The most successful interior designers are not only creative transformers of space, but talented tour guides. From the start, they set expectations for their clients, map out the design process, and lead their clients through the many types of services their firm offers. Interior design packages are an effective way industry pros enhance client experience, streamline the design process, and help homeowners make quicker decisions around their design plans. In this guide, we cover the essentials of creating two main types of interior design packages: A welcome package and an interior design services package. 

Whether you are an experienced designer or just starting out, this guide provides tips for putting together interior design packages for clients that will stand out in the market. It covers the two primary types of design packages, the elements that make them most effective, and provides suggestions for how to bundle and price design services.

Interior Design Welcome Packages

Interior design welcome packets are the documents that professional interior designers present in their initial client meeting to make a polished first impression. A welcome package provides at a glance everything a new client needs to know about an interior designer and their design business. 

A typical welcome package is an attractively designed set of pages that includes a cover page, welcome note, and an overview of the design process. The packet also covers business policies, testimonials from previous customers, contact information and an introduction to your design business, whether you’re working solo or introducing other members of your firm’s design team. Delivered digitally or in person, this crucial interior design package sets the stage by covering the following: 

• Conveys design approach and working style
• Sets clear expectations for clients hiring a designer
• Delivers a professional first impression and stays on brand
• Sets the tone for the working relationship
• Helps transform single design consultations to full-service projects
• Simplifies the decision-making process for clients

Interior Design Service Packages

While welcome packets serve as broad first impressions, interior design service packages are  detailed plans that offer a range of services for established pricing. A welcome package may include pricing information; however, a service package or bundle differs from a welcome packet because it relates strictly to how interior designers price their services.

Interior designers use service packets to display the breadth and depth of the services they offer and related purchase pricing for each. This type of interior design package can provide clients with ideas that they may have not previously considered and inform them of the range of services they can choose from. For example, bundling services into different levels of design packages can help designers convert potential customers seeking a single design consultation into committed clients ready to sign a contract. 

When creating interior design packages for clients, designers will often break down these options into various levels of cost and services offered, while customizing the packages to fit their clients' circumstances. Before creating these packages, it is important to have first determined the type of pricing structure for your business and services. For a deeper dive into pricing design work, read How to Charge for Interior Design Services.

How to Structure a Well-Designed Welcome Package

A well-structured and tastefully designed welcome package is an important business tool that can improve the overall client experience and start a first meeting off on the right foot. Here are some considerations for creating an effective welcome package for new clients.

What to include in your interior design welcome package:

Cover Sheet

• This is the first page clients see and therefore it should impress. Include an opening image or two of your design work. Pick a typeface that reflects your firm’s tone and style, and cover the basics such as business name, your name, and logo.

Welcome Note

• Write a warm, professional, but personal note which conveys your excitement for design work and their project. Explain how your team and services will benefit them, and how you will help them bring to life the vision for their home. Include a photograph of yourself or your team, and consider personally signing the note to add a personal touch.

Overview of the Design Process

• Most customers are not designers, and many may have never worked with a professional interior designer before. Use this space to provide a high level overview of the interior design process. Also, provide a basic timeline for key milestones such as concept completion, design presentation, project sign off and more.

Contact Information

• Make it efficient and easy for clients to reach you, and note your preferred way to be contacted and any other relevant details such as business hours or typical communication turnaround time. Also provide information about your website and social media accounts, where clients can further check out your work.

 Business Policies

• Briefly outline policies such as business hours, purchase or payment terms, cancellation, and any other relevant information.

Testimonials

• Let your work shine with 2-3 reviews from past and current clients. This does not need to be an exhaustive list, as you want to avoid adding too much information at this stage. You can provide clients with a more detailed portfolio as needed. 

Team

• If you work with other designers or team members, it’s important to show your clients the depth of your firm’s experience and who they will be interacting with. For a personal touch, include a photograph of your team and brief bios of each team member. Even if you are working solo, it’s still important to include your own photo with a bio section to help solidify your branding. 

Make it Simply Beautiful  

The most effective welcome packages are comprehensive without being overwhelming to clients. Provide clarity about the initial consultation process and beyond, but avoid getting too wordy or adding too many details that may confuse the client or put them on information overload. Additional details can be covered in a future meeting or addressed naturally through questions from the clients. Include your company logo and make sure the overall design is consistent from page to page, fitting your business brand and style. Remember, even just the look and feel of the design package is a signal to clients that help them decide whether your business matches the project they have in mind.

Set Clear Expectations 

An effective welcome package lays out a map for clients so that they have clarity on what to expect from the beginning to the end of the design process and project. The information in the packet anticipates some of the questions clients may have at a first meeting, such as your project management style or aesthetic focus. Conveying these details at the start helps avoid misunderstandings that may arise once the work is underway. Setting expectations also provides the designer an opportunity to explain how they manage projects and ensure it matches their clients’ needs.

How to Customize Your Interior Design Service Packages

A design service package includes all the services you offer your clients, depending on the package they choose. By bundling services into various design package options, you provide clients an array of options to consider, while potentially increasing the scope of services they will seek. Consider which services you want to bundle and how. Your service collection may include elements such as design consultation, concept, furniture layout, floor plan and installation. 

Here are some important factors to consider when creating a collection of interior design service packages:

• Scope of Work

Be sure to outline the scope of the work for each option. Your design package may opt for a room-specific bundle such as a kitchen or bathroom, or a full service project. This design plan may include assets such as floor plans, furniture layouts, 3D renderings and more. Carefully price out the costs to provide clients with an accurate estimate of your pricing structure for these services. 

• Deliverables 

The design package should outline what your clients can expect to receive by the end of the project. Provide details on what is being promised and focus on making those details specific to your client to give the packet a customized feel. 

• Timeline

Include estimates for the length of time the offered services will take to accomplish. Setting specific timelines grounds the project in reality and signals a commitment to the project both on the part of the client and the designer. As a bonus tip, set a realistic deadline for when the offer expires, since both your schedule and pricing may change over time.

How to Bundle & Price Your Interior Design Service Packages

Determining pricing and the type of interior design packages you will offer are key steps for building a successful interior design service bundle. Once you have decided on how you will structure your pricing, research market rates for your region to ensure the amount you are charging is competitive. When communicating your rates to clients, highlight the value they are receiving through your experience, expertise and more. Don’t forget to outline the terms of payment so that clients fully understand how much is charged to them along every step of the project.

Decide what types of packages best fit your skills and preferences as a designer. Some interior design pros create packages that are based on affordability with the most expensive ones offering high end, multiple services. No matter the type of package, include the very basics of the value you bring no matter if it is a package offering a room refresh or a complete transformation. Some interior design package examples may look something like this:

Ultimate

• This comprehensive package would sit at the highest point of your price range and is all-in offering clients your whole range of services and accessories such as 3D renderings, furniture placement, item sourcing and procurement, and more. While a project in the Ultimate range will cost more money, it is also the most impressive in your collection: make sure to underline the benefit of all-inclusive, personalized expert help and one-stop full service design.

Transformation

• A step down in price and services from the most inclusive package, this level of interior design package  would sit in the middle of your price range, and thus might include all of the baseline services typically offered. When communicating this package, emphasize the value clients will receive as well as the tradeoffs of committing to a more mid-range package.

Refresh

• For clients on a tight budget or with a project of smaller scope, this pared down design package can include minimal, low cost design services such as an initial walk through consultation and design discussion. 

As part of your different design package offerings, include a section to help clients decide which type of package is right for them and the project they are considering. This may include questions to ask themselves around what types of services they place the most value on. You might also consider offering a fourth build-your-own option where you mix and match a la carte service items tailored for a particular customer.

For a more broad exploration of charging for interior design services in general, including basic details such as differentiating between hourly or flat project rates, read How to Charge for Interior Design Services.

Conclusion

Interior design packages for clients are the way interior designers highlight their creative and pricing options to new clients. A welcome package sets the stage for new clients of what they can expect if they hire a design pro to carry out their home design project. It provides an A-Z collection of information about the designer and the design firm including the creative process, design approach and business details. 

A design services package focuses specifically on the services offered and pricing associated with those services. By bundling those services into packages, interior designers offer more options to clients and help them decide what type of services best fit their project and their budget. Combined together, these packages enhance the client experience, open up possibilities for them, and help them decide if the designer is the right choice for their needs. 

Interior designers who continually refine their interior design packages for clients based on feedback, market shifts, and evolving trends help ensure they remain competitive leaders in the industry.

To learn more about the key documents designers present to clients, read our blog post: Free Template: Interior Design Proposal & Guide.