Just moved and looking for floor plan advice or need help redecorating a few rooms around the house? Consider trying an online interior design service. Instead of hiring an in-person professional to decorate your space, that same designer feedback is now just a click away, thanks to several virtual platforms.
Today’s e-design companies essentially eliminate some of the time and affordability constraints often associated with traditional full-service decor consultations. Instead of charging by the hour, most have flat fee rates per individual room or design concept, and as little as $200 to $300 can go a long way. Some even partner with high-end retailers for exclusive discounts or direct-to-consumer shopping opportunities.
Below, I’ve rounded up seven of the best online interior design platforms that cater to a range of budgets, deadlines and styles. Each typically uses some sort of questionnaire as a starting point to match you with a similarly styled professional. From there, your designer will put together a digital inspiration board with furniture, paint colors and room layout suggestions. Read the fine print on this part of the process to make sure revisions are included if you’re hesitant. Once you approve the plan, you’ll usually get a shopping list so you can buy everything and assemble the IRL rooms.
Ultimately, they all have something different to offer, so read on to determine which remote company is best for your specific projects.
Collov serves as an e-design service and shopping platform: The site partners with over 200 house brands (including Crate & Barrel and Lulu and Georgia), so you can buy unmarked pieces directly. Take a preliminary style quiz and submit measurements of your space, then you’ll be connected with an in-house designer and review mock boards — but keep in mind that you can also request a redesign or a more affordable furniture selection (although the site’s FAQ states that their minimum budget $1000).
Once the final layout is approved, you’ll receive a 3D rendering with options to order the featured furniture, decor, lighting and organizational accessories, all in one convenient checkout. Bonus: they even offer furniture price matching. Play around with your own design ideas too using their free AI tool.
Prices: $199 per design for the Classic plan and $299 per design for the Luxe plan
If you like to have options, Decorilla is where it’s at: after a dating questionnaire, their team immediately presents two different proposal ideas. From them, you will choose your favorite based on the parameters of budget and style (although you I can borrow ideas from another concept as well) and start talking to the appropriate designer. You will then receive a realistic 3D view of your space, an illustration of the floor plan, a color palette and a list of products. They also offer a free white glove shopping service with discounts that don’t expire, up to 45% off — meaning there’s no rush to shop for your newly decorated room. Separate hourly rates are also available through their Platinum package, if you need more specific design support.
Prices: $549+ for Bronze Package, $699+ for Silver Package or $1,249+ for Gold Package
Havenly, which has a California casual vibe, starts at just $129 for a “Mini” makeover package that includes help fine-tuning the room and choosing accessories. Meanwhile, a full room rendering costs $199, and you can choose your preferred designer based on their style or location. Havenly also has e-commerce capabilities, partnering with brands like Interior Define and The Inside, so you can order products directly from them.
As an added bonus, they’ll pass on any trade discounts and shipping savings. If you live in Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, or Washington, DC, take advantage of their personal design program; the price is $499 for your first room, then $199 for extras on top of that.
Prices: $129 for Havenly Mini, $199 for Online Full, and $699 for In-Person
If you’re looking for something more collaborative and community-focused, the new I Have This Friend site connects local talent for hire with clients in need of, well, just about everything from photographers and florists to professional organizers and interior designers. Although in-person services are currently limited to New York and LA, anyone can search and book virtually from their well-vetted interior “friends” list.
Prices, deliverables, and specialties vary with each designer, as noted in their bio, with options available according to style preferences, budget, and the scope of your project (from high-level redesigns to shopping advice). However, most initial consultations fall into the $250/hour range, and you can set your own time schedule and availability via the booking request form.
Prices: Starting at $90/hour
That’s right: in 2023, everyone’s favorite flat-pack furniture retailer officially launched the IKEA Interior Design Service, limited to a one-time price of $99 (excluding furniture and installation costs). The one-on-one program is led by local design professionals who, during three hour-long conversations, will prepare a mood board, 3D renderings, layout ideas and IKEA shopping suggestions — plus more detailed elevations, lighting plans and material recommendations, if applicable. Best of all, once your final design scheme is ready to go, IKEA will take care of ordering all the necessary products, and helps you book optional assembly support through TaskRabbit.
Timing: Subject to designer availability
ICYMI, Pottery Barn deals for free design services — the only caveat is that it is limited to their own product line only. That being said, you can instantly book a 60-minute virtual, in-store or in-home consultation (yes, they’ll come to you if you live within 60 miles of the store). From there, your personal design expert will be right back with a mood board, shopping suggestions, price estimates and even samples. You won’t get custom renderings or mockups here, but you can take advantage of Pottery Barn’s Room Planner platform to visualize specific pieces of furniture to scale within the same space. All in all, not bad for a free program!
Still craving IRL design details? roomLift has the best of both worlds: personalized virtual assistance, plus curated mail “in the box” as part of their premium plan. This includes color and fabric samples, custom layouts and a design board, delivered straight to your door. You’ll also receive shopping links, access to discounts, and design notes via digital file. However, if you have a list of small projects, forego boxed delivery and opt for their more traditional (and affordable) remote interior services, both limited to fixed prices. Not sure where to start? Schedule a free consultation to find the right plan for your space.
Prices: $100 for the Access an Expert consultation package, $750 for the AccessoryLift package, or $1,500 for the roomLift package (which includes a “boxed” kit)
Spacejoy puts another spin on the e-design model, with super-fast turnaround and services starting at just $299. Whether you’re decorating a bedroom, home office, or entryway (or all three), the brand’s interactive app — which syncs with any Pinterest inspo board — offers a 3D model of the space that can be purchased within a week of submitting photos and measurements. Working with a designer, you’ll be able to edit products and layouts in real-time. Their designs also prioritize function: share details about room usage and living options for the best fabric and furniture (ie, kid- or pet-friendly), as well as budget details and brands you want to use.
Prices: $299 (regularly $499) for the Delight Package, $399 (regularly $699) for the Bliss Package, and $599 (regularly $999) for the Euphoria Package
Have you ever wished you could break the brains of your favorite designer? Thanks to The Expert, you actually can. Co-founded by Jake Arnold, the platform uses top industry professionals, giving you 1:1 virtual access to the likes of Jenna Lyons, Bobby Berk or Sarah Sherman Samuel, to name a few. Don’t have an expert in mind? No problem — book based on consultation length (25, 55, 85 or 115 minutes), price, availability, style or geographic location. Note that unlike most e-design meetups, these function more like question and answer sessions, so be prepared to discuss existing home project roadblocks and game plans. Think of this as a trial run if you eventually want to hire full-service help.
Prices: $250 to $1,500 per session (depends on expert)
Timeline: Book up to 24 hours before the start of the meeting