The Best Online Interior Design Services
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Online interior design services provide a convenient, and often, cost-effective means of redesigning a space. Whether you're looking to reimagine a single room or your entire house, you'll find that these services provide the expertise and deliverables you need to accomplish your design goals.
When comparing online interior design services, keep in mind that the level of assistance needed and your budget will play a significant role in narrowing down the field of possibilities. Free online interior design services exist, but these options are usually tied to a retailer that only provides product recommendations from within the brand. Alternatively, other online interior design services leverage a network of retailer partnerships, and give you exclusive access to trade pricing that results in significant savings.
For any interior design service you consider, compare the deliverables you'll receive at the end of the project. Look for helpful digital assets, like a 3D rendering of your final design, a detailed floor plan, or a clickable shopping list that simplifies the furniture purchasing process. To help make your search for an online interior design company easier, we researched several brands that offer many of these aforementioned services. Whether prices, design assets, or consultations matter more to you, these online interior design companies will help you create your dream space.
Best Online Interior Design Services of 2022
Best Overall: Decorilla
Best Budget: Havenly
Best Free Interior Design Service: Serena & Lily
Best for Exclusive Deals: Laurel & Wolf
Best for Complete Home Redesigns: Stuccco
Best for Price Matching: Collov
Best All-Inclusive Package: roomLift
Best for Design Advice: The Expert
Best Overall: Decorilla
Key Specs
Free Consultations? Yes
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Offers 3D rendering of your design
Two designers collaborate on concepts
All packages include phone and email support
Option for in-home design consultation
Cons
Project closes automatically after 90 days of inactivity
In-home design assistance not available in all cities
Why We Chose It
We recommend Decorilla as the best online interior design service due to its comprehensive full-service offerings. The company has a robust online platform for managing your project, lets you get input from two interior designers, and offers 3D rendering of your chosen design plus a floor plan with furniture placement. Additionally, you can choose between virtual or in-person design sessions, as long as you live within a metropolitan area serviced by Decorilla designers.
You'll use the company's online platform to manage the entire process from start to finish, kicking off with a design brief where you input facts like your budget, timeline, and preferences. To ensure that designers have all the information necessary to provide you a complete design, you'll be asked to upload photos of the room and provide key measurements. For any existing items that you want to incorporate in the design, you'll upload two photos so that the designers can plan with those items in mind.
There are three design packages to choose from—Bronze, Silver, and Platinum—and each one offers you opportunities to work with two designers and receive 3D renderings, floor plans, and a clickable shopping list of furnishings. The difference in packages relates to the experience level of designers. For example, if you opt for the Platinum package, you'll receive advice from professionals with over ten years of industry experience at a higher cost. Prices will also vary depending on factors such as what room you're redesigning, how much new furniture you're ordering, and the like.
Best Budget: Havenly
Key Specs
Free Consultations? Yes
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Service packages start at $129
Option to select a specific designer
One-stop shopping for all product selections
Offers a happiness guarantee on all designs
Cons
Mini plan doesn't include a 3D rendering
Why We Chose It
Havenly will help you create a design project on a budget. Havenly offers one of the lowest entry points for an interior design service, starting with the Online Mini package for $129. The Mini is geared towards decorating your room rather than delving into space planning or layout changes. If you need design assistance beyond product picks and finishes, then you can take advantage of the Full package, which starts at an accessible price of $199.
Regardless of which budget-friendly design plan you pick, you'll complete a design quiz that asks you to identify your style and indicate your design preferences. We especially like that Havenly gives you the opportunity to select your interior designer from a roster of professionals. The process is designed to be fast and efficient, with Mini package projects usually wrapping within one to two weeks, and Full projects taking about two to three weeks to complete.
Deliverables from this budget online interior design service vary depending on which plan you pick. The Full package presents you with a final design concept, plus a 3D rendering and a customized floor plan, while the Mini package only offers a final design concept. However, Havenly allows customers multiple revisions to ensure that the designer nails the look you're going for—a promise that's also tied to their happiness guarantee policy. When the project wraps, you can shop all the product picks from your design through Havenly's platform.
Best Free Interior Design Service: Serena & Lily
Key Specs
Free Consultations? Yes
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Deliverables include mood boards, room plans, and free swatches
Free consultations with designers by phone, email, or video chat
Option to add images of your space or inspiration
Kid- and pet-friendly designs available
Cons
Wait up to 24 hours to receive response to design inquiry
Product recommendations are brand-exclusive
Why We Chose It
For free online interior design services, look to coastal-chic retailer Serena & Lily. The brand extends a helping hand if you're looking for inspiration and advice to transform any room in your home. All you have to do is simply fill out an online form on the retailer's website, providing project details like space dimensions, budget, and existing furniture. Afterwards, you'll connect with a design advisor that will help provide guidance and tools to solidify a look you'll love.
You may have to wait up to 24 hours for the project to kick off, but once you're connected with a designer, you can collaborate by phone, email, or video chat. Serena & Lily design advisors will also put together helpful visualization tools, like mood boards, room plans, and swatches. It's also worth noting that kid-friendly and pet-friendly designs are also part of the brand's repertoire.
While the complimentary swatches can give you a hands-on preview of your design before making a final buying decision, furnishing options will be a little restrictive. Serena & Lily only recommends the products that are exclusive to the brand. The store does have a ton of lovely indoor and outdoor furnishings, but customers who want more options from other brands may feel limited.
Best for Exclusive Deals: Laurel & Wolf
Key Specs
Free Consultations? No
Virtual Sessions? Yes (no video calls)
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Receive exclusive discounts on furniture through trade partnerships
No mark-ups on furnishings
Packages include two initial design concepts
Ability to interact directly with your designer via phone, email, or chat
Cons
Some packages limit communication lines and design revisions
Why We Chose It
A design plan is exciting in concept form, but needs to be brought to life for its potential to be realized. In most cases, this involves purchasing furniture and accessories to complete your space. When choosing an online interior design service that offers exclusive deals, Laurel & Wolf is a leading option to consider. The company aims to deliver value to its design customers by leveraging trade partnerships to give you the best deal on furniture and decor items from major retailers.
What we like about Laurel & Wolf's approach is the fact that you reap the savings benefits while retaining purchasing power. You're not obligated to make any big-ticket buying decisions, so you can decide how much of the shopping list you're ready to commit to and when. But when you do buy recommended items, you'll be happy to know you're not paying the industry-standard mark-up on furnishings, and you're getting a discount, too.
Laurel & Wolf offers three design packages—Classic, Premium, and Luxe—each with their own pricing differences and service options. The Classic Curation service starts at $149 for a single room, and connects you with a beginner designer. On the other hand, the Premium and Luxe packages give you an opportunity to work with more experienced designers for anywhere between $399 to $999 and more. Keep in mind that you'll only communicate with your designer by email and have limited revisions if you opt for the Classic or Premium Curation services. The Luxe Custom Design allows you up to 10 hours of design time, plus the option to communicate with your designer by phone and receive unlimited revisions.
Best for Complete Home Redesigns: Stuccco
Key Specs
Free Consultations? Yes
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Offers a multi-room discount for interior design projects
No cap on the number of design revisions
Ability to handpick your interior designer
Receive designs within 2 weeks
Cons
Multi-room discount only available for 4+ rooms
Why We Chose It
If you have a large interior design project ahead of you, Stuccco is our recommendation as the best online interior design service due to its multiple room discount. Each room costs $999, but the offering knocks off $100 off each space you're designing after the third room. While this deal has its limits, the savings do rack up if you're redesigning your entire home or several rooms.
You'll start your home design project by filling out a questionnaire on Stuccco's website. Afterwards, you'll be given a free, 30-minute design consultation that gives you the opportunity to share your ideas and challenges before committing to a design package. Stuccco uses these details to match you with three potential interior designers, but the final decision on your design partner is in your hands.
A standout feature of Stuccco's online interior design service is its 3D room design feature. You'll receive a realistic rendering of your project, including suggested furniture items so that you have a better idea of how the space will look when complete. Once you're set on a final design, Stuccco will let you select furnishings from a range of retailers like West Elm, Wayfair, Nordstrom, and more. A clickable shopping list keeps the buying process simple and designers are non-commissioned, so you won't face pressure to splurge on furniture or decor.
Best for Price Matching: Collov
Key Specs
Free Consultations? No
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? Yes (Garages)
Pros & Cons
Pros
Offers price matching for furnishings on your shopping list
Furniture shopping service with no mark-up
Opportunity to communicate with the designer directly
Option to include existing furnishings in design plans
Cons
Unlimited revisions not available with all design packages
Minimum design budget must be $1,000 or more
Why We Chose It
Collov ensures that you're making the most of your design budget thanks to its competitive pricing on furniture, accessories, and decor items. The brand offers a furniture shopping service with no mark-up on items, plus they'll price match other retailers offering the same product. To take advantage of this price-matching perk, the product must be from a retailer within Collov's brand network. Some brands you can expect to shop from when you use Collov are Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, West Elm, and more.
To be eligible as a Collov project, you'll need to have a minimum design budget of $1,000. That being said, you won't be forced to spend dollars where you don't want to. If any item feels out of budget, you can request a replacement product from your designer, or try to work a plan that incorporates some of your existing furniture.
Collov offers various three design packages: Kick-Start ($99), Classic ($159), and Luxe ($259). Each package includes collaboration time with your designer, revisions to your design mood boards, and a shopping list of furnishings that's eligible for price-matching. However, only the Classic and Luxe packages offer a 360-degree virtual tour of your final design. Additionally, mood board revisions are capped and two for the Kick-Start package, and three for the Classic tier. If you want unlimited alterations and the opportunity to work with a senior designer, the Luxe package will be your best bet.
Best All-Inclusive Package: roomLift
Key Specs
Free Consultations? Yes
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Provides multiple options for furnishings and finishes
Receive custom package with swatches and samples
Offers trade discounts for furnishing retailers
Easily accessible customer service lines via email, phone, and live chat
Cons
Total project turnaround can take several weeks
Packages are a little pricey
Why We Chose It
For an online interior design service that covers everything from paint to furniture, consider an all-inclusive option like roomLift. This popular service blends online and traditional interior design services by creating a custom design kit you'll receive in the mail. The package includes design assets like fabric swatches, paint samples, and furniture spec cards to help you visualize the selections in your space. The roomLift design package is a pricey $1,500, but if you only need input on adornments and decor, there is an accessoryLift package for $750.
You'll start your design planning by answering a questionnaire that asks for your preferences and needs for the space. During this time you can also provide your design budget, along with a list of any existing pieces you want incorporated into the final design. However, if you want to input measurements, you'll have to wait for a floor plan to arrive in the mail. Once it does, follow the instructions to measure your room and send it back to roomLift for your designer to get started.
Once selections have been made, this full-service roomLift will deliver a box of tangible assets to your door. The package contains multiple swatches and selections for various design finishes, allowing you to compare each one before you make any final decisions. It's worth mentioning that you'll have to complete the ordering process of furniture and decor on your own, but you'll get a digital file with clickable links and access to roomLift's trade discounts.
Best for Design Advice: The Expert
Key Specs
Free Consultations? No
Virtual Sessions? Yes
Room Limitations? No
Pros & Cons
Pros
Video consultations with major designers
Has sessions for 25 minutes, or 55 minutes for bigger projects
Offers access to exclusive trade-only products
Service can match you with a designer based on your needs
Cons
Lacks tangible project deliverables
Prices will vary depending on which designer you choose
Why We Chose It
The Expert is an online interior design service that specializes in providing access to leading designers. Rather than providing tangibles like floor plans, 3D renderings, and shopping lists, The Expert facilitates consultations between designers and homeowners looking for help with an interior design project. The Expert offers multiple options for receiving design advice and recommendations specific to your needs, but do note that prices can run a little high if you choose a top industry professional.
After perusing interior design professionals on The Expert's website, you can book a 25 or 55-minute Zoom consultation. During your meeting, you can ask the designer for help with a specific design challenge, receive trade only product recommendations, or discuss the best approach to transform a room. Since the consultation is conducted via video chat, you can show the designer your space, but you also have the option to upload photos and other relevant information prior to your consultation.
You should know that sessions can only be canceled or rescheduled 72 hours or more in advance. Since The Expert is strictly a design consultation service, you won't walk away with any design deliverables. However, if you work out a final design plan with your designer, the service does allow customers access to exclusive furnishings, textiles, and more that aren't readily available to the public.
Final Verdict
Decorilla is our top recommendation for most interior design projects since you'll receive design plans from two professionals, a 3D rendering of your favorite design, and deliverables like a detailed floor plan and clickable shopping list. Other online interior design brands may offer these same services, but oftentimes they're at a higher cost, or are exclusive to a specific package deal—Decorilla offers these services for all of its tiers.
While Decorilla is not the cheapest online interior design service on our list, the company has multiple packages with different price points to choose from. The only difference between each tier is how many years of experience your designer has under their belt. However, a satisfaction guarantee ensures that you'll receive a design that matches your style and preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You DIY Your Interior Design Project?
If you're design savvy, you can DIY your interior design project. However, you will miss out on some of the perks of using a design service, like trade discounts and deliverables like 3D renderings or detailed floor plans. If you're ready to handle your design project from start to finish, but need a little advice along the way, then a consultation service like The Expert may be your ideal online interior design service.
Can You Take Your Time Purchasing Furniture an Interior Design Service Recommends?
Most leading online interior design services like Decorilla and Havenly will send you a shopping list that leaves the purchasing power in your hands, allowing you to take as much time as they need to buy furniture. However, conventional full-service interior design brands typically leave purchasing decisions to the designer you hired, and oftentimes these products are at a markup. If you're unsure about how purchasing works with your selected brand, be sure to address this during your consultations with your designer.
How Long Does It Take To Redesign a Room?
Most online interior design services will provide you with a design within two weeks, but bringing it to life will depend on factors like the size of the room, the interior design service you use, and how quickly you execute decisions. If you request frequent revisions or make multiple changes, your process will take a little longer than usual.
Methodology
We researched several online interior design companies and to find which brands offered the best services. We evaluated each company on the following criteria:
Price transparency
Free consultation offerings
Virtual session availability
Services provided
Room limitations
Customer service accessibility
Nationwide availability
Services that offered free consultations, had no extra or hidden fees, and had multiple ways of contacting customer service were awarded extra points during our scoring process. Companies that had clear price breakdowns, virtual sessions, and free consultations rose above other brands. Any services that faltered in any of these aforementioned categories didn't make it past our initial round of research.
