Jobs in interior design Review | How it Works & What To Expect

Looking for a side hustle in Interior design? Jobs in interior design are increasingly easy to come by thanks to online design firms. These sites enlist freelance and part-time designers to create computer-aided design work for their customers.

Often, designers only need a portfolio and experience to apply for these positions. Only a few sites require a college degree.

Jobs in interior design

However, being able to use design software is a must. And, you’ll also need high-speed internet to send designs through most online platforms. Be aware, too, that jobs in interior design often pay per-design, not per hour. Being able to design quickly and without a lot of revisions is key to making a decent hourly wage.

These four sites are completely dedicated to finding jobs in interior design for decorators. We’ve listed them here from highest- to lowest-paying.

Decorilla

Decorilla connects online and in-person interior designers with customers. Customers pay a flat-fee ranging from $700 to more than $1,600 for designs. Designers get half of the flat fee, plus commissions on products their clients buy. For that, designers create a full design, including color palette, floor plan, furniture placements, 3D renderings and an itemized shopping list. Unlike many other sites, designers are able to recommend purchases from any store. And Decorilla encourages customer purchases by providing steep discounts to customers ordering through 350 different merchants, including Wayfair, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn. Learn more about Decorilla here.

Decorist

Decorist also pays designers a flat fee that equates to half of what clients pay. Generally, clients pay $299 to $599 per room, except for “celebrity” design packages that run $1,299 per room. All packages include two concept boards, a final room design, a detailed floor plan, set-up instructions, and a personalized shopping list made up from Decorist-approved vendors. Glassdoor estimates that the average Decorist designer earns somewhere between $16 and $21 per hour. You can find our Decorist review here.

Modsy

Modsy connects work-at-home interior designers with customers needing home makeovers. The site charges customers a flat fee ranging from $159 to more than $1,000 to design a room with furniture from Modsy’s retail partners. If customers want to use their own furniture, the site charges an extra $25 per piece to create a 3D model of the item to add to the plan. Designers are paid a flat fee for each design and can also earn sales commissions. The flat fee appears to vary depending on the designer’s experience and the package the client buys. (The site also hires designers as employees and estimates hourly pay at about $17 an hour.) However, the site promises unlimited plan revisions, which can lead to lower hourly wages. Glassdoor estimates Modsy’s designer’s earn between $15 and $19 per hour. If you want to know more, you can read our Modsy review here.

Havenly

Unlike the other sites, where you can expect to earn at least minimum wage, Havenly pays little and expects much. It sucks designers into the job by promising to let you run your own interior design business, with them doing the hard work of finding the clients. But they set the fees and the terms of the agreement. Fees are low, and the service promises perfection. That’s a bad combination for freelance designers, who complain vociferously about being overworked and underpaid. Glassdoor says that designers here earn as little as $6 an hour. You can learn more about Havenly in our review.