Get Quotes from Top Interior Designers in San Diego, CA

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

There are no mandatory local registration requirements for interior designers in San Diego. However, per Chapter 3.9 of the California Business and Professions Code, any individual in the city who wishes to refer to themselves as "certified interior designers" must be certified by the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC). This certification is also required for interior designers who wish to use titles like "licensed" or "registered." Violations of this law carry a statutory penalty of up to $2,500 in fines per offense and other administratively imposed sanctions.

Parties that wish to undergo certification with the CCIDC are expected to meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Graduated from a four or five-year accredited interior design program and have at least two years of diversified interior design experience
• Graduated from a three-year accredited interior design program and have at least three years of diversified interior design experience
• Graduated from a two-year accredited interior design program and have at least four years of diversified interior design experience
• Attained at least eight years of interior design education, at least eight years of diversified interior design experience, or a combination of education and experience that totals at least eight years

Eligible parties will be required to sit for and pass a CCIDC-administered IDEX California Examination. Applications for this examination can be submitted online, and the council provides several examination paths based on the applicant's level of education and attained work experience. The submission of additional documentation is also required for the certification process, such as:

• Proof of educational qualifications
• A government-issued ID
• Stipulated fees

You can contact the CCIDC at (760) 294-1936 to get more information on its certification requirements and procedure for interior designers.

Hiring a properly certified interior designer provides you with a measure of confidence that your remodeling project will be handled by an experienced professional who is also held to a strict code of ethics, ultimately leading to satisfactory service delivery. You can confirm that your preferred San Diego interior designer has been properly certified by the CCIDC via the online verification platform it provides.

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

Finding out how much your preferred interior designer charges for their services before they commence any work and how they calculate these charges goes a long way in preventing misunderstandings down the line. Professional interior designers in San Diego generally employ one or more of the following methods when calculating their fees:

• Percentage fee structure: here, the interior designer charges the client a percentage of the project's overall cost, which usually falls between 10 and 30 percent. This fee structure gives the client a clear idea of how much they will be expected to pay at the end of the day. However, dishonest interior designers may take advantage of this method by recommending or purchasing only expensive and usually unnecessary materials to increase the project's overall cost and total fee.
• Hourly fee structure: here, the interior designer charges the client for the total amount of time spent on the project. This fee structure is preferable for smaller projects with a clear timeline. Note that the payment of a retainer is often required before any work commences
• Flat fee structure: here, the interior designer charges a flat rate for certain services rendered, such as design reviews and assessments

Note that certain factors will affect the overall cost of your project, such as:

• The scope of the project
• The size of the space that needs designing
• Your location within the city
• Your preferred interior designer's local reputation

It is always a good idea to get and compare cost estimates from at least three different interior designers in the city before making your final hiring decision. This is an effective way to avoid overpaying for your project and also protect yourself from other unfair business practices.

Interior designers in San Diego earn an average annual wage of $65,580. The list below provides the average hourly wages of these professionals compared with the average hourly wages of interior designers across the rest of California as well as several other locations in the United States:

What Kind of Interior Design Services Do You Offer?

Finding out the types of services that an interior designer offers and confirming that these services match your peculiar needs and preferences is an important step to take when searching for good interior designers in San Diego. Professional interior designers in the city typically offer a range of residential and commercial services:

• Event and holiday decoration
• Sustainable interior design
• Interior restorations
• Color/paint consultations
• Space planning
• Selection, procurement, and installation of furnishings, fixtures, and accessories

When making your choice of interior designer, it is important to note the difference between "interior designers" and "interior decorators". While these terms are often used interchangeably, these professionals are not the same. Interior designers typically have more formal education and training than interior decorators, and their services are tailored toward enhancing the design and function of living spaces. They also typically work closely with general contractors, architects, and other building and design professionals. Contrastingly, interior decorators mostly focus on the aesthetics of a space, and their services do not extend to structural planning or renovations with regard to remodeling projects.

In addition to confirming your intended interior designer's area of specialization and level of expertise, you should agree on the cost of hiring the designer before signing any contracts with them. Listed below are cost estimates for San Diego interior design services based on different billing methods:

Residential interior design services cost estimates

Commercial interior design services cost estimates

What is Your Favorite Interior Design Style?

It is common to have a desired interior design style or aesthetic when planning home remodeling projects. To avoid ending up with a home that makes you feel utterly miserable, it is always a good idea to ensure that your interior designer has the skillset and imagination needed to bring this style to life. If your preferred interior designer is well-known for a particular design style or aesthetic, then it is also advisable to look through their portfolio and make sure that this style or aesthetic matches your vision for your living space.

While the Hollywood Regency is considered one of the most popular interior design styles among San Diego homeowners, other prominent styles in the city include:

• Scandinavian
• Art Deco
• Organic Modern
• Shabby Chic
• Modern Farmhouse
• Contemporary
• Traditional
• Minimalist
• Glam
• Bohemian
• Rustic
• Coastal
• Eclectic
• Transitional

If you do not have your mind set on a specific interior design style, your interior designer can help you come up with a unique style and aesthetic that complements your age and personality. Some popular design styles favored by the city's different age groups include:

• Generation X/Baby Boomers – Rustic, Traditional
• Generation Y/Millennials – Minimalist, Hollywood Regency, Modern
• Generation Z – Eclectic, Rustic

Can You Provide References from People You Have Served in the City?

When searching for good interior designers in San Diego, it is not out of place to get recommendations from relatives, friends, or directories provided by reputable organizations like the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC) and the American Society of Interior Designers. However, you should always ask any interior designer you contact in the city to provide you with references from previous clients before you enter into any contracts with them. This is an effective way to verify their credibility and also gain first-hand feedback on their work ethic and service delivery, and you should always do this, regardless of who or how you got in contact with the interior designer. Professional interior designers typically do not hesitate to provide references from previous clients who can vouch for them, and you should consider it a red flag if any interior designer cannot or does not want to provide this information.

In addition to requesting and checking references, you can look up the interior designer online and research their complaint history, if any, via platforms like the CCIDC's Enforcement Actions webpage, the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review.

How Do You Structure Your Interior Design Projects?

The way interior designers structure their projects is a useful tool in determining how they manage their time and getting a sense of what to expect from their design process. As such, when searching for good interior designers in San Diego, it is necessary to factor in your intended designer's work process. This way, you can ensure that any specific milestones or upcoming events you may have, such as weddings, birthdays, or anticipated move-in dates, are properly considered when creating the project timeline.

Interior design processes are typically broken down into six main parts:

• Discovery: here, the interior designer identifies the client's peculiar style and aesthetic, reviews inspirational images, and discusses the overall plan and expectations for the project
• Inspiration: here, the interior designer creates concept statements for each room. This is usually done with a design team, and the created statements will be used to guide the project's overall direction.
• Design: here, the interior designer presents the client with fully developed design ideas. These ideas may undergo further revisions and adjustments until a final design is agreed on by the client.
• Procurement: here, the interior designer orders the necessary furnishings, fixtures, and accessories needed to execute the project
• Installation: here, the interior designer installs or oversees the installation of all procured items in their appropriate locations and spaces. This may take anywhere from one day to five days or more, depending on the specific nature and scope of the project.
• Big Reveal: at this point, the interior designer unveils the completed project to the client

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

The nature and scope of your remodeling project may necessitate the need for your interior designer to collaborate with builders, architects, and general contractors or hire craftsmen and subcontractors to perform certain tasks. In situations where this happens, it is important to verify the cost of hiring these parties and also ensure that they are properly licensed and insured per pertinent local and state regulations.

Data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that a combined total of over 58,000 work-related injuries occurred among interior designers and construction trade workers in 2020 alone. Failing to ensure that every party involved in your project is properly insured before they commence work can make you liable for any injuries they incur on the job.

As such, always ask your interior designer and any other building professionals working on your project for proof of insurance and validate the provided documents with the appropriate insurance companies before signing any contracts with them. Ensure that they carry general liability insurance that can adequately cover any injuries and property damage that occurs during the project. Note that, per state law, all professionals working on your project are required to carry workers' compensation insurance for their employees. Likewise, San Diego interior designers are statutorily required to inform their clients on whether or not they carry errors and omissions insurance. This insurance specifically covers inadequate work or negligent actions.