Choosing an interior designer in Dhaka is one of the most important decisions in any home or commercial project — yet most clients do it with surprisingly little process. A designer’s Instagram feed looks beautiful. A recommendation comes from a friend. A quote seems reasonable. The project begins. These are not sufficient bases for a decision that will affect how you live or work for the next decade and involve significant financial investment. This guide gives you the tools to choose well.
Understand What You Are Buying
Interior design is a service, not a product. You are not buying a set of drawings — you are buying the judgment, experience, and process of a person or team over a sustained period. The quality of that judgment will determine whether your project succeeds. Cheap design that produces the wrong result costs more than quality design that gets it right the first time.
Portfolio Assessment: What to Look For
- Relevant project types: A designer with an excellent residential portfolio may not be the right choice for a commercial office. Look for experience in the type of project you are commissioning, not just generally impressive work.
- Range vs. consistency: Does the portfolio show a house style that is applied to every project regardless of brief? Or does each project feel distinct and appropriate to its specific context? The latter indicates a designer who listens and interprets; the former indicates one who imposes a predetermined aesthetic.
- Completed projects, not just renders: 3D visualisations are easy to produce; completed projects are the proof. Ask to see photographs of finished spaces, and ask whether you can visit them.
- Material quality and detail: Look closely at the joinery details, material junctions, and quality of finish in completed project photographs. These are the things that distinguish genuinely skilled execution from superficially attractive design.
Questions to Ask Before Appointing
- Who specifically will work on my project? Will the person presenting to me be the person designing and managing it?
- What is your project management process? How do you handle problems when they arise on site?
- How do you manage budget? At what point in the process do you provide a detailed cost estimate?
- Can I speak with three recent clients whose projects are similar to mine?
- What does your contract include and what is excluded?
- How do you handle variations to the agreed scope?
- Do you manage construction as well as design, or do I need to appoint a separate contractor?
Red Flags to Watch For
- No detailed brief process: A designer who begins designing without a thorough brief is designing for themselves, not for you.
- Vague cost estimates: “Roughly ৳X” based on a brief conversation is not a cost estimate. It is a number designed to win the job, not to reflect the actual cost of the project.
- Reluctance to provide references: A designer with a strong track record will be proud to connect you with past clients. Hesitation or deflection suggests the track record does not support scrutiny.
- No written contract: Every professional design engagement should be governed by a written contract specifying scope, fees, programme, and variation procedures. Working without a contract exposes both parties to significant risk.
- Portfolio that looks exclusively like rendered images: Some Dhaka designers present beautiful-looking CGI portfolios with minimal completed project work. Always ask what proportion of the portfolio represents built and occupied projects.
Fee Structures: What Is Normal in Dhaka
Interior design fees in Dhaka are typically structured in one of three ways: percentage of project construction cost (typically 8–15% depending on scope and design complexity); fixed fee agreed at appointment based on estimated scope; or an hourly rate for smaller or less-defined scopes. All are legitimate. The important thing is that the fee structure is transparent, agreed in writing before work starts, and that you understand exactly what services are included.
Related: Office Interior Design Guide | Residential Interior Design Guide | Interior Design Cost Guide
Ready to start? Contact House De Arch — we are happy to answer every question on this list and more.