Get Quotes from Top Interior Designers in Dallas, TX

Are You Registered or Certified to Practice as an Interior Designer in Dallas?

Chapter 1053 of the Texas Occupations Code stipulates that individuals in Dallas who wish to either use the title "interior designer" or the term "interior design" to refer to services that they offer must register with the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE). Parties that violate this law are subject to several sanctions, including cease and desist orders and judicial proceedings for injunctive relief.

Parties that wish to register as interior designers with the TBAE may do so via two methods, namely:

• Registration by Examination: this is the primary registration method, and it is open to any applicant who has sat for and passed all three sections of the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination
• Registration by Reciprocity: this method is open to applicants who hold an active interior designer registration in other jurisdictions that either have similar registration requirements or have entered a reciprocity agreement with the TBAE

Applicants are typically required to create a TBAE Individual Account online to initiate the registration process, pay a stipulated fee, and comply with certain eligibility requirements, such as:

• Submitting CIDQ experience forms, college transcripts, a CIDQ letter of approval to sit for exams, and examination scores
• Providing proof of legal status
• Completing a mandatory criminal history check
• Providing a Certificate of Standing (required for applicants that wish to register by reciprocity)

Inquiries concerning the TBAE's registration requirements and procedure for interior designers can be directed to the board via email or by calling (512) 305-9000.

Hiring properly registered interior designers for your remodeling projects in Dallas not only gives you a measure of assurance that the job will be handled professionally but also provides you with an additional means of recourse in the event of unsatisfactory service delivery.

You can confirm that your intended interior designer has been properly registered by the TBAE by utilizing its Verify Registration platform.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Interior Designers in Dallas?

The cost of hiring interior designers in Dallas is influenced by several factors, such as:

• The size of your home
• The scope of interior design services that will be provided
• The cost of required furnishings and accessories
• The level of construction involved
• Your location within the city

It is always a good idea to request cost estimates from several interior designers in the city and compare these estimates before making your hiring choice. This not only gives you an idea of the going rates for your required services but is also a good way to spot fraudulent interior designers.

Professional interior designers typically prepare their cost estimates using one or a combination of the following methods:

• Fixed Rates: here, the interior designer and client discuss and determine a set price for all to-be-performed services. With this method, the payment of an upfront fee is often necessary
• Hourly Rates: here, the interior designer discusses an hourly rate for their services and subsequently charges the client for the total time that they spend working on the project. Note that the payment of a retainer is often required
• Percentage Rates: here, the client pays the interior designer a pre-determined percentage of the project's overall cost. Depending on the size of the project, this percentage can range from five to 30 percent or higher
• Cost per Square Meter/Foot Rates: here, the interior designer bills the client for each square meter or square foot of space that is designed. This method is mostly used for commercial projects

When comparing rates from different interior designers, it is important to note that no two cost estimates can be exact. Nevertheless, find out the fee structure that was used to calculate the charges, and be wary of estimates that are significantly different from the others.

Also, do not automatically hire the interior designer with the lowest rates, and ensure that they are properly registered, insured, and have the necessary experience needed to satisfactorily get the project done.

Interior designers in Dallas earn an average annual wage of $60,340. The list below provides the average hourly wages of these professionals compared with the average hourly wages of interior designers across the rest of Texas as well as several other locations in the United States:

What Kind of Interior Design Services Do You Offer?

Professional interior designers in Dallas generally offer a wide array of services to clients. These include:

• Space planning
• Furniture and accessory selection, procurement, and installation
• Construction administration and coordination
• Custom furniture design and production
• Art curation and purchasing

However, it is important to confirm the nature and scope of services that your preferred interior designers offer before signing any contracts with them. It is equally a good idea to fully understand the difference between interior designers and interior decorators to ensure that you receive satisfactory services at the end of the day.

While many homeowners use the terms "interior design" and "interior decoration" interchangeably, these two professions are not the same. Interior design involves considering and understanding a person's distinct characteristics and behavior to create functional spaces for them within a building, while interior decoration simply entails furnishing a space with decorative materials to achieve a certain style or aesthetic.

To this end, while interior designers may also decorate spaces, interior decorators cannot provide interior design services.

Below are cost estimates for interior design services in Dallas based on different billing methods:

Residential interior design services cost estimates

Commercial interior design services cost estimates

What is Your Favorite Interior Design Style?

The French Country interior design style is regarded as one of the most popular styles among homeowners in the Dallas area. Other popular design styles in the city include:

• Modern Farmhouse
• Minimalist
• Scandinavian
• Transitional
• Country
• Eclectic
• Traditional
• Contemporary

Nevertheless, you may already have a pre-determined style or aesthetic that you wish to incorporate into your remodeling project. If this is the case, it is always a good idea to verify that your preferred interior designer is experienced enough and properly equipped to implement this style.

One approach to doing this is by requesting and reviewing a portfolio of their completed projects. If the interior designer is known for a particular aesthetic, then make sure that their design styles align with your vision and ideas for the project. Failing to do this can cause you to end up dissatisfied with your remodeled living space.

You can also collaborate with your interior designer to develop a unique design style that complements your age and personality if you do not have your mind set on a particular style or aesthetic.

Some common interior design styles that various age groups in Dallas are particularly drawn to include:

• Generation X/Baby Boomers – Scandinavian, Traditional, Rustic
• Generation Y/Millennials – Modern Farmhouse, Contemporary, Minimalist
• Generation Z – Eclectic, Modern Farmhouse, Rustic

Can You Provide References from People You Have Served in Dallas?

Getting references from past clients is a crucial action to take when searching for interior designers in Dallas. It is common to get referrals to interior designers in the city from organizations like the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners and the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as from friends and relatives.

However, requesting references from these interior designers and checking these references helps you ascertain their legitimacy and competence, and professional interior designers in the city will gladly provide you with references from past clients who can vouch for them.

Strike off any interior designer from your list of potential hires if they cannot provide you with references, as this usually means that they do not provide their services professionally and may also be fraudulent in their dealings.

It is also a good idea to find out if any official disciplinary actions have been taken against the interior designer by utilizing the TBAE's disciplinary actions platform. You can also look up reviews and testimonials on your intended interior designers via platforms like the Better Business Bureau and Google Review.

How Do You Structure Your Interior Design Projects?

Observing how interior designers structure their activities can help you determine their capacity for time management and also give you a good indication of what to anticipate from their work. This is helpful in planning for occasions or events that are connected to the project's estimated completion date, such as weddings, relocations, and family visits.

Professional interior designers in Dallas typically structure their projects into six key phases:

• Discovery: here, the interior designer examines inspiration sketches and photos to gain a sense of the client's unique tastes and requirements and also discusses the project's overall plan with them
• Inspiration: at this point, the interior designer creates concept statements for each space included in the project. This is usually done with a design team, and the created concept statements will serve to guide the project's overall direction
• Design: here, the client is presented with fully developed design concepts and plans for the project. This phase typically involves making tweaks and revisions to the concepts and plans until a final design is decided on
• Procurement: this phase entails procuring all furnishings and accessories necessary to successfully implement the design plan and complete the project
• Installation: this phase involves the interior designer installing or supervising the installation of all procured materials in their designated spaces. This phase often lasts one to five days or longer, depending on the scope of the project
• Big Reveal: this is the last phase of the design process. Here, the interior designer reveals the completed project to the client

What Builders, Architects, or Contractors Do You Work With?

Professional interior designers in Dallas often work closely with construction-related professionals like builders, architects, and general contractors or subcontract other craftsmen like flooring installers and painters. You should always find out the types of construction-related professionals that your interior designer plans to collaborate with or hire when working on your project and ensure that they are properly licensed and insured to provide the required services.

The significance of checking the insurance status of every construction-related professional involved in your project cannot be overstated. Building and construction-related injuries accounted for more than 27 percent of all work-related deaths that occurred in Texas in 2020.

Failing to verify the insurance status of workers involved in your project not only makes you liable for any injuries they incur on the job but also makes you responsible for any property damage that occurs as well.

To this end, request proof of insurance for your interior designer and every other construction-related professional who is hired to work on your project before they commence any work. Validate this proof with the appropriate insurance provider and make sure that their insurance policy includes general liability coverage that can adequately cover any third-party injuries and property damage that may occur during the project.

It is also a good idea to ensure that your interior designer carries professional liability insurance to cover defects caused by oversights, negligence, or mistakes.