Deciding on which interior designer is most suitable for your office fit out project can be an overwhelming task at times. The interior design of a workplace plays an important role in the success of a business – even if it’s indirectly. That’s why it’s important to choose the perfect specialist to partner with.

To make sure you make the right decision, we have 10 simple questions that you can ask to help find the best interior design companies in Dubai for you and your business.

1. Does their quote fall within your budget?

Before speaking to interior designers and sourcing quotes, you should already have a budget set up detailing all the work and materials you would need, as well as a realistic figure that you’re sure you can afford.

Once you’ve received quotes from all the bidding companies, examine each one and make sure that they cover all possible costs that your project would need to be executed successfully.

When you find one that satisfies all your criteria and meets your budget expectations, then you’ll know you’ve found a suitable company for you.

Hot tip: If you’re not sure what your budget should like or how much the estimated cost of your project would be, we have a great blog that can help guide you on this journey, as well as a free fit out cost calculator that can be found on our website.

2. Do they charge a markup on furniture, deliveries, assembly and other services?

Interior designers are usually a middleman between furniture stores and their clients, acting as a retailer on the store’s behalf.

As such, it’s not uncommon for designers to charge a markup on each product they purchase for their client, as well as on the delivery, assembly and any other services that are associated with the process.

You might find the odd designer who charges no markup, but this is a rare occurrence. Charging a markup is standard practice – it’s where designers make most of their profit. However, each designer’s markup will vary from the next.

The aim is to find an interior designer who has a reasonable markup that doesn’t compromise or exceed your budget. Find one who perfectly complements your finances.

3. Is the designer tech-savvy and can present information to you quickly and clearly?

Your interior design must be able to communicate their ideas and concepts to you in an easy-to-understand way – particularly through visual means such as computer-aided design (CAD) concepts that digitally showcase what the space will look like.

This way, you won’t have to rely on blind faith and hope that the end result is a functional and aesthetically pleasing design – you can see it with your own eyes before any work commences on your project.

4. In what timeframe can they execute your project?

Even the simplest of office fit out projects have the potential to disrupt your business. Therefore, your interior designer needs to be able to successfully finish the project within the agreed-upon timeframe, so that your employees can get back to work as soon as possible.

5. Are they specialists in the field you require?

Not every interior designer will specialize in corporate fit outs, so it’s important to ensure that your chosen company has experience in designing for offices or has worked on projects similar to your own.

6. Can they provide references and a portfolio of past work?

Looking at references from past clients and a portfolio of work is important to know if an interior designer is trustworthy, competent and reliable. Companies usually have reviews and pictures of past projects on their website and social media pages that should give a clear idea of what it would be like to have them as your fit out partner.

7. Are they working alone or do they have support teams to assist them?

When given the choice of hiring a designer who works alone or has support teams to help them, we would highly suggest choosing the latter.

Project managers and logistic teams ensure that the work being done is carried out properly and that everything runs smoothly. Therefore, it’s advised to have a full team on hand if you want your office fit out delivered on time and on budget.

8. How many clients do they have at the moment and can they accommodate you as a priority?

More often than not, the best interior design companies in Dubai have plenty of work to keep them busy. Therefore, you should make a point of confirming that the designer has the capacity and time to accommodate your project as a priority – and not just a side project that they can take their time with.

9. Which office furniture vendors do they use and can they validate the quality?

Furniture plays an important part in office interior design. It aids employees’ productivity, health and wellbeing, and therefore needs to be durable, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

Office furniture has many requirements to meet, so you must get quality products from the get-go. Find out what vendors your interior designer purchases office furniture from and make sure you validate the quality before signing off on it.

10. Do they legally commit and hold themselves responsible for the successful completion of your project?

Analyse the contract between you and your interior designer with a fine-tooth comb before signing the document. You’ll want to make sure that your bases are covered and that the company is legally committed to and held responsible for ensuring that your project is successfully executed on time and on budget.

How can we help?

If you are looking for a reliable and best interior design companies in Dubai, who's an expert in their field, then you’ve come to the right place.

Contractors.Direct offers a curated database of thoroughly vetted, quality contractors who can bring your vision to life, on time and on budget. Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to connect you with the right people for the job.