Choosing a Designer

Should I Pay a Deposit Before Hiring an Interior Designer?

6 June 2026 · 4 min read

This question comes up in almost every initial conversation I have with new clients. And I understand why — you've found a designer you like on Instagram, they seem credible, but you're being asked to transfer money before you've seen a single drawing. Read our guide on what's included in an interior designer's fee before committing to anything. What's reasonable?

What's a Reasonable Booking Fee

A small booking fee — typically ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 — to secure your slot in a designer's calendar after you've reviewed their portfolio and both parties have signed a scope document is entirely reasonable. Designers have limited bandwidth. A booking fee confirms you're serious.

What's NOT reasonable: paying this before seeing any portfolio work, before meeting the designer, or before signing anything that describes what you're getting.

Red Flags on Deposits

If a designer asks you for 30-50% upfront before any design work has been shown, that's a red flag. A legitimate designer who has vendor relationships, a track record, and a functioning business doesn't need your money to start designing your home. They need your brief and your trust.

Large upfront deposits before design delivery are most common among contractor-designers who need your money to fund their operations. That's a structural problem in how they run their business — and you're being asked to absorb their cash flow risk.

A Good Milestone Payment Structure

Here's a structure I consider fair and which protects both parties:

30% on signing — confirms project commencement, covers initial design work
40% on design delivery — renders approved, drawings finalised, execution can begin
30% on project completion — final walkthrough and handover

Each payment is tied to a deliverable, not to a date. If the designer delays, you're not paying until the milestone is met.

What a Contract Should Cover

The payment schedule should be written into your contract with explicit milestones. Vague language like "second payment due on commencement of work" is meaningless. What does commencement mean — when the carpenter arrives? When demo starts? When materials are ordered?

Tie every rupee to something specific and observable.

Aura Foundry's Policy

The free home visit requires no deposit, no commitment, and no fee. I come to your flat, assess the space, understand what you need, and share my honest recommendation on approach and budget.

If we decide to work together after that meeting, the engagement terms are in writing before any money changes hands.

One final rule: always pay by bank transfer with a receipt. Never pay cash to a designer or vendor without documentation. Disputes are nearly impossible to resolve without a paper trail. Use our free budget estimator to understand cost ranges before any payment discussion.

Book a free home visit →