Interior Design in Atlanta: Scope, Quotes and Hiring

Choose the help you want before requesting quotes

Write a short brief that names the rooms, the problems you want to solve and the items you intend to keep. Describe how you use each space: reading beside a window, working at a dining table or accommodating overnight guests. Include photographs, approximate measurements and a total spending ceiling. Tell the designer whether that ceiling must cover furniture, tax, delivery and installation.

For a consultation, request a written list of recommendations and clarify whether the designer will measure the room. For a room-design package, ask for a dimensioned furniture layout, finish selections and an itemized shopping list. For purchasing support, name who will place orders, receive deliveries, inspect damage and arrange returns. Request these deliverables instead of assuming that a package name includes them.

Match credentials to the proposed work

Georgia regulates use of the title registered interior designer. Its standard application requirements include qualifying education, examination passage and evidence of work experience. Examination routes include the NCIDQ examination or an accepted architectural examination. The rules also provide historical grandfather and other registration routes; a current certificate does not establish that every registrant met the standard degree requirements. Ask a candidate who uses the registered title for their certificate number, current status and qualifications. [1] [2]

For drawings intended for a building-permit submission, discuss professional responsibility before accepting the proposal. Georgia has signing and sealing rules for registered interior designers, including a requirement to hold a current registration when applying their seal. These rules do not establish whether your particular renovation needs a permit or which professional the permitting authority will accept. Ask the designer to identify who will confirm those requirements and prepare the required documents. [2]

Review a portfolio for decisions you can discuss: furniture fit, storage, lighting and the treatment of existing features. Ask the designer to walk through a comparable project and explain what they delivered. Request references and insurance information, and name the person who will handle your day-to-day questions.

Compare the complete purchasing budget

Ask each designer to separate the design fee from purchasing charges, furniture prices, delivery, installation and tax. Request their hourly or fixed-fee terms, any purchasing markup, treatment of trade discounts and the approval process for spending above your limit. Agree on how they will charge for extra revisions or substitutions before signing.

Georgia taxes retail sales of tangible personal property and says service providers who sell such goods must collect and remit sales tax as appropriate. Seller delivery charges follow the tax treatment of the underlying sale. The Department of Revenue excludes separately stated installation charges from the sales-price tax base and says itemized repair or installation labor is not subject to sales tax. Ask the seller to explain the tax treatment of each charge in your proposal. [3]

Request project-specific Atlanta quotes for the same scope. Give each candidate the same room list and spending ceiling, then compare their deliverables and exclusions. Ask for an example invoice so you can see how the designer accounts for purchases, fees and tax. Before paying a deposit, agree on payment milestones and the procedure for approving changes.

Make lighting part of the design brief

Ask the designer to record desired brightness, light appearance and control requirements for each proposed bulb. The Department of Energy advises buyers to compare brightness in lumens, check whether bulbs suit enclosed fixtures and confirm compatibility with the dimming system. Bring the existing fixture and dimmer details to the consultation. [5]

The reference chart compares published LED power ranges at different brightness levels. Use it to discuss bulb specifications alongside color appearance and physical fit. The source dates its acquisition guidance to June 2023 and notes the ENERGY STAR lighting sunset effective December 31, 2024. Treat its certification references as historical guidance when discussing products to buy today. [5]

Set approvals and handover terms

Agree on review points before the designer orders furniture or commits to custom work. Ask to approve the layout, finish samples and final item list. For each purchase, record dimensions, quantity, price, delivery expectations and return terms. Name who must authorize substitutions if the original item becomes unavailable.

For a condo or managed building, ask management about delivery access, elevator reservations and contractor rules before setting an installation date. Request a handover folder with the final shopping list, product care instructions and any unresolved damage or return claims. Name who will follow up on each outstanding item.

Published LED power ranges by brightness

Choose a scope to request

Your hiring checklist

1. List rooms, functional problems, existing furniture and items you want to retain.
2. Set a total spending ceiling and state which purchases and services it must cover.
3. Request named deliverables, revision limits and exclusions from each candidate.
4. Ask about claimed credentials, comparable projects, references and insurance.
5. Provide the full delivery address and request an itemized purchasing budget.
6. Record lighting, fixture and dimmer details for the design consultation.
7. Agree on purchase approvals, substitutions, returns and damage responsibilities.
8. Confirm building access and request a final handover folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every interior designer need Georgia registration?

Georgia requires a current certificate to use the title registered interior designer. These title rules do not establish that every decorating service requires that credential. Ask candidates to describe their qualifications and confirm who will handle any technical or permit-document work. [2]

How should I compare design quotes?

Give each candidate the same brief and compare deliverables, revisions, purchasing responsibilities and exclusions. Request separate figures for design fees and purchases. Ask how the designer will obtain your approval for extra work or spending.

Will furniture delivery affect sales tax?

Georgia says seller delivery charges follow the tax treatment of the underlying sale. The delivery jurisdiction generally determines the rate, and deliveries within Atlanta generally include city tax alongside state and county taxes. Ask the seller to calculate tax using your delivery address. [3] [4]

What should I ask about new lighting?

Ask for brightness in lumens, light appearance and confirmation that each bulb fits its fixture. The Department of Energy also recommends checking enclosed-fixture suitability and dimmer compatibility. Review these specifications before approving purchases. [5]