Design Cost Estimates
How Much Does Designing a Space Cost? A General Guide by More Wow
Designing your dream space, whether it's a home or a commercial property, is an exciting journey, but it often comes with a lot of questions—especially about costs. At More Wow, we understand the importance of transparency and helping you make informed decisions. Whether you're aiming for a stylish mid-upper tier makeover or a bespoke, one-of-a-kind transformation, we've got you covered. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect at different investment levels, along with examples of brands and galleries you can explore.
Your Space...Your Brand
Just as brands differentiate themselves based on attributes like quality, luxury, or accessibility, interior design follows a similar logic. The space you create should be a reflection of your lifestyle, priorities, and personal brand. When thinking about what kind of space best suits you, it can be helpful to consider the brands that resonate with you in other areas of life. Are you looking for something practical and sustainable, like a Toyota Prius? A balance of performance and luxury, like a BMW or Mercedes? Or do you prefer the unique craftsmanship of a Bentley, a Range Rover, or something entirely bespoke? Identifying the category that aligns with your vision helps set expectations for both design and investment, ensuring that your space not only meets your functional needs but also feels like an authentic extension of who you are.
Mixing & Matching for High-end Interior Design
It's also important to remember that for many people the brands we associate with or buy from might fall within a range. Clients may own a Toyota Prius AND a Mercedes G wagon or, a Berkin and a bag from Coach. Blending purchased elements in a room can similarly help create a personalized style or achieve a tier of luxury while managing budgets. Similarly, clients may opt to achieve a design by prioritizing some rooms over others for spend. Focal points, like entryways and living room areas may be designed on a Bentley or Hermes level while secondary bathrooms and spaces may drop a level or three.
To help you understand what to expect when considering budgeting entire spaces (full rooms or homes), we've put together the following guide based on our car analogy. For Total Costs we consider a Living Room space of approximately 15' x 15 (250 sq ft)'
Mid Tier Design: Toyota
Practical, efficient, and well-designed without unnecessary excess. A thoughtfully curated space that prioritizes smart use of limited resources, functionality, and style while understanding that sacrifices have to be made in beauty, quality, service or performance
Cost Expectations per Square Foot : $75-$125
Total Living Room Cost: $17,000 - $28,000
Examples of Mid Tier Brands
Furniture
West Elm, CB2, Room & Board, Article, Joybird, Crate & Barrel, Four Hands, Blu Dot, Forum, Pottery Barn, Ethan Allen, Restoration Hardware (some of RH's more affordable lines)
Fabric and Textiles
Fabricut, Kravet, Duralee, Schumacher, Pindler, machine woven rugs
Mid-Upper Tier Design: BMW/Mercedes
A refined, well-executed design that delivers quality and comfort without being extravagant. Perhaps not top of the line, but it looks and feels luxurious within a commonly understood and accessible style. No one-of-a-kind elements—just well-made, well-balanced interiors that offer a polished aesthetic.
Cost Expectations per Square Foot : $150-$250
Total Living Room Cost: $34,000 - $56,000
Furniture
Restoration Hardware, Design Within Reach, Century Furniture ,Herman Miller, Made Goods, Visual Comfort, Bernhardt
Fabric and Textiles
Romo, Osborne & Little, Thibaut, Cowtan & Tout, Holland & Sherry, hand or machine made rugs.
High-End Design: Luxurious Living: A Range Rover
Functional luxury with presence. A design that merges beauty, quality, purpose —with rich textures, statement pieces, and an environment that feels both directed and inviting, perfect for those who appreciate stylized creativity with refinement.
Cost Expectations per Square Foot : $250-$350
Total Living Room Cost: $56,000 - $79,000
Examples of High-End Brands and Galleries
Furniture
B&B Italia, Roche Bobois, Ligne Roset, Knoll, Cassina, Molteni&C, Flexform, Promemoria, Giorgetti, De Sede, Christopher Guy, Baker Furniture, Donghia, Jerry Pair
Fabric and Textiles
Romo, Osborne & Little, Thibaut, Cowtan & Tout, Holland & Sherry, hand or machine made rugs.
Ultra Luxury: Bentley
The pinnacle of craftsmanship and exclusivity. A bespoke, highly personalized space designed with the finest materials, custom details, and a level of artistry that speaks to those who expect nothing less than the best. Timeless, elegant, and/or truly one-of-a-kind.
Cost Expectations per Square Foot : $350+
Total Living Room Cost: $80,000 +
Examples of Ultra Luxury Brands and Galleries
Furniture
Fendi Casa, Minotti, Poliform, Giorgetti, De Sede, Poltrona Frau, Alfonso Marina, Lorin Marsh, Holly Hunt
Art and Accessories
Pace Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Marian Goodman Gallery, Dominique Lévy Gallery, Galerie Kreo (Paris), Museo Jumex (Mexico City), Luis Barragán House and Studio (Mexico City), Galerie Chantal Crousel (Paris), Galería de Arte Mexicano (Mexico City), Galerie Gmurzynska, Studio Twenty Seven, R & Co.
Fabric and Textiles
Dedar, Loro Piana Interiors, Rubelli, Nobilis, Kvadrat, hand-made rugs, custom upholstery/drapery
Bespoke and Custom Design: Unique and Timeless
For clients who desire truly unique spaces, our bespoke design service offers unparalleled customization with one-of-a-kind pieces and limited edition products.
Examples of Bespoke and Custom Brands and Galleries
Furniture
Custom pieces from More Wow, Patricia Urquiola, David Linley, Promemoria, Atelier Alinea, Joseph Walsh Studio, Piero Lissoni bespoke pieces, Vincenzo De Cotiis, Martin Brudnizki bespoke furniture, Custom pieces from More Wow’s exclusive artisans.
Art and Accessories
Unique works from MoMA Design Store, limited edition pieces from Sotheby’s, Phillips auction house, Tajan auction house (Paris), Los Angeles Modern Auctions (LAMA), Unique pieces from Zona Maco (Mexico City), Galerie VIVID (Rotterdam), Kamel Mennour (Paris), Galería Hilario Galguera (Mexico City), Galerie Patrick Seguin (Paris)
Fabric and Textiles
Fortuny, Holland & Sherry, Hermès, Pierre Frey, Dedar Milano, Fromental, Loro Piana
Trade-Only Brands and Exclusive Access
All of these tiers include trade-only brands that are not available for sale to the general public, and galleries that also only sell to the trade or are more accessible to the design community. At More Wow, we provide a level of project management, process sophistication, design skill, and curation that transforms spaces into stunning environments tailored to your vision.
Additional Considerations
It's important to consider that your budget for interiors is generally not only made up of furniture, but also art and accessories. The total design costs for your home will also consider other considerations regarding how you want to live. Elements like kitchen cabinets, closets, and built-ins have costs related not only to materials, architecture services, contractor costs, electricians, plumbing and more. It's critical to have this in mind when budgeting for your home at the outset. For this reason, we also recommend approaching design holistically with a full-team at the start of your project--not only to ensure that there is one realistic budget in mind across all disciplines, but also so that there is design cohesion between your various teams.
Why Choose More Wow?
At More Wow, we have established relationships with major brands, galleries, and antique/vintage dealers worldwide. This ensures that we can source the perfect pieces to match your vision and elevate your home or commercial space to new heights. Whether you're looking for a sophisticated mid-upper tier makeover or a bespoke design that tells your unique story, we are committed to making your dream space a reality. In addition, we design spaces holistically in partnership with licensed architects to ensure the project resonates with you stylistically and aligns with our corporate values of efficiency and transparency.
Ready to Transform Your Space?
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and begin your journey to a beautifully designed space that reflects your style and personality. Let's create something extraordinary together.