Free Interior Design Contract Template

Protect every project with a clear agreement. This free interior design contract template sets out scope, fees, payment schedule, revisions, procurement and deliverables in plain language, so both you and your client know exactly what has been agreed before any work begins. A signed contract is what separates a professional design practice from a risky favour — it is the document that gets you paid on time, contains scope creep, and gives you somewhere to stand if a project goes sideways.

Use this template as a practical starting point you adapt to your own services and jurisdiction. Below is what it contains, why each clause matters, and how it fits alongside a proposal and a lighter letter of agreement.

What's inside the contract template

The template is structured around the clauses that cause the most disputes when they are missing:

• Parties and project — who is contracting, and the address and description of the work.
• Scope of services — exactly what you will (and will not) do, with phases and deliverables.
• Fees and payment schedule — your fee structure, deposit, milestone payments and due dates.
• Procurement and FF&E — how furniture and finishes are purchased, marked up and paid for.
• Revisions — how many rounds are included and what happens beyond them.
• Timeline and delays — target dates and how delays outside your control are handled.
• Termination, liability and disputes — how either party exits, and what happens if things go wrong.
• Photography and intellectual property — your right to photograph and publish the finished work.

Why interior designers need a written contract

A handshake feels friendly until a client expects three extra rooms for free, pays sixty days late, or asks you to remove the finished project from your portfolio. A written contract turns vague goodwill into enforceable terms. It protects your time (defined scope and revisions), your cash flow (deposits and milestone payments), and your reputation and marketing (the right to photograph and publish your work). It also protects the client — clarity reassures them that they know what they are buying — which is why presenting a professional contract often increases trust rather than creating friction.

Crucially, the contract is where scope becomes money. Every time a client asks for "just one more thing", a good contract gives you a calm, non-confrontational way to say: that sits outside our agreed scope, here is what it would cost.

Key clauses every interior design contract should include

Scope of services

Be specific. List the rooms, the phases (concept, design development, procurement, installation) and the deliverables for each. Just as importantly, state what is excluded — architectural drawings, structural work, or trades you do not manage — so there is no assumption you are covering them.

Fees and payment schedule

Spell out your fee model (flat fee, hourly, cost-plus, or a percentage) and tie payments to milestones with clear due dates. Require a deposit before work starts. If you are still setting your numbers, run them through the free rate calculator so your fee covers your time and overhead.

Procurement, revisions and timeline

Clarify how furnishings are bought and paid for, how many revision rounds are included, and what the target timeline is — including that dates depend on third parties such as builders and suppliers. These three clauses prevent the most common mid-project arguments.

Photography and intellectual property

Reserve the right to photograph the completed project and use those images in your portfolio and marketing. This single clause protects the asset your whole business is built on.

Contract vs letter of agreement

A full contract suits larger or higher-risk projects — renovations, procurement-heavy jobs, and any engagement where significant money or construction is involved. For smaller, lower-risk work, a letter of agreement covers the essentials on a single, friendly page. Many designers use both: a letter of agreement for quick styling jobs and the full contract for anything substantial.

How to use it

Adapt the template to your services, then have it reviewed by a qualified lawyer in your jurisdiction — this template is a practical starting point, not legal advice. Pair it with a proposal (which sells the project) and a client questionnaire (which scopes it), and you have a complete, professional onboarding system. Download the contract template below.

This template is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always have your agreements reviewed by a qualified professional in your jurisdiction.