How Much Do Kenyan Interior Designers Charge for Services?

A homeowner who was recently planning to remodel his house asked me an interesting question: “How much does it cost to hire an interior designer?”

Yes, the guy wanted to find out what interior designers charge for their services. He also asked for a list of successful interior designers in Kenya.

I did not have the answers so I called a few insiders to ask for the details. Within an hour, I was able to find out that interior design charges in Kenya can easily add up to hefty amounts.

Joyce Nduta, who works for one of the leading design companies in the country, was so tickled when I quoted a budget of Sh120,000 for my project.

“This will just cater for consultancy fees and some budget curtains,” she said, adding that for high-end homes Sh120,000 might be insufficient given the high costs of fittings.

Ms Nduta’s sentiments echo those of Stacey Mbindyo, an associate at Terry Designs, who reckons that successful interior designers charge top dollar for their services since they bring sophistication to homes and offices.

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“The costs depend on many factors such as whether it is a new house or a renovation or whether a client wants a moderate or a high-end finishing,” Ms Mbindyo told the Business Daily in a past interview.

“However, for Sh100,000, a homeowner can perhaps upgrade a bedroom with the money going into painting the room, fixing curtains and changing bed furnishings.”

She warned against having a low budget and expecting high-quality work since the services and furnishings are dictated by prevailing market prices.

Accordingly, while designing a kitchen can cost about Sh20,000, implementing the design can raise the costs to over Sh1 million.

“We have kitchen designs that can cost Sh500,000, depending on the size and details,” Ms Mbindyo said.

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