How Much Does An Interior Designer Cost in Sydney?
It's the question every prospective client wants answered honestly and the one most studios dance around. So here is a direct answer: the cost of interior design in Sydney varies significantly depending on the scope of your project, the level of service involved and the complexity of the spaces being designed.
What we can tell you upfront is how we charge — because at Kaiko Design Interiors, the model is deliberately different from how most studios operate.
We work on fixed project fees, not open-ended hourly rates. Before any creative work begins, you receive a custom proposal that clearly outlines the scope of work, the project deliverables and the exact design fee. You know what you're paying before you commit. There are no surprise invoices at the end of a long month.
To prepare an accurate proposal, we first need to understand your project — the scope, your style, your timeline and your budget. The process for getting there is straightforward.
Step 1 — Tell us about your project
We start with a conversation, not a contract. Send us photos, links, drawings or a Pinterest board — whatever best communicates the space and where you'd like it to go. We'll ask the questions that help us understand your project clearly: the scope, the architecture, the brief and the budget.
From that, we prepare an accurate estimate of our design fees, specific to your project. No generic price lists. No ballpark figures that end up meaning nothing.
Step 2 — We meet at your property
The next step is a paid design consultation, held in person at your property wherever possible, or by video for clients working remotely. We walk the space together, talk through your goals and ask the questions that surface what matters most to you — not just what you think you want, but how you actually want to live.
You talk and we listen. We don't design during the consultation. The design work begins once your project officially starts.
Following the consultation, we provide a custom proposal outlining the scope of work, all project deliverables and the associated design fees, structured across clearly defined stages.
Step 3 — The creative work begins
Once the proposal is approved, your project moves into its first stage. Progress payments are tied to each phase — you pay as deliverables are reached, not in advance of work that hasn't happened yet.
Clients can work with us in person or entirely remotely. We regularly work with clients outside Sydney and across regional Australia.
Our Process
01
Concepts & Ideas
Through the initial design consultation we establish your brief, your aspirations and the project budget. This forms the scope of works and becomes the basis for all project deliverables.
The goal of this stage is a clear, agreed interior design direction — one that responds honestly to the aesthetic, functional and budgetary requirements of your project. This is where the big decisions happen: spatial planning, the design concept, the colour direction.
02
Design Development
With the concept approved, we develop the design across all areas within the scope of works.
Typical deliverables at this stage include plans and elevations incorporating proposed material selections and preliminary fixtures and fittings schedules.
03
Detailed Documentation
This is where Kaiko Design Interiors earns its reputation for meticulous documentation. Every detail is drawn and scheduled so that every builder, joiner, tradesperson and supplier has exactly what they need to deliver their contribution correctly — the first time.
We provide a comprehensive drawing set alongside detailed schedules of all suppliers, materials, fixtures and fittings. Good documentation is what separates a smooth build from an expensive one.
04
Tender & Construction
Throughout the tender and construction phases we respond to RFIs from builders, joiners and project consultants, review shop drawings and conduct regular site visits to maintain design quality on the ground.
Construction is also the ideal time to take advantage of our Decoration and Furnishing service — see below.
Our Pricing
Design fees — fixed and transparent
Every project is priced on a fixed-fee basis, scoped specifically to your project before work begins. We do not charge by the hour. This means your investment is agreed upfront, your project has clear financial boundaries and there are no unexpected invoices mid-renovation.
To receive a fee proposal for your project, book a discovery call or send us an enquiry below.
Furniture and procurement — where the fees often pay for themselves
One of the less-discussed benefits of working with an interior design studio is trade access. Kaiko Design Interiors holds exclusive trade accounts with leading Australian and international suppliers and we pass those savings directly to our clients.
On furniture, lighting and soft furnishings procured through the studio, clients typically save between 20–45% off the standard retail price, against a procurement fee of 20%. For clients furnishing a full home, this alone can represent significant savings relative to buying retail — often offsetting a meaningful portion of the design fee.
IF YOU’RE READY TO TAKE YOUR RENOVATION OR GROUND UP BUILD TO THE NEXT LEVEL BOOK YOUR FREE, NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION NOW.
Custom services
Beyond the full project — custom services for completed homes
If your renovation or build is finished and you're looking to add the final layer, Kaiko Design Interiors offers a range of bespoke custom services. From window furnishings and reupholstery to custom lighting and one-of-a-kind furniture, these services are available independently of a full design engagement.
Explore some of our custom interior services below.
Custom window furnishings by Kaiko Design Interiors
Bespoke window furnishings
If you have been searching for new window coverings and feel overwhelmed by the options, or would like a professional opinion to complete a recently renovated room, Kaiko Design Interiors can help.
We provide guidance on bespoke window furnishings, tailoring each recommendation to suit your existing interior design, architecture and colour palette. With a strong understanding of fabric selection, construction methods, trims, drop length, pleat styles and automation, we help you select window treatments that are both functional and beautifully considered.
From custom curtains and blinds to layered window treatments that soften and frame a space, our approach ensures every detail complements the overall design of your home.
Reupholstery, bedheads & bench seat cushions
Whether it is an heirloom chair or a bedhead to complement your newly completed bedroom interior design scheme, Kaiko Design Interiors can help. With direct access to leading fabric houses across Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, we source high quality textiles to transform treasured furniture through expert reupholstery, refinishing and restoration by skilled local tradespeople.
Need custom indoor or outdoor bench seat cushions? We have you covered here too. You can also explore our standard range of outdoor cushions here and fully outdoor rugs here.
For upholstered bedheads, choose from our standard designs or work with us to create a fully custom bedhead tailored to your bedroom.
Custom upholstery by Kaiko Design Interiors
Holophane Pendant - By Kaiko Design Interiors
Custom lighting
If you have been searching online for a floor lamp or designer lighting and cannot quite find what you are looking for, why not go custom?
Customise our in house designed lighting collection, including flush mount ceiling lights, pendant lights, wall sconces and floor lamps. Take a look at the range here. The options are endless if you would like to change a colour, finish, metal or stone detail.
If you have something different in mind, we can help with that too. Working with local suppliers and international manufacturers, we can create bespoke lighting designed to suit your space and interior design scheme.
One of a kind furniture
If you cannot find the right sofa in the fabric you want, need a new desk for your home office or are searching for a unique dining table that is anything but ordinary, Kaiko Design Interiors can help bring your idea to life.
We work with skilled makers and artisans across Sydney and throughout Australia to create bespoke cabinetry, joinery and furniture. Each piece is thoughtfully designed and crafted from a wide range of materials including fabric, leather, timber, brass, wicker cane, stone, steel and plaster. We have even worked with Plexiglass.
With detailed drawings and close collaboration with our makers, we design custom furniture tailored to your exact requirements, ensuring every piece fits seamlessly within your interior design scheme.
Custom cabinetry and joinery by Kaiko Design Interiors