Understanding Decorator Fees: Why Hiring a Professional Matters

Before you reach out to me, let’s clarify something important: hiring a decorator isn’t the same as asking a friend for advice.

If you're looking for some shopping tips or ideas, that's perfectly fine—after all, Pinterest is free! However, before you contact me, please take a moment to check out my portfolio. Do you like my style? Do my projects resonate with your taste and expectations? Would you be comfortable investing in my services?

Why Choose a Professional Decorator?

If your first question is, “How much do you charge?”, and you're only interested in the cheapest option, you might want to reconsider hiring a professional decorator. Design involves more than just picking attractive items; it's about creating a cohesive environment. That requires expertise, careful planning, and skilled execution.

Some decorators charge design fees of 10%, while others may charge more. Many will charge for mood boards or initial visits. Some might mark up retail prices, while others might only mark up bespoke items. Each decorator has a different fee structure, so be prepared: there are fees involved.

What Are Decorator Fees For?

Many people are unaware of how much work is involved behind the scenes of decorating a space. It's far more than simply browsing stores and selecting a few items. My decorator fee encompasses hours of behind-the-scenes work, which includes:

• Admin tasks: Payments, proofs of payment, tracking expenses, managing excel sheets, handling bank statements, adding beneficiaries, checking account numbers, and filing paperwork.

• Furniture sourcing: This isn't just about finding attractive items. It’s crucial that everything works together, is available, matches the correct size, color, texture, style, and comes at the right price.

• Measuring everything: Accurate measurements for rugs, art, curtains, etc., prevent costly mistakes.

• Managing deliveries: A small project can involve over 20 suppliers. My role involves following up on deliveries, tracking them, and being there to accept them upon arrival.

• Installation: This is where the design comes to life. It involves unpacking, positioning, styling, and making adjustments until everything is perfect.

• Budget tracking: I keep meticulous tabs on every cent spent, from furniture to fittings.

• Quality control: I inspect everything to ensure it meets requirements and deal with any issues related to suppliers, returns, or refunds.

  
  

Yes, you're paying for my design expertise. However, you're also investing in someone to manage the stress and logistics so you don’t have to.

Understanding Decorating Fees and Trade Discounts

A decorating business combines both retail and services. A traditional retail shop, like a pharmacy, purchases products at trade discounts and resells them at retail prices. Meanwhile, a service provider, like a hairdresser, charges for their time and expertise.

Decorators, like me, do both. We offer expert advice, creative direction, and hands-on styling while also sourcing and supplying products like furniture and curtains.

If decorators solely relied on trade discounts, we would only be compensated for "selling products." This would leave the design, planning, and execution aspects lacking proper financial support. Thus, both design fees and trade pricing exist; they introduce different layers of compensation for decorators.

It's worth noting that trade discounts are not as magical as some might think. They typically range between 5-15%.

Additionally, there's a common misconception that decorators only shop at high-end stores because of these discounts. However, trade discounts often come with substantial minimum spend requirements. So, when I recommend a stunning coffee table from a certain store, it's not solely about getting a discount—it's about ensuring the piece genuinely enhances your space. I'm open to purchasing from any store as long as the look and quality meet your standards.

How Does the Payment Schedule Work?

In terms of payment, my typical schedule is:

• 15% upfront when we schedule the appointment

• 80% during the sourcing phase, which includes selecting furniture, placing orders, and managing logistics

• 5% at the end, once everything is delivered and installed

  
  

If you only need a mood board, I offer separate pricing:

• A set fee for a studio/one-bedroom

• Additional charges for each extra room

  
  

This gives you flexibility to choose what aligns best with your needs.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a decorator is not just a transaction; it’s an investment—in your home, your comfort, and your peace of mind. If that resonates with you, let’s have a conversation. I work in Cape Town and surrounding areas.

Liesa Jossel

Call: 0848432426

Email: liesajossel.lj@gmail.com

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