Discover the real earnings of interior designers in 2025 - from entry-level pay to six-figure incomes. Learn how top designers make money, common pitfalls, and what it actually takes to build a profitable career.
How Much Do Interior Designers Make?
When you think of interior designers, professionals who plan and decorate indoor spaces for functionality and aesthetics. Also known as home designers, they work with clients to turn rooms into places that feel right—whether it’s a tiny flat in London or a sprawling home in Manchester. It’s not just about picking pretty colors or matching curtains. It’s about space planning, lighting, materials, budgets, and often, managing contractors. So how much do they actually make? It’s not a one-size-fits-all answer.
The truth is, interior designers earn anywhere from £20,000 to £80,000+ a year in the UK, depending on where they work, how long they’ve been doing it, and who their clients are. A junior designer in a small firm might start at £25,000, while a senior designer with a strong portfolio and high-end clients in London can easily hit £60,000 or more. Freelancers have more control over their rates but also deal with inconsistent work. Some charge by the hour—£50 to £150—while others take a flat fee per room or a percentage of the total project cost. Location matters a lot. A designer in Edinburgh won’t make the same as one in central London, even if they do the same job. And if they specialize in kitchens or bathrooms—areas where people spend big—they often earn more than those who focus on general decor.
It’s not just about talent. Business skills matter just as much. Knowing how to quote properly, manage timelines, handle client expectations, and market yourself can make the difference between scraping by and thriving. Many successful designers also sell furniture, lighting, or tiles—like the kind you’d find at Aqua Tiles & Interiors—and earn commissions on those sales. That’s why some designers who don’t charge huge fees still make great money: they’ve built a system around their expertise.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of salary charts or industry reports. It’s real talk from people who’ve been there—tips on how to value your work, what clients are willing to pay for, and how to avoid undercharging. You’ll also see how design choices tie into bigger home improvement trends, like flooring that lasts, curtains that never go out of style, or how to make a room look expensive without spending a fortune. These aren’t just decoration ideas. They’re part of what makes a designer’s job valuable—and what justifies their pay.