Design Fees: Expense or Investment?
MR. MITCHELL Interiors “Wurruk Project”
When clients come to us in the early stages of planning a project, the conversation often turns quickly to cost. That’s completely understandable, as building or renovating will be one of the biggest financial commitments anyone will ever make. We always encourage discussions about money and will actively seek to open a dialogue about expectations around budget and our fees.
Engaging a designer can feel like stepping into the unknown. For people who haven’t worked with a design professional previously, there are many preconceptions that need to be overcome, many tied to the financial elements of the project, including the budget and professional fees.
It’s not uncommon, in those early conversations with prospective clients, to sense a quiet pause when we begin talking about design fees. Sometimes it comes in the form of a thoughtful question about how the process works. Other times it’s a subtle shift in tone when we move from the creative vision to the numbers.
Rarely do clients outwardly question the value of our design fees. But sometimes it’s there, gently woven into the conversation. And I understand completely. Investing in your home is a big decision, not just financially, but emotionally too. It’s about trusting someone with your space, your money, and your future lifestyle.
MR. MITCHELL Interiors “Wurruk Project”
Over my 25 years in business, I’ve seen many examples of the alternative option: situations where people have taken on board the massive task of managing the interior design themselves, only to be overwhelmed by the number of choices they need to make, the order in which these choices are made, and ultimately the way that all these choices fit together. And that’s without the logistic considerations of ordering, invoicing and delivery of their design items.
Design, when done properly, isn’t just about making a space look beautiful. It’s about unlocking the full potential of a property. That includes the way it functions, the way it feels, and (importantly) the value it holds over time.
MR. MITCHELL Interiors “Wurruk Project”
The Financial Return
In highly competitive areas such as Melbourne’s inner-north, bayside suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula, great design becomes a point of difference. Homes that have been professionally designed tend to photograph better, attract more interest, and sell faster. They often achieve stronger results. Buyers may not know exactly what makes a home feel better, but they respond to the clarity, the light, and the sense of harmony.
Don’t just take our word for it. In conjunction with the University of Melbourne, the RAsP (Research for Architects in Small Practice) undertook the first-ever crowdfunded research for small practice architects, finding irrefutable evidence that engaging an architect can actually add significant return on your investment in the relevant design fees.
“Houses that are renovated by architects increase in value 1.2% per annum more quickly than those that are renovated without an architect. Whilst that 1.2% might not sound a lot, for a house with the median price of $1.2 million dollars this amounts to a substantial $256,000 increase in value over ten years.”*
While this research focused on architectural design, the same principles apply to interior design. A cohesive and professionally designed interior elevates the overall quality and appeal of a home, influencing everything from spatial flow and functionality to material choices and final presentation. The value of a property is not only determined by its structure but also by the way it feels to live in and experience; something that thoughtful interior design helps to define.
When architects and interior designers work together from the outset, the result is a fully resolved home that feels intentional, harmonious and deeply considered. The investment in design fees, both architectural and interior, becomes part of a larger value strategy that pays dividends in both lifestyle and resale potential.
For many of our clients, their home is both a sanctuary and a long-term asset. When design is integrated from the beginning, it becomes part of the broader strategy for improving the property’s performance, not just its appearance.
MR. MITCHELL Interiors “Wurruk Project”
Avoiding Expensive Mistakes
There’s a common misconception that interior design is just about decorating a finished space. In truth, much of our value lies in helping clients avoid costly missteps before they happen.
Sometimes the mistake is minor. A fabric that pills too quickly. A piece of furniture that doesn’t quite work. Other times, the issue can be major. Choosing the wrong tile or stone and having to replace it is not only inconvenient, it can also cost tens of thousands of dollars and create unnecessary stress.
As interior designers, one of our most important roles is to design the storage for your home, specific to your individual needs and wants. Most notably, kitchens and bathrooms, being the most expensive rooms in the house, should be a true reflection of you and the way you plan to live.
In some cases, we’re brought into a project where the layouts for these rooms have already been drafted at a basic level. But once we begin exploring how our clients truly want to use these spaces (their cooking habits, daily routines, storage needs and preferences around flow) it quickly becomes clear that the design falls short.
Had they proceeded without that deeper investigation, the result would have been a sub-par home that looked good on the surface but failed to support their life within it. These are extremely costly mistakes that are hard to fix, most often resulting in the owner settling for something well below their expectations, despite the huge amount of money spent.
MR. MITCHELL Interiors “Wurruk Project”
Controlling the Budget
Another myth is that designers make things more expensive. The reality is that we often save our clients’ money by guiding them through a clearer and more structured path.
I consider our role to be less about telling our clients how much they should spend, and more about qualifying their desired spend against the expectations they have (quality of finishes, extent of the scope, etc.).
At the commencement of one of my more extensive renovation projects, my wonderful clients informed me that they wanted “the best of everything”, as this was to be their forever home. Whilst this sounds relatively simple (and ideal), experience has taught me to ensure that before we begin specifying at a premium level, we need to cross check this directive against the clients’ expectations around the total budget.
Through our Budget Forecasting process, we were able to assess whether the desired level of finish aligned with what the clients were comfortable investing. It became clear quite early that some adjustments would be necessary to avoid pushing beyond their financial comfort zone. By revisiting the brief and making carefully considered changes early on, we preserved the integrity of the design while saving the clients tens of thousands of dollars.
This is exactly why our process exists. It gives us the structure to explore possibilities without jumping ahead, allowing design ideas and cost expectations to evolve side by side. When we do commit to a direction, we do so with clarity and confidence , which ultimately means fewer compromises, fewer regrets, and better outcomes.
MR. MITCHELL Interiors “Wurruk Project”
The Value You Live With
There’s also a quieter kind of value that becomes obvious once the space is finished. When a home has been well designed, it doesn’t just look good. It feels calm, intentional, and aligned with how our clients actually live.
Let’s call this an “Emotional Return On Investment”; something that’s a lot harder to measure but a lot more important.
This is the part that’s harder to quantify but often matters most. Clients have told me how the morning light in their kitchen brings them joy, or how they appreciate the thoughtfulness of a layout that just works. These things don’t happen by chance. They’re the result of listening closely, designing carefully, and making deliberate decisions throughout the process.
The Real Investment
It’s easy to look at design fees as just another cost on the spreadsheet. But what you’re really investing in is structure, clarity, and confidence. You’re investing in a process that reduces overwhelm and delivers a home that truly works for you.
Interior design shouldn’t be an added extra. It should be seen as a way to protect your investment, enhance your everyday life, and avoid the kind of regret that comes from getting it wrong.
Design should feel effortless once it’s complete. That’s because the effort happened early, quietly and intentionally. And that, to me, is worth every cent.
If you’re building or renovating and need a professional review of your designs, you can book a Design Vision Review or simply reach out for a chat by booking a Discovery Call.
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*Source: ArchiTeam Cooperative, in conjunction with the University of Melbourne, undertook the first-ever crowdfunded research for small practice architects - Research for Architects in Small Practice (RAsP) (2018).
