Interior Design Fees 2026: Design and Turnkey Project Costs in Istanbul
Interior design fees in 2026: per-m² design, turnkey apartments and villas, bespoke furniture; scope, methodology and real Varalli project examples.
Short answer: In 2026, architectural design and drawing services at Varalli Interior start at 1,500 TL per m². For turnkey apartment and villa projects, the published starting ranges run from 700,000 TL to 22,000,000 TL, depending on the project type, scope, material level and the amount of bespoke production.
Comparing two quotes by their totals alone, however, is not a sound comparison. Of two projects of the same size, one may cover only design and technical drawings, while the other extends to bespoke furniture, implementation, site coordination, installation and handover. That is why this guide looks at price not only as a number, but together with scope, methodology, process and real project context.
The Varalli prices on this page are the starting and preliminary budget ranges the company has published for 2026; they are not a statistical average for Turkey. The final quote is prepared for each project after the site survey and a needs assessment meeting.
Interior design fees in 2026: current starting ranges
This price table is meant to help you set an initial budget framework. The net fee takes shape once the current condition of the space, the technical scope, the selected materials, the amount of bespoke furniture and the implementation conditions have been assessed.
| Service type | 2026 starting / preliminary budget range |
|---|---|
| Architectural design and drawings | From 1,500 TL per m² |
| Room-based design work | From 45,000 TL |
| Turnkey 1+1 apartment (one bedroom plus living room) | 700,000 – 1,200,000 TL |
| Turnkey 2+1 apartment | 1,200,000 – 1,750,000 TL |
| Turnkey 3+1 apartment | 1,750,000 – 2,500,000 TL |
| Turnkey 4+1 apartment | 2,500,000 – 4,000,000 TL |
| Turnkey 5+1 villa | 5,000,000 – 7,500,000 TL |
| Turnkey 6+1 villa | 7,500,000 – 10,000,000 TL |
| Turnkey 6+2 villa | 10,000,000 – 14,000,000 TL |
| Turnkey 7+1 villa | 10,000,000 – 14,000,000 TL |
| Turnkey 7+2 villa | 14,000,000 – 22,000,000 TL |
| Turnkey, area-based preliminary budget (furniture included) — 130 m² apartment | From 4,000,000 TL |
| Turnkey, area-based preliminary budget (furniture included) — 1,000 m² villa | Up to 40,000,000 TL |
| Office design — 3D modeling and rendering | 200,000 – 1,000,000 TL |
| Kitchen and bathroom renovation | 300,000 – 800,000 TL |
| Garden and outdoor design | 150,000 – 450,000 TL |
| Bespoke furniture design | 125,000 – 200,000 TL / piece |
Design-only examples for 80, 120 and 200 m²
The examples below are simply the arithmetic result of the 1,500 TL per m² starting design fee. They are not a turnkey implementation budget.
| Project area | Starting design calculation at 1,500 TL/m² |
|---|---|
| 80 m² | 120,000 TL |
| 120 m² | 180,000 TL |
| 200 m² | 300,000 TL |
How should these price ranges be read?
For a price table to be reliable, it first has to be clear what it shows. The figures on this page are not a “market average” or a fixed tariff that applies to every project. They are the starting and preliminary budget ranges Varalli Interior has published for 2026.
Updated as of September 2026. For quotes that will be used much later, the price date should be checked again.
Varalli Interior is based at Modoko in Ümraniye. Istanbul projects are its main area of work; for projects outside Istanbul, logistics and implementation conditions are assessed separately.
Do not assume from this table alone that items such as VAT, appliances, mechanical and electrical work, demolition, transport, installation or custom fabrication are included. In the final quote, every item is defined in writing.
The same plan can lead to very different budgets depending on whether natural stone, solid wood, imported hardware, custom lighting or standard products are chosen.
Why does the 2026 cost environment matter?
In the July 2026 Construction Cost Index published by TurkStat (the Turkish Statistical Institute) on September 9, 2026, overall construction costs rose 28.33% year over year, and building construction costs rose 28.37%. The annual increase in the building materials index was 27.34%, and the increase in building labor was 30.19%. These rates are not a price list specific to interior design; they are simply the economic context that shows why material and labor costs call for regular updates.
We do not apply the TurkStat index to Varalli prices as an automatic increase rate. The weight of bespoke furniture, imported products, natural stone, lighting, mechanical and electrical work and labor differs in every project.
The difference in scope between design, bespoke furniture and turnkey
Comparing two quotes without answering “What does this price include?” is misleading. The matrix below explains the logic of the three service models; the exact scope is defined separately in each quote and contract.
| Item | Design only | Design + bespoke furniture | Turnkey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site survey and needs program | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Concept and space planning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3D visualization and technical detailing | Depending on the quote scope | ✓ | ✓ |
| Material and color decisions | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bespoke furniture design | Optional | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bespoke furniture production | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Site and team coordination | — | Depending on scope | ✓ |
| Implementation and installation | — | Furniture installation | ✓ |
| Handover | Project file | Furniture delivery | A space ready to use |
Where Varalli makes the difference is that design and bespoke furniture production are not run separately from one another. Furniture made for the project is prepared in the production facilities at Modoko, and implementation and installation decisions are followed within the same design language. You can find the details of the service model on our turnkey interior design and bespoke furniture pages.
7 key factors that determine interior design fees
Even if two projects have the same floor area, they do not have to share the same budget. The following seven factors are weighed together when a price is formed.
- Project size and type: An apartment, villa, office or commercial space each generates a different number of decisions, details and implementation items.
- Current condition of the space: New construction and renovation are not the same. Demolition, surface correction, infrastructure renewal and existing defects can all affect the budget.
- Design scope: Concept only, 3D visualization, technical drawings, detail drawings and implementation follow-up are not the same service.
- Share of bespoke furniture: The more made-to-measure kitchens, wardrobes, TV units, built-in furniture and detailed joinery a project has, the wider the design and production scope becomes.
- Material and workmanship level: Natural stone, solid wood, custom metalwork, imported hardware, lighting and surface workmanship directly affect the budget.
- Technical work and implementation conditions: Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, lighting, ceiling, floor and wall interventions change the technical level of the project.
- Revisions, schedule and logistics: Changes of decision, accelerated delivery, floor access, building working hours, out-of-town logistics and installation conditions can all have an effect on the price.
Fee models: per m², per project, hourly and percentage-based
Four fee models are used in the industry. Varalli Interior applies two of them; the other two are explained for comparison.
| Method | How does it work? | At Varalli Interior |
|---|---|---|
| Per m² | The design fee is multiplied by the area of the space; the unit price may change as the scope grows. | Applied — design and drawing fees from 1,500 TL per m² |
| Per project | After the site survey, a single total fee is given based on the scope, material level and amount of bespoke production. | Applied — the turnkey implementation fee is project-based and set according to the request |
| Hourly | Consulting and short meetings are charged by the hour. | Not applied |
| Percentage-based | A set percentage of the total implementation budget is charged as the design fee. | Not applied |
For turnkey projects, the area-based preliminary budget gives the following band: it starts at around 4,000,000 TL for a 130 m² apartment and reaches 40,000,000 TL for a 1,000 m² villa. The band covers a scope that includes furniture; custom marble, Italian paint and requested imported products are outside the scope and priced separately. For the full list of what is covered, see our turnkey interior design scope page.
What affects interior design fees in Istanbul?
In Istanbul, price is not determined by the neighborhood alone. Two homes in the same district can differ completely in their existing building conditions, building management rules, elevator and loading access, working hours, parking options, the volume of materials to be moved and the scope of implementation.
A newly delivered residence and an older apartment that needs demolition and stripping out do not share the same starting conditions.
The floor level, service elevator, loading area, building permits and working hours can all affect the implementation plan.
As the share of made-to-measure built-in furniture grows, the production, transport and installation plan expands.
Changes to electrical, mechanical, lighting, ceiling, floor and wet areas can make up a significant part of the budget.
Varalli Interior’s base at Modoko allows design meetings and bespoke furniture decisions to be handled in the same place. For projects outside Istanbul, design and production continue within the same system; site, transport and installation conditions are assessed separately at the quotation stage.
What do real Varalli projects show about pricing?
In real projects, cost cannot be read from the number of rooms alone. The three examples below show how scopes vary. Because client budgets and project durations are not public, no invented figures or durations are used here.
Pelican Hill Mansion Project
A villa-scale project in which different spaces, such as the living area, dining room, kitchen, bar, master bedroom and walk-in closet, were handled under a single design language. Interior design, bespoke furniture production and on-site implementation were carried out together.
Acarlar Acarverde Residence Project
A residence project covering the living room, dining room, bedroom, walk-in closet and study. One of the examples that shows how design decisions at the scale of a home come together with bespoke furniture and implementation.
Bodrum Villa Project
A villa project outside Istanbul covering the pool and garden, living area, dining area and bedrooms. An example in which design and bespoke furniture production at Modoko were planned together with on-site implementation.
The common takeaway from these examples is this: while questions such as “How much does a 3+1 cost?” or “What is the price per m² for a villa?” are useful for a first budget estimate, a sound quote requires defining which spaces will be worked on, at what level of technical detail and with what production scope. You can see the full project archive on the Varalli projects page.
What to look for when comparing interior design quotes
The lowest total is not always the most economical quote, and the highest total does not automatically mean the most comprehensive one. When comparing two quotes, make sure you are comparing the same scope.
| Question to check | What the quote should clearly show |
|---|---|
| Is it the same project scope? | The spaces to be worked on and the drawing sheets to be delivered |
| Are 3D and technical drawings included? | Visualization, construction drawings and levels of detail |
| Is bespoke furniture production included? | Product list, materials, hardware, production and installation scope |
| Is the material standard defined? | Brand, series, finish, stone, wood, fabric or the method for equivalents |
| Is there a defined revision limit? | How many revisions are included at which stage |
| Is site coordination included? | Implementation supervision, team coordination and the limits of responsibility |
| Are transport and installation included? | City, floor, installation and on-site handover conditions |
| Are taxes and exclusions clear? | VAT status and a written list of items outside the quote |
How does the interior design process work?
At Varalli Interior, the main project flow moves through five stages, from the site survey to handover and implementation. Each stage allows the next budget and production decision to be made with more control.
Site Survey
The space, measurements, daily habits, needs program and budget framework are established.
Architectural Design
Layout, material, color, texture and furniture decisions are developed under a single design language.
3D Visualization
The designed space is made visible before implementation; technical dimensions and details are finalized.
Bespoke Furniture Production
Furniture made for the project is prepared in the production facilities at Modoko, according to the dimension and material decisions.
Handover & Implementation
Site coordination, installation, on-site implementation and final checks are completed.
In terms of duration, turnkey projects start at 4 months and can extend to 1 year depending on the scope and intensity of the project. The schedule is set out in writing together with the scope at the quotation stage.
It is not right to give a single universal rate for the payment plan. Payment milestones should be defined stage by stage in the quote and contract, according to the design, production and implementation weight of the project. That way, the client can see from the start which output they will receive for which payment.
Does working with an interior designer increase the total cost?
Interior design is a cost item in its own right; in return, sound project planning aims to keep the total investment more predictable. Situations such as wrong measurements, changes of decision during implementation, mismatched materials, work that has to be removed and redone, or missing technical details can lead to lost money and time.
That is why the right question is not only “How much does an interior designer charge?” You should also consider which decisions are finalized before the project begins, how changes are managed during implementation, and how closely design and production are coordinated. At Varalli, running design and bespoke furniture production within the same system aims to strengthen that coordination.
About the author and expertise
Onur Varal · Varalli Interior
This guide has been updated in line with Varalli Interior’s hands-on approach, which handles interior design, bespoke furniture production and turnkey implementation within a single project system. Its premise is that prices should not be read on their own, but together with the scope, production, implementation and handover conditions.
Varalli Interior’s roots go back to 1985; today, our interior design in Istanbul consultations and bespoke furniture processes are run from our showroom at Modoko in Ümraniye.
Data, references and a note on methodology
This page keeps three different types of data apart: the service price ranges published by Varalli, an official economic indicator, and a professional fee calculation framework. None of them is used in place of another.
- TurkStat — Construction Cost Index, July 2026: The official bulletin dated September 9, 2026 was used to explain the cost environment. The index was not applied to Varalli prices as an automatic increase coefficient. Open the official source.
- TMMOB Chamber of Interior Architects — 2026 Minimum Fee Calculation Principles: Used as the professional framework that defines service components such as measured survey, preliminary design, final design and material selection, construction documents and fabrication details, and quantity take-off and work schedule. The Varalli price table on this page is not a copy of the TMMOB tariff. Open the official source.
- Varalli Interior project catalog: The real case examples were selected only from the project manifest published on the site; no non-public cost or duration data was added. Explore the project archive; all villa examples are in the villa interior design projects category.
When evaluating interior design fees, the soundest order is: price → scope → technical level → bespoke production → implementation conditions → process → quote. When you follow the same order, the real difference between two quotes becomes much more visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do interior design services cost in 2026?
At Varalli Interior, architectural design and drawing services start at 1,500 TL per m². The published starting ranges for turnkey apartment and villa projects are between 700,000 TL and 22,000,000 TL. The net price is determined by the current condition of the space, the scope, materials, bespoke production and implementation conditions.
How is the interior design fee per m² calculated?
For design-only services, the starting calculation can be based on 1,500 TL per m². For example, the starting design calculation for a 100 m² space is 150,000 TL. This calculation is not a budget for turnkey implementation, bespoke furniture or technical fabrication.
What does turnkey interior design cover?
The turnkey model brings design, bespoke furniture production, implementation coordination, installation and handover together under a single system of responsibility. The exact included and excluded items are defined in writing in the project quote.
Do the prices include VAT?
VAT status should not be assumed from the general price table alone. Taxes, products, implementation and other included or excluded items should be stated clearly in the final quote and contract.
Is bespoke furniture included in the turnkey price?
In Varalli’s turnkey project model, bespoke furniture production is one of the core service components. Which pieces will be made, with which materials and hardware, is finalized in the product and fabrication list in the project quote.
How should I compare two interior design quotes?
Compare the same scope rather than the total price. The spaces to be worked on, 3D and technical drawings, bespoke furniture, material standard, revision limit, site coordination, transport and installation, VAT and exclusions should be clearly visible in both quotes.
What happens to the price if the scope changes during the project?
Scope changes such as a new space, different materials, additional bespoke production or technical intervention can affect the budget. The soundest approach is to finalize changes in writing as additional scope and cost before they are implemented.
How is the payment plan set up?
No single standard rate is right for every project. Payment milestones are defined in the quote and contract by linking them to project stages, according to the weight of design, production and implementation.
How are projects outside Istanbul priced?
In addition to the design and bespoke production scope, site access, transport, site organization where accommodation is needed, and installation conditions are assessed. Out-of-town logistics items are finalized for each project at the quotation stage.
Is the fee calculated per m² or per project?
At Varalli Interior, the design and drawing fee is calculated per m² (from 1,500 TL per m²). The turnkey implementation fee, on the other hand, is project-based: after the site survey, a single total quote is given based on the scope, material level and amount of bespoke production. Hourly and percentage-based models are not used.
Which items are outside the scope of a turnkey project?
The published turnkey bands cover a scope that includes furniture. Custom marble, Italian paint and imported products requested by the client are kept outside the scope and priced as separate items in the quote. The included items are listed in writing in the contract.
How does Varalli Interior prepare a quote?
After the first meeting and the needs framework, the size of the space, project type, design scope, amount of bespoke production, material level and implementation conditions are assessed. A project-specific quote with clearly defined items is then prepared.
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Interior design, bespoke furniture production and turnkey implementation, all from our studio in Modoko, Ümraniye.
