You open your inbox on a Monday morning and there it is, three new inquiries that came in overnight. One is a sweet couple who loves your work, but thinks a whole home furnishing project can be done for 8,000 dollars, including furniture. Another wants to “pick your brain for a few hours” and assumes that should be free if they move forward. The third ghosted after you replied with your consultation fee.
If you’ve been there, you’ve probably wondered the same thing most design pros do at some point, should I put my pricing on my website, or keep it private?
This is why interior design rates on your website can feel like a real talk business decision, not a simple website tweak. Inside the Interior Design Community, we asked designers directly, do you put your rates on your website? The answers were thoughtful, and all over the map.
Here’s what stood out. There isn’t one right answer for every interior design business, but there are a few smart ways to share pricing that protect your time and set clear expectations.
Why this feels so loaded
Money always comes with feelings. You are not just posting a number, you are posting what you believe your expertise, liability, and time are worth. And because clients often don’t understand what happens behind the scenes, they can judge the price without understanding the process.
Designer @joseph.bellone shared why he keeps rates off his site:
“Every job and every house is different so they don’t apply everywhere. Besides my formal proposal clearly defined what you receive and what isn’t part of your stone package.”
And the studio behind @lsi_workshop put language around what many designers worry about, that a pricing page can turn your expertise into a menu:
“makes it seem like you are a service provider with a menu of options rather than an expert and partner. It also encourages potential clients to make decisions based on price comparison rather than on value, expertise or fit.”
This is the heart of it. You want to be clear, but you do not want to invite price shopping with no context. The goal is not “put pricing on the website or do not,” it’s “create clarity in a way that supports your business model.”
If you want an outside perspective on why transparency can increase trust when paired with context, this research summary is a helpful read: Lifting the Veil: The Benefits of Cost Transparency.
3 smart ways to share pricing on your website
Think of this as a spectrum. The more defined your offer is, the easier it is to post pricing. The more custom your work is, the more you may want to share ranges, minimums, or a guide after inquiry.
Option 1: Post your rates when the offer is clear
If you sell consultations, virtual interior design, or defined packages, clear pricing can protect your calendar and cut down on inquiries that are not a fit. It also helps the right clients lean in faster, because they know what to expect.
Designer @the.designers.blueprint said:
“I do design consults only and my rates are definitely on my website,”
Then she shared the why:
“The last thing I need is to spend 30 minutes on the phone just to hear my fees are out of budget. That is way too costly for me. I only want clients who understand the investment and are prepared to pay it.”
And @lisawallaceinteriors kept it simple:
“Yes we do. Transparency is good.”
What to put on the website if you choose this option
- Your consultation fee (and what it includes)
- Any package pricing (with clear scope boundaries)
- How to book, what happens next, and what clients should prepare
Option 2: Share partial pricing, consultation fees, minimums, or ranges
This is the most common approach for designers who want to pre qualify clients without turning their work into a price list. It gives clients an anchor while leaving room for scope, preferences, and timeline to shape the final proposal.
At @ahrdesign, they list their consultation fee and send a FAQ before the discovery call:
“It’s a good way to pre qualify a client. If they are scared off by fees then most likely they aren’t prepared for investing in a designer. It’s also a way to educate them which is good for all of us.”
Minimum investments show up again and again. At @lkdesign100:
“We ask for people to pick a range and it starts at 30k.”
Erica at @erica_kayser shared:
“our projects start at 150k to weed out clients that don’t have enough scope for our firm.”
Another designer, @spearman_spaces, chimed in that 150,000 dollars per project feels ideal for their firm as well.
What to put on the website if you choose this option
- A consultation fee and booking link
- A minimum investment (or “projects start at” line)
- A range for common project types (optional)
- A sentence that explains what drives variability, scope, access, timeline, level of customization
Option 3: Keep pricing off your website, then share details in a guide
If your projects vary wildly, a public price list can feel limiting, especially as your business evolves. Some designers keep the website focused on portfolio, process, and positioning, then share pricing after inquiry using a guide, FAQ, or proposal.
The team at @omforme_interior_design shared why they pulled pricing off the site:
“Eventually it was too limiting in terms of gaining the clientele I wanted to work with. There was no way grow, so I had to evolve. Package deals are still a part of our business model but removing price from the website allows potential clients to focus on the creativity and ingenuity of our projects and not just cost factors.”
Holly of @hollydennisandcompany also keeps flexibility for scope based work, while still having a structure ready when someone asks:
“Everything is priced out according to its specific scope. I do have a price sheet that can be emailed upon request for flat rate services, such as interior color selection or basic consultation.”
One more helpful nuance from @clairejefford, her firm lists some rates now, but it evolved:
“Yes, rates for our consultation and ‘starting from’ fees for services. But we didn’t always do this.”
And she uses pricing to filter once demand is there:
“to weed out people who are not willing to invest in the higher price tag.”
Her firm charges 800 dollars for a consultation, and she noted:
“They are more likely to book because they already know the cost for the first meeting and are more interested in working with our firm, vs shopping around for the best price.”
What to put on the website if you choose this option
- A clear description of who you serve and what you do
- A short “investment expectations” line (even if you do not list numbers)
- A strong inquiry form that collects budget range and scope
- A promise of next steps, “You’ll receive our Experience Guide within 24 hours”
Guides, FAQs, and intake forms that do the filtering for you
If you do not want pricing on your site, you still need a fast path to clarity. Designers are doing this with simple PDFs and email automations that answer the top questions upfront. Bonus, these tools can also reduce boundary issues later because clients learn your process early.
“an introduction package for those who inquire which explains our rates.”
And @daffodillydesign shared they are working on an:
“investment guide”
What to include in an Investment Guide or FAQ
- How you charge (consult fee, flat fee, hourly, percentage, or hybrid)
- What design fees cover (planning, sourcing, revisions, procurement, coordination)
- Minimums and typical ranges for your services
- What a client should budget for furnishings and trades
- Payment schedule, retainers, and what happens if scope changes
Website copy you can swipe
Use these as starting points, then adjust the numbers to fit your services. The goal is clarity without overpromising.
Consultation based studio
“Our Design Strategy Session is 750 dollars for up to two hours in your home. During this visit, we walk the space, discuss your goals and investment range, and outline a clear plan so you know what to do next. Many clients book multiple sessions as they move through a project.”
Full service studio with minimums
“Full service design for furnishing projects typically begins at 75,000 dollars in product, with design fees billed separately. Whole home projects and construction work start at 250,000 dollars in total investment. We will provide a tailored proposal after our discovery call.”
“Starting from” language without a full price list
“Design consultations are a starting point for many clients. Full service projects begin with a minimum investment, and final fees are based on scope, timeline, and level of customization. After you inquire, we will share our Experience Guide and next steps.”
Inquiry form budget question
“What is your ideal total investment for this project, including design fees and furnishings?”
- 25k to 50k
- 50k to 100k
- 100k to 150k
- 150k and above
A quick decision checklist
- If you need more inquiries, keep your site focused on portfolio, process, and positioning, then share investment details in the call or guide.
- If you need fewer unqualified leads, add a consultation fee, a minimum investment, or a clear “starting at” line.
- If you cannot say your fee without apologizing, keep it private for now and practice your pricing script one to one.
- Protect your energy, every inquiry response costs time you could spend on paid work.
Closing real talk
Your website is not a legal contract, it is a living sales tool. Start with one sentence, test it, and adjust based on the leads you actually get. That sentence might be your consultation fee. It might be a minimum investment. It might be a simple “projects start at” line that filters out the wrong fit before you ever hop on a call.