Interior Design Services For "Free". What are You Risking by Taking It?

circular connection
Dec 23, 2020
2 min read

Updated: May 8

Why is it important to choose an interior design firm that gives a proper design contract and not companies that give free interior design services?

Image: Pexels/Maksim Goncharenok

“Anything of value cannot be free... Free might mean poor advice or lack of competency. Anybody who is an expert in what they do should be in demand.”

- Interior Design Confederation Singapore (IDCS) president, Cameron Woo

If you are considering engaging a contractor, retailer, or firm offering free design services, pause and think again. Here’s why opting for a professional firm with a proper design contract is a safer and smarter choice:

1. Is It Really Free?

Many contractors or even interior design companies offer “free” design only under certain conditions — such as signing a renovation contract or purchasing a minimum amount of furniture. The design may appear free, but the cost is often absorbed elsewhere in the pricing. Always check again and read the fine print.

2. Quality Matters

When you engage in a free design service, you are actually betting on the design’s quality. They might give a free design service because they are not well-trained to provide a proper full set of interior design services and documentations. There is so much planning involved in offering proper interior design services and documentation than just jumping straight into the execution with little planning.

3. Short-Term Gain vs. Long-Term Value

What would you choose? To have short term satisfaction or long term satisfaction?

When engaging interior design firms that offer you a design contract and proper interior design services, the process to prepare everything might take longer and initially incur higher costs. But in the long run, you will be satisfied and rest assured as everything is written down clearly in the design contract, and you are safe from being taken advantage of as the scope of works are clearly mentioned in the contract.

Besides, good planning beforehand is always better than rushing into the execution without proper strategy and planning! With no clear set of design documentation drawings and material specifications, and budgeting, it will only cause us a headache and extra cost sooner or later!

The Bottom Line

A proper design contract is not just a formality — it reflects the professionalism, accountability, and clarity that every homeowner deserves. In contrast, “free” services may come with hidden strings attached and little protection if something goes wrong.

So, before accepting that tempting freebie, ask yourself: what am I really risking?

To better understand the hidden dangers of engaging companies that offer free design services, you may take a look at Cameron Woo’s message to all homeowners at Home & Decor Magazine below: