Free interior design contract template
with every clause that matters.

Why it matters: Interior design services exist on a wide spectrum — from a single-room mood board to full-home renovation management. A scope clause must specify exactly which rooms or spaces are included, what level of service the designer is providing (concept design only, furniture specification, procurement, contractor coordination, site visits, or all of the above), and what is expressly excluded.

What Clausio checks: That the spaces covered are listed, that the service level is described, and that any services the client might expect but the designer is not providing are expressly excluded.

Legal basis: Restatement (Second) of Contracts §§ 201–203 — ambiguities construed against the drafter; an undefined scope creates disputes resolved in the non-drafting party's favor. [Confidence: medium — Restatement widely cited persuasive authority]

Why it matters: Interior designers use several fee models: a flat project fee, an hourly rate (with or without an estimated total), a percentage of the total project cost (typically 15–30%), or a hybrid. The fee structure must be clearly specified in the contract because each model creates different incentives and different client expectations about cost. Without a written fee clause, disputes about what the designer is owed are resolved by whatever a court determines is "reasonable" — which is uncertain and expensive to establish.

What Clausio checks: That the fee model is specified, that the rate or amount is stated, that any cap on hourly engagements is addressed, and that the payment schedule and invoicing process are defined.

Legal basis: Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 347 — measure of damages for breach (expectation interest); without agreed payment terms a court determines "reasonable value." N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 20-928 — NYC freelancers on engagements over $800 may have rights under the Freelance Isn't Free Act. [Confidence: medium for Restatement; high for NYC statute]

Why it matters: When a designer purchases furnishings or materials through their trade accounts and resells them to the client with a markup, the markup is part of the designer's compensation. This must be disclosed and agreed upon in writing before procurement begins. Undisclosed markups can expose a designer to claims of misrepresentation or breach of fiduciary duty in jurisdictions that recognize a designer's duty of loyalty to the client. The clause should specify the markup percentage (or range), what it applies to, and whether trade discounts are passed through in whole, in part, or not at all.

What Clausio checks: That procurement markups are disclosed, that the percentage or method of calculation is specified, and that the client's approval is obtained before procurement begins.

Legal basis: General contract law and common-law fiduciary duty principles — a designer acting as the client's purchasing agent may owe a duty of loyalty that requires disclosure of any benefit received from the transaction. Express disclosure in writing eliminates ambiguity. [Confidence: medium — fiduciary duty analysis varies by state and relationship structure]

Why it matters: Interior design projects involve dozens of client decisions — paint colors, finishes, furniture selections, lighting, art placement. A written approval process creates a clear record of what the client approved and when, protecting the designer from retroactive disputes about selections. A change-order clause specifies that scope changes after approval require a written change order and may incur additional fees.

What Clausio checks: That an approval procedure is specified (written approval, email confirmation, or sign-off document), that the effect of approval on the designer's obligation to revise is addressed, and that a change-order process for post-approval changes exists.

Legal basis: Restatement (Second) of Contracts §§ 201–203 — ambiguities construed against the drafter. UCC § 2-209 — contract modifications enforceable if made in good faith (persuasive by analogy for service agreements). [Confidence: medium]

Why it matters: Interior designers frequently work alongside or recommend contractors — painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers. The contract must specify whether the designer is acting as a project manager (with oversight responsibility), a coordinator (scheduling and communication only), or a referral source (no ongoing role). Without this clause, a client whose contractor delivers poor workmanship may look to the designer for compensation, arguing the designer was responsible for contractor performance.

What Clausio checks: That the designer's role in contractor selection and supervision is specified, that the designer's liability for contractor acts or omissions is expressly limited, and that the client's direct contractual relationship with contractors is addressed.

Legal basis: General contract law — scope of agency and responsibility; a designer who takes on project management duties may assume greater liability for contractor performance than one who acts only as a coordinator. [Confidence: medium]

Why it matters: Client expectations about total project cost are among the most common sources of interior design disputes. A budget clause should specify whether the designer provides a budget estimate, acknowledge that estimates are not guarantees, and establish the client's responsibility for approving expenditures above the estimated budget before the designer proceeds.

What Clausio checks: That the contract addresses budget estimates, that the designer's liability for cost overruns attributable to market conditions or client changes is limited, and that a client-approval requirement applies to expenditures above a specified threshold.

Legal basis: Restatement (Second) of Contracts §§ 201–203 — if the designer represents a budget ceiling without qualification, a court may construe that as a contractual commitment. Express disclaimers protect the designer. [Confidence: medium]

Why it matters: A designer's floor plans, mood boards, renderings, and material specifications are original creative works that may qualify for copyright protection. Without an IP clause, the ownership of these materials after the engagement ends is unclear — and a client who terminates the designer mid-project and hires another designer to execute the original concept may be using the first designer's IP without authorization or payment.

What Clausio checks: That the ownership of design concepts, drawings, and specifications is specified — whether it vests in the designer (with a license to the client to execute the design) or transfers to the client on full payment.

Legal basis (high confidence): 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq. — original design drawings, floor plans, and renderings are copyrightable works; 17 U.S.C. § 204(a) — any transfer of copyright ownership must be in a signed writing.

Why it matters: Interior design projects are sometimes terminated mid-stream — the client changes their mind, changes their budget, or simply loses interest. A termination clause specifies what notice is required, what the designer is owed for work completed through termination, and what happens to design concepts and purchased materials if the client terminates after procurement has begun.

What Clausio checks: That notice requirements are specified, that payment for work completed through termination is addressed, and that the disposition of partially completed procurement orders is addressed.

Legal basis: Restatement (Second) of Contracts §§ 237, 241 — a party's duty to perform is suspended when the other commits a material breach; termination without cause by the client is a breach entitling the designer to expectation damages. [Confidence: medium]

Why it matters: A designer's portfolio is their primary marketing tool. The right to photograph a completed project and use those photographs in their portfolio, on their website, and in press submissions is commercially significant. Without an express clause, the client may object to photography of their private residence — and in some jurisdictions, photographing a private home for commercial use without consent implicates privacy interests.

What Clausio checks: That the designer's right to photograph the completed space and use images for portfolio and marketing purposes is addressed, and that any limitations (for example, no exterior shots, no identifying location) are specified.

Legal basis: Contract law — portfolio use rights are entirely what the contract provides. State privacy laws vary regarding photography of private residences; an express consent clause avoids ambiguity. [Confidence: medium]

Why it matters: Interior designers can face claims for defective contractor workmanship, procurement errors, or project delays far exceeding their design fee. A liability cap — typically the total design fees paid — limits the designer's exposure. A governing-law clause ensures disputes are resolved under the intended state's law.

What Clausio checks: That a liability cap is present, that categories of excluded damages are specified, that governing law is identified, and that a dispute resolution mechanism is named.

Legal basis (high confidence): UCC § 2-719 — parties may contractually limit or exclude consequential damages unless unconscionable. Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 2 — written arbitration clauses are "valid, irrevocable, and enforceable." [Confidence: high for UCC and FAA]