What Does Interior Design Actually Cost in New Orleans?
Nobody talks about this openly. Most designers keep their numbers vague because they're afraid of scaring people off. I'd rather you know exactly what to expect — so we're both not wasting each other's time.
Here's the honest breakdown.
A Bathroom: $25,000 and up
Don't let the square footage fool you. Bathrooms are one of the most labor-intensive spaces in any home. Materials alone — tile, fixtures, vanity, lighting — can run $20,000+ for a well-designed guest bathroom. Add labor and design fees and you're starting at $25,000 for something done properly.
Want a primary bathroom with a custom shower, soaking tub, and thoughtful finishes? Plan for significantly more.
A Single Room: $30,000 and up
A living room or dining room sounds simple until you start asking the right questions. Are we painting and styling what you have? Are we sourcing a full furniture package — sofa, rug, coffee table, accent chairs, lighting? Are we moving walls?
Every one of those answers changes the number. A fully furnished, thoughtfully designed living room typically runs $30,000+ between design fees and furnishings. If structural work is involved, budget higher.
A Full Renovation: $90,000 and up in design fees alone
This is where the real investment lives — and where the real transformation happens.
A full home renovation involving construction plans, lighting plans, finish selections, and contractor coordination starts at $60,000–$70,000 in design fees. Furniture selection and procurement adds another $30,000+ on top of that. And that's before a single contractor bill.
One important note: design plans created for your contractor cannot legally be used for permitting — that requires a licensed architect. I'm transparent about this from day one so there are no surprises.
What affects the number most?
Are we moving walls?
Are we selecting finishes only, or sourcing full furniture?
How many rooms?
How many site visits does the project require?
Are we working with existing pieces or starting from scratch?
Why does it cost this much?
Because good design isn't decoration. It's planning, sourcing, coordinating contractors, solving problems before they become expensive mistakes, and making decisions that hold up for decades — not just until the next trend cycle.
My minimum project investment is $25,000 in design fees. Not because I'm trying to be exclusive, but because anything smaller doesn't allow me to do the work the way it deserves to be done.
If that number makes you flinch, that's okay. We might not be the right fit — and I'd rather tell you that now than six months into a project.
If that number makes sense for what you're trying to accomplish, let's talk.
Val Spaces is a full-service interior design studio based in New Orleans, specializing in large-scale residential renovations.
Photography: Anna Addison Davis