Should You Offer Discounts On Interior Design Services?

Every time an interior design client asks for a discount, or you feel tempted to offer one out of generosity or self-doubt, I want you to pause. Take a breath. And remember this: interior design is the ultimate deal, no discount required.

This isn’t a fleeting moment of beauty or a one-season splurge. Your design work transforms the way your clients live, work, relax, entertain, and feel about themselves…every single day for 15 to 20 years. That’s 7,300 days of impact, 175,200 hours of transformation, and over 10 million moments made better by your talent.

It’s not just priceless, it’s irreplaceable. 

You’re Not Selling a Sofa, You’re Delivering a Lifestyle Upgrade

Too many designers fall into the trap of treating their work like a transactional purchase, as if you’re offering a luxury handbag, a new car, or a vacation package where discounts are typical. But those things lose value almost immediately. A car depreciates the second it leaves the lot. A vacation ends in a week or two. A handbag is out of style by next season.

Your interiors? They increase in value over time. They’re lived in, loved, and enjoyed every day for decades.

In fact, I’ve had clients call me 10, 15, even 20 years later, saying, “Melissa, I still love everything you did. It’s timeless. We don’t want to change a thing.” Now, as a designer, I may think they’re long overdue for an update, but the point is, they’re still reaping the benefits of the environment I created for them. 

Discounting your services as an interior designer turns your work into a transaction, rather than a lifestyle upgrade that your clients continue to benefit from for decades.

Design Delivers a 24/7/365 ROI, Not a One-Time Transaction

Whether residential or commercial, your design work pays dividends daily. From the moment they wake up to the second they fall asleep, your clients experience the magic of what you’ve created:

• It enhances their mood
  
• Makes life more functional, beautiful, and effortless
  
• Reflects their personal or professional success
  
• Delivers comfort, pride, and purpose in every corner
  

Design doesn’t take a day off. It’s always working in the background quietly reinforcing their identity, aspirations, and lifestyle. 

This is the message you must internalize and communicate to your clients: Design is not an expense. It’s a daily investment in joy, productivity, and well-being.

With that framing, negotiations with your clients go smoothly, as there are fewer expectations for discounts and lower prices. 

Reframing the Value of Interior Design with Real Numbers

Let’s talk about money because your clients will. And you must be ready to respond without flinching or folding.

If your client invests $150,000 in your services and furnishings over 15 years, that’s less than $28 a day. Over 20 years? Just $20 a day. Less than a latte and a croissant. Less than a few streaming services.

Your work offers a return on investment that no Netflix subscription ever could.

This isn’t about justifying your fees. It’s about calmly illustrating long-term value in a way they can understand and, more importantly, feel.

Download my cheat sheet at MelissaGalt.com/designROI to see how your client’s investment breaks down per day, and how to use this powerful tool in your sales conversations.

How to Discuss Discounts With Your Interior Design Clients

Offering discounts trains clients to expect more for less. It diminishes the perceived and actual value of your expertise. And worse, it becomes difficult to train them back out of it.

When a client asks for a discount, don’t react defensively. Stay grounded in your value. Approach the conversation from curiosity, not resentment. They simply don’t understand the ROI yet.

Gently educate them:

“Do you realize that every day, for the next 15 to 20 years, you’ll be enjoying the transformation we’ve created together? It will impact how you wake up, how you work, how you live. This is a long-term upgrade, not a seasonal splurge.”

Say it with calm confidence. Not defensiveness. Not justification. But with joy and certainty in the magic of what you do.

The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything About Discounts

I recently spoke with a designer whose frustration inspired this episode. When her client asked for a discount, she felt resentment and anger. I get it. I’ve been there. But here’s what I told her and what I’m telling you:

Stop measuring your value in the moment of purchase. Start measuring it in the lifetime of the transformation you deliver.

Your work doesn’t expire in a season. It builds legacy. It becomes an heirloom. In the Midwest or New England, those homes aren’t just enjoyed for 20 years, they’re held onto for 30. That’s why staying in touch for future refreshes, additions, or remodels is so valuable. You’re part of their long-term story.

So write this down, post it on your mirror, or stick it on your laptop:
Interior design is the ultimate deal. No discount required.

And when you feel that familiar tug or that urge to knock 10% off your invoice out of fear or guilt, remember this:

You’re not just designing spaces. You’re transforming lives, 24/7, 365 days a year, for decades.
Not a single one of those days deserves a discount.

Are you ready to stand in your value? – Share this post with a fellow designer who needs the reminder, and download your ROI cheat sheet now at MelissaGalt.com/designROI.

Keep designing your business (and your life) on your terms. You’ve got this, because I’ve got you.