How much does an interior decorator cost?
In 2026, most US decorators charge $50–$200 an hour, or $1,500–$4,900 to decorate a room start to finish. Here's what drives the price, what the fee doesn't cover, and how to get the look for less.
By Kamil Uhryn, founder of Decoratly · Updated October 2026
Interior decorator costs
United States · 2026 · the quick answer
- Hourly rate
- $50–$200
- Design only, per room
- $450–$1,500
- Full room, flat fee
- $1,500–$4,900
- Online e-design, per room
- $159–$600+
- Typical whole project
- $8,550 avg
top designers up to ~$450
a plan you carry out yourself
most firms; up to $12,000
Havenly to Decorilla entry tiers
most pay $2,055–$15,256
HomeGuide, Angi and Havenly, read October 2026. Sources below.
What a decorator charges by the hour.
Experience and city move the rate more than anything else. Here's how it usually breaks down.
Design student or new decorator
$50–$100 / hr
Often the best value for a single room, if you're happy to guide them.
Experienced decorator
$100–$200 / hr
The typical range in most US metros for someone with a portfolio of finished rooms.
Established designer, big city
$200–$450+ / hr
Principals at well-known firms in New York, Los Angeles and similar markets; junior staff on the same team bill less.
Five ways decorators bill, and what to watch.
The same room can cost very different amounts depending on how the fee is set. Ask which model a decorator uses before you compare quotes.
Hourly
$50–$200 / hr
Best for: Advice, a consultation, or a small, clear job.
Watch: Open-ended projects add up. Ask for an hour estimate and a cap.
Flat fee per room
$1,000–$12,000 / room
Best for: Knowing your total up front. Most firms land at $1,500–$4,900.
Watch: Check how many revisions and site visits the fee includes.
Per square foot
$5–$17 / sq ft
Best for: Larger spaces and whole-floor projects.
Watch: Rarely makes sense for a single small room.
Percentage of the project
often 10–30%
Best for: Big renovations where the decorator manages the whole budget.
Watch: Their fee grows as your budget does. Agree the base first.
Cost-plus markup
17–45% on purchases
Best for: Access to trade-only furniture and trade discounts.
Watch: Ask whether you get the trade discount or they keep it.
Price per room, and for your project.
Typical decorator fees by room, then an estimate for your own number of rooms. Fees only: furniture is always extra.
| Room or service | Typical fee | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | $2,500–$5,000 | Full decorating of the room people see most. |
| Bedroom | $1,000–$2,000 | Usually simpler: fewer pieces, less layout work. |
| Any room, design only | $450–$1,500 | A plan and shopping list; you buy and set it up. |
| Online e-design | $159–$600+ | Havenly from $159; Decorilla tiers from about $599. |
| Whole project (average) | $8,550 | Angi's 2026 average; most pay $2,055–$15,256. |
Sources: HomeGuide, Angi, Havenly, Decorilla, 2026.
Estimate your decorator fees
Estimated decorator fees · 1 room
$1,500 – $4,900
HomeGuide, what most firms charge per room. Furniture, delivery and labor are extra.
The costs people forget to budget.
The decorator's fee is rarely the biggest number. These sit on top of it.
Pay for the job you actually need.
Decorators and designers are often used interchangeably, but they do different work at different prices.
What they do
- Decorator
- Furnishings, colors, finishes, styling
- Designer
- Space planning, layouts, finishes and furnishings
Structural work
- Decorator
- No
- Designer
- Can plan it, with contractors
Licensing
- Decorator
- Not required
- Designer
- Required to use the title in some states
Typical hourly rate
- Decorator
- $50–$200
- Designer
- Usually higher, up to ~$500 at the top
Best for
- Decorator
- Making an existing room look finished
- Designer
- Remodels, new builds, moving walls or kitchens
Four levels of help, four price points.
You don't have to choose between a full-service decorator and doing it blind.
Full-service decorator
$1,500–$4,900+ per room
They plan, buy and set up the room. Least work for you.
Consultation only
One or two hours at their rate
A pro's eye on your room and a list of changes you carry out.
Online e-design
$159–$600+ per room
A designer sends a plan, a mood board and a shopping list. You buy and build.
AI preview (Decoratly)
Free to try, then $9.99 once
Your own room redesigned from a photo in about 30 seconds. A picture to decide with, not a decorator.
📷 Before
✨ Free styleBefore you pay anyone, see three looks on your own room.
The free design is offered in the US, Canada, the UK and several European countries. More with a $9.99 pass, paid once. It's a picture to decide with, not a decorator who shops and installs for you.
When a decorator pays for itself.
Usually worth it when…
- You're furnishing several rooms or a whole home and want it to feel like one place.
- You'll spend serious money on furniture; a good decorator prevents expensive mistakes.
- You don't have the time or patience for sourcing, ordering and deliveries.
Often not worth it when…
- It's one room and you mostly need a direction, a palette and a shopping list.
- Your furniture budget is smaller than the decorator's fee would be.
- You enjoy the process and just want to see options before you buy.
Six ways to cut the decorator bill.
01
Pay for a consultation only
One or two hours of a pro's eye, then you do the rest.
02
Use online e-design
A plan and shopping list for a fraction of full service.
03
Hire an emerging decorator
Design students and new decorators charge less and want portfolio work.
04
Keep what you love
Design around the pieces you already own instead of replacing everything.
05
Give it time
Rush fees and premium shipping add up; a slower timeline is cheaper.
06
Decide the look first
Arrive with a clear direction and fewer hours go into back-and-forth. Previewing styles on a photo of your room is the cheapest way to get there.
Cost questions, answered straight.
How much does an interior decorator cost?
In 2026, US interior decorators typically charge $50–$200 an hour, $450–$1,500 per room for a design-only plan, and $1,500–$4,900 per room for full service, according to HomeGuide. Angi puts the average project at about $8,550, with most people paying $2,055–$15,256. Furniture is extra.
What is the hourly rate for an interior decorator?
Most decorators charge $50–$200 an hour. New decorators and design students sit at the lower end; established designers at well-known firms in big cities can charge $300–$450 or more for the principal's time.
How much does interior decorating cost for one room?
About $450–$1,500 for a design-only plan you carry out yourself, and $1,500–$4,900 for full service at most firms. HomeGuide puts a living room at $2,500–$5,000 and a bedroom at $1,000–$2,000. Online e-design costs $159–$600 or more per room.
Do interior decorators charge for the first consultation?
Many do. Expect anything from a free introductory call to a paid first visit; Thumbtack's New York listings show initial consultations of about $100–$225. Ask whether the fee is credited if you hire them.
Is an interior decorator cheaper than an interior designer?
Usually, yes. Decorators work on furnishings, colors and finishes, while designers also plan layouts and can manage structural changes, and some states license the title. Designers' rates run higher, up to about $500 an hour at the top.
How much should I budget for furniture on top of the decorator's fee?
Plan for furniture and decor to cost more than the fee itself; design fees usually exclude furnishings. Add delivery, setup and, on cost-plus deals, a 17–45% markup on what the decorator buys for you.
Can I negotiate an interior decorator's fee?
Often, on scope rather than rate: fewer revision rounds, a design-only package instead of full service, or a phased project. Ask what's included before comparing quotes.
Why do decorators charge so much more an hour than they earn?
Because the rate covers unbilled time, sourcing, insurance, software, travel and running a business. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics put the median pay for interior designers at $30.52 an hour ($63,490 a year) in May 2024.
What's the cheapest way to get help decorating a room?
A paid consultation, online e-design, or an AI preview. With Decoratly you can see your own room redesigned from a photo for free, then $9.99 once for 30 days for more styles and edits. It's a picture to decide with, not a decorator who shops and installs for you.
Is hiring an interior decorator worth it?
Usually yes for several rooms or a big furniture budget, where a good decorator prevents expensive mistakes. Often not for a single room where you mainly need a direction and a shopping list.
Where these numbers come from
Ranges differ between sources, so each figure on this page says whose it is. Prices were read on October 2026 and are reviewed every January. Local quotes can be higher or lower; always get two or three in writing.
- HomeGuide: Interior designer costs (2026)
- Angi: How much does an interior designer cost? (2026 data)
- Thumbtack: How much will your interior design cost?
- Havenly: Havenly pricing (online and in-person design)
- Decorilla: Decorilla vs Havenly: pricing by tier
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Interior Designers
Know the look you want. It costs $0 to find out.
A clear direction saves decorator hours, or replaces them for a single room. One photo, one free design, no account.
Who wrote this
Kamil Uhryn builds and runs Decoratly, an AI interior design app live since November 2023. Decoratly is not a decorating service and earns nothing from decorators; the prices here come from the published cost guides and price lists linked above.
Last updated October 2026.