How to Talk About Budget with Your DesignerAmy Neunsinger
The beginning of a design project is always exciting. You’ve hired an interior designer you love, you’ve shown them your inspiration photos, and you’re ready to dive into the project.
But then the numbers start coming in. And sticker shock sets in. And you think to yourself, “Gosh, I should’ve talked honestly about budget at the beginning,” but now that you’re so far in, you feel like it’s too late for that conversation. So you gulp and try to stretch your dollars as much as you can without any further discussion.
This is not the right way to go about things when it comes to an interior design project and your budget. After all, as Sara Johnson, owner of Sara Johnson Interiors, says, interior design is a luxury service.
“Therefore, I’m very sensitive to the price tag and I completely understand why clients may be concerned with the budget,” Johnson says. “Clients should always feel great about their investment, which is why starting with a budget is essential.”
Colleen Simonds, principal of Colleen Simonds Design, agrees with this sentiment, saying that interior design is “an expensive endeavor.” And if you’ve never worked with an interior designer before, it’s perfectly fine to ask questions and admit that you don’t know what’s ahead.
“A lot of people really have no idea what a project costs,” Simonds says. “There are two parts: what the ‘things’ cost, meaning the furnishings, and what the designer costs. I always say, ‘no bad surprises.’ No one wants to be presented with an unexpected invoice. The key to avoiding this? Partnership and clear communication.”
If you’re a newbie to hiring a designer, Grey Joyner, principal of Grey Joyner Interiors, says that there’s always a natural uncertainty about a budget. That’s why it’s important to be clear and concise about numbers (as much as you can, since there can always be surprise costs that come up) and to communicate truthfully with your designer.
Why You Should Discuss Your Budget with Your Interior Designer Ahead of Time
Joyner says that as a designer, she seeks to be transparent with costs and expenses throughout the process so that the client has a clear understanding of where the budget is being spent. But it doesn’t stop there. You as the client also need to be forthright when it comes to how much you can spend.
“Having an agreed-upon budget, up front, always makes for a smoother project,” Johnson reflects. “It helps me focus my time on the best vendors based on certain price points and keeping my hours down, as I bill hourly. It’s always a fun challenge to come in under budget for some items and allocate it to more substantial or special pieces, such as a vintage chandelier or antique sideboard.”
Simonds says that talking about the budget at the start will only help your designer.
“Whether you’re doing a tiny powder room or every room in a sprawling home, the budget provides the framework for the entire project,” she says. “You can’t get started doing anything until you know what the client wants to spend.”
How to Talk About Your Budget
Now that we’ve convinced you to not be shy about discussing your budget, here are some tips to do it successfully.
Be up front.
Johnson emphasizes that it’s essential to work with your designer at the start when creating a budget. That’s what your designer is partly there for—to help you determine a final budget number that will work best with your bottom line.
That’s why you have to have that budget conversation before any real work starts.
“Do it up front,” Simonds says. “You have to talk about project budgets in your first few meetings. Do not wait and waste anyone’s time on either side.”
Joyner says that you should commit to being open and honest about your budget with your designer.
Be honest about what you can spend.
The golden rule for any interior design project? Don’t be dishonest with your designer—especially when it comes to money.
“Be honest about what you can spend and how you can stretch,” Simonds says. “It’s your designer’s job to know how to maximize your budget, whatever it is. They need to know the real number so they can do this as best they can and deliver the best result.”
Prepare for surprise expenses.
It’s common to have unexpected costs arise during an interior design venture, but it can help to know the basics of what you’ll be paying for. According to Joyner, several elements come into play when pricing a project, including the current cost of goods, the designer’s time, transportation and shipping, and in some cases, storage until a space is ready. These things can cost less or more than you were anticipating.
“Have the conversation up front about unanticipated expenses and agree how to handle them,” Joyner suggests.
Prioritize what’s important.
Joyner says that it’s key to prioritize must-have items during a project. If something can’t be done right now because it stretches your budget too far, that’s fine. As Johnson says, “Not everything needs to be done at once. Invest in the special, one-of-a-kind, or custom pieces and fill in with the rest as time and budget permits.”
If you’re sensing that you’d like to stick with the essentials for now, have a conversation with your designer—the earlier, the better.
Work with someone you trust.
Oftentimes, conversations around money aren’t easy. That’s why it’s important to vet designers and connect with one you feel comfortable with. This will create more ease around these difficult discussions.
“Work with someone you really trust,” Simonds advises. “They’re going to be allocating and spending a lot of your money. It’s critical that you absolutely trust them as a person and feel confident they are totally above board in every way.”
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