How much does interior design cost in 2027 and what determines the price

“How much will it cost me?” is the first question at almost every meeting. The honest answer is: it depends on what exactly you want to get. An interior design project for a one-bedroom apartment where you only change the furniture and a design for a house with custom furniture, lighting and design supervision are two very different tasks. In this article we show you how the price is formed in 2027, how to plan a realistic budget and where a good design saves you more than it costs.

What the interior design project includes

Before you compare prices, compare what you get. At DOMO the full interior design project goes through the following stages:

• Site survey and measurement – exact dimensions, the position of plumbing and electrical points, structural features.
• Functional layout – where each piece of furniture goes, how you move through the space, how much storage there is.
• Concept – style, colour palette, materials and mood, gathered in a moodboard.
• 3D visualisations – realistic images of every room, so you can see your home before the renovation begins.
• Working design – drawings for the electrical installation, lighting, plumbing, flooring, wall finishes, ceilings and details for custom furniture.
• Specifications – a list of materials, light fittings, sanitaryware and furniture, with models and quantities.

If you wish, the project can also include author supervision – the architect checks that the work matches the design and solves problems on site. You will find a detailed description of each step on the page How we work.

How the price of interior design is formed

In Bulgaria the most common model is a price per square metre. It gives a clear idea from the start and is easy to compare. As a guide, an interior design project at DOMO is in the range of €35–50 per sq m, depending on the scope and complexity. The exact amount is fixed in the contract after the first meeting, so there are no surprises later.

Other models you will find on the market are:

7 factors that affect the price

1. Floor area

The larger the property, the more drawings and visualisations there are. For larger areas the price per sq m is usually lower, because part of the work (concept, palette, specifications) is shared across the whole home.

2. Scope of the service

A concept and visualisations alone cost less than a full working design. But the working design is what contractors build from, so without it the risk of mistakes and rework is high.

3. Complexity of the rooms

The kitchen and bathroom need the most detail – plumbing, electrical points, appliances, wall finishes, ventilation. The living room and bedroom are easier to design. That is why a project with two bathrooms and a large kitchen costs more than the same floor area with more bedrooms. Find out more about kitchen interior design and bathroom interior design.

4. Custom furniture

Every custom wardrobe, TV wall or kitchen needs its own drawing with dimensions, materials and hardware. The more of this furniture there is, the larger the project. In return you get furniture that fits to the millimetre. More about this on the page for custom furniture.

5. Stage of the property

A design for a home at plastered stage (without electrical and plumbing installations) is more extensive than a design for a finished apartment where you only change the furnishings. If you are buying off-plan, it is best to start the design before the installations are built.

6. Design supervision

Supervision is agreed separately – as a fixed fee or a number of site visits. In a full renovation it often pays for itself, because it prevents mistakes that would otherwise only be discovered after installation.

7. Timelines

A standard full design for an apartment takes a few weeks. If you need it faster, that means more team hours and can affect the price.

How to allocate your renovation and furnishing budget

The design fee is only one part of the total budget. It is most useful to think of the whole renovation as several items:

1. Design – interior design and, if needed, design supervision.
2. Rough works – installations, plastering, screeds, partition walls.
3. Finishing works – flooring, tiling, painting, doors.
4. Kitchen and custom furniture – often the largest item.
5. Lighting and sanitaryware.
6. Furniture, textiles and décor.
7. A 10–15% contingency – for unforeseen things that always come up.

Our advice: decide on a total amount you are ready to invest and share it at the first meeting. Then we can steer the materials and decisions so the result is the best possible within that budget.

Where good design saves money

• Exact quantities. The specification tells you how many tiles, how much parquet and how many light fittings to buy. Without it people usually buy “just in case” – or it isn't enough.
• No rework. A misplaced socket, the wrong tap height or furniture that doesn't fit – every such mistake costs more than the design hours.
• The right priorities. You know where it is worth investing (kitchen, bathroom, lighting) and where you can choose a more affordable option.
• Comparable quotes. With the same design all contractors quote for the same thing – and you can fairly compare their prices.
• A higher property value. A well-designed home sells and rents more easily.

“The design is the cheapest stage of the renovation. Every mistake caught on paper costs a line. Caught on site, it costs money and time.” – Arch. Katerina Taneva

The most common budget mistakes

• Starting the renovation without a design and “deciding as you go”.
• Planning the budget only for the renovation and forgetting about lighting, textiles and appliances.
• Buying furniture before the layout is ready.
• Saving on installations – they are in the walls, and fixing them later is the most expensive.
• Having no contingency for unforeseen costs.

How to get an accurate quote

To give you an exact price we need a few things: the floor area and type of property (apartment, house, office), the stage of the renovation, which rooms you want us to design and whether you need design supervision. Even better if you have an architectural plan or photos.

The first meeting is free of obligation – at our showroom in Varna or online. See also DOMO's projects, to judge our style, and if you have questions – write to us.