items like cabinets, furniture, and decorative home accessories.
For example, interior designers can help you come up with stunning interior design ideas for interior suites, kitchens, living rooms or even outdoor spaces, which tradespeople and builders can make a reality.
An interior designer also creates and edits blueprints on paper or digitally so you can see your potential design before work begins.
What is the difference between an interior designer and a contractor?
An interior designer recommends layout, flooring, moving walls, cabinetry, furniture, colour scheme, and anything else to do with interior design. They can even help you choose the right carpet colour to suit your colour scheme.
In contrast, your tradesperson or contractor will complete the physical renovation of your space and is most often hired to manage the overall construction. They usually also ensure that blueprints are adequately executed while handling the budget, materials, and structural engineering problems.
Why should I use an interior designer?
Search for ‘interior designers near me’ if you want to make your home renovation project easier. Your interior designer can help you change your layout, decide on fixtures and materials, and make recommendations for tradespeople.
Interior designers often have years of experience and design knowledge, so they can advise you on all the latest interior design trends and how to optimise a space.
How long does it take an interior designer to design one room?
For smaller projects, like a single room interior design, you may have a few meetings or sessions working with your interior designer. Then it might take up to 24 hours for the interior designer to finish their completed designs and share them with you for approval and feedback.
For larger projects, like a full house interior makeover, this will be a more gradual process which can take weeks.
How much should an interior designer charge in the UK?
How much you spend on your renovation depends on the complexity of your home renovation, plus the standard of suite, cabinetry, flooring, tiles, fixtures and fittings. For example, for high-end bathroom and kitchen designs, your overall interior design budget might need to increase.
But, our 2024 research indicates that you can pay about £100 per hour for interior designer services.
Dive into our full guide to interior designer costs for more detailed pricing, or check out the table below.
Questions to ask your potential interior designer
Before you decide on your interior designer and a new home layout, here are a few questions you could ask your interior designer.
How long have you been in business?
It’s a good idea to know how long your interior designer has been trading and, thus, how much experience they have. You will then know what to expect and can decide if their fee is reasonable.
Can I see pictures of your recent designs or completed projects?
Before you agree to pay or sign any contracts, you want to know that your chosen interior designer can help you achieve the stunning finish you’re dreaming of. You can ask for examples of previously completed renovations and blueprints.
Most professionals and tradespeople use social media to advertise their services, so always check out their website, social media channel, or Checkatrade profile.
All Checkatrade members have a business profile that allows them to display photos of their past work and any customer reviews they’ve received.
Check out your interior designer’s Checkatrade profile before you make any decisions based on your ‘interior designer near me’ search.
Do you provide a complete renovation service, or do I need to hire my tradespeople and materials?
Whether or not your interior designer provides a full service depends on the service you choose on most occasions. Look for interior designers near you who are happy to work as the project manager, communicate with contractors, oversee all processes, and even file any necessary paperwork and permits.
However, be aware there may be a potential extra charge for this.
How much will my renovation cost?
When you provide essential information like size, any changes to layout and the type of finish you want, your interior designer might be able to give you an idea of the overall design cost. This could be for a whole house, or for one room like a kitchen or bathroom.
How long will it be before you can start the job?
You need to know when your interior designer will start and finish their designs to book your trusted tradespeople for your redesign.
Does your work come with a guarantee?
Tradespeople and professionals of all kinds usually provide a satisfaction guarantee, and it’s a question you should always ask.
When you hire a Checkatrade member through our directory, you may be eligible to fall back on the Checkatrade guarantee for up to 12 months (T&Cs apply) if you need them.
Are revisions free of charge, or are there additional costs?
You might not be happy with your initial interior plan, so knowing how many revisions are included in your interior designer’s fee is essential.
Other helpful, interior designed-related questions you can ask an interior designer;
- What types of layout best suits my space?
- How much space do I need for my intended layout?
- Should I use tiles on my kitchen, bathroom or interior walls?
- How can I keep the cost of my interior renovation down?
- What material is best for flooring?
- How do I create more space in my interior?
- How can I make my interior or kitchen easy to maintain?
- Are there any smart technology features I can install?
- Are there any eco-friendly or energy-efficient fixtures I can install?
How do I find a reputable interior designer near me?
Finding the professional you need with our simple Checkatrade three-step process is much easier.
Here’s how you do it;
- Read reviews – always check for reviews of their work online and see if you can find pictures of other interior refits they’ve completed
- Get multiple quotes from different interior designers local to you to be sure you’re paying a fair and reasonable price for their interior design services
- Use the Checkatrade directory – all of our tradespeople go through up to 12 checks before becoming a member and must meet the Checkatrade standard
Find more tips to find good tradespeople near you here, or pop your postcode below to chat with an approved interior designer today.