There is no single interior design price that fits every Nairobi project. A consultation, a room concept, a full home design, and a managed commercial fit-out involve different work. To plan well, separate the designer's professional service from the cost of materials, furniture, labour, delivery, and other project purchases.
This guide explains what to ask before comparing proposals. It does not set a fee schedule; the scope and terms agreed between a client and designer determine what a quotation covers.
Start by defining the scope
Write down the spaces included, what should change, who will use them, and what must remain. Include a rough timeline and the budget you want the designer to work within. A clearer brief helps a designer identify priorities and explain the work required before giving a proposal.
For a home, the brief may cover layout, finishes, lighting, furniture, storage, or a renovation. For an office or shop, it may also include customer or staff circulation, brand requirements, and coordination with other project teams.
Separate design fees from project spending
Ask the designer to distinguish professional fees from implementation costs. Depending on the agreement, the project budget may include site measurements, drawings, specifications, contractor work, joinery, finishes, furniture, appliances, transport, delivery, installation, and supervision. Not every proposal includes all of these.
Also ask how procurement works: who selects suppliers, who places orders, who pays, and who checks deliveries. If a designer receives a supplier commission or applies a sourcing fee, ask how that is disclosed and recorded.
Compare quotes line by line
When proposals arrive, place them beside the same brief and check the deliverables. One quote may cover design only while another includes sourcing or site coordination. Compare the assumptions, exclusions, revision limits, payment milestones, and the process for approving changes. Ask for an explanation wherever the scope is unclear.
- What drawings, schedules, and specifications are included?
- Are furniture, materials, labour, delivery, and installation included or separate?
- How many concept options and revisions are covered?
- What site visits or implementation support are included?
- How will variations and additional purchases be approved?
Keep a project budget that can be checked
Use one document to record the agreed scope, each quotation, approved selections, payments, delivery dates, and changes. Ask the designer to flag decisions that could affect cost or timing before you approve them. If a project has unknown conditions, discuss how those will be assessed and documented before work proceeds.
The IDAK directory can help you find designers whose experience matches your project. You can also read how to compare and appoint a designer before requesting proposals.
Make the decision on scope and value
A useful comparison is not simply “which quote is cheapest?” It is “which proposal gives me the work, information, and support this project needs, at a cost I understand?” A clear written scope makes that decision easier and reduces avoidable misunderstandings later.
