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Why Every Interior Designer Needs a Solid Contract
Imagine this. You’ve just completed the most breathtaking living room of your career—every detail curated to perfection.
The colours are rich yet understated, the furniture is timeless, and the lighting bathes the space in a warm glow.
You step back to admire your masterpiece when you get a text message:
“I just showed my sister, and she thinks we should go in a completely different direction.”
And then, the real kicker:
“…and can we get a refund?”
If that scenario makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Interior design is about more than just aesthetics—it’s about managing expectations, navigating shifting tastes, and protecting your time and expertise from the ever-changing whims of clients, their partners, their neighbours, and, yes, their sisters.
American interior designer Nate Berkus once said, “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.”
A beautiful sentiment. But as a designer, your job isn’t just to tell your client’s story—it’s also to ensure that the story doesn’t get rewritten halfway through the project.
A client who insists on minimalist elegance today might suddenly develop an obsession with neon leopard print tomorrow. A spouse who was “totally uninvolved” may suddenly become interested—particularly when invoices start rolling in.
And without a proper contract in place, these emotional pivots can turn into unpaid invoices, endless revisions, and enough frustration to make you question your entire career.
Legendary designer Albert Hadley put it best:
“Design is coming to grips with one’s real lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show but to nourish one’s well-being.”
Interior design isn’t just about making a space look good—it’s about making sure it works. And the same applies to running a business.
That’s why a solid, legally enforceable contract isn’t just a formality—it’s a necessity.
At Sharon Givoni Consulting, we offer a comprehensive Interior Design Contract Set, providing a structured, legally sound framework that covers the most common industry challenges, including:
- Client Responsibilities – No last-minute demands.
- Scope of Work – No surprise add-ons.
- Payment Terms – Clear, enforceable invoicing.
- Revisions & Approvals – Limits on endless tweaks.
- Furniture Procurement – Sourcing has value.
American designer Charles Eames, best known for the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, once said:
“The details are not the details. They make the design.”
Just as the smallest design elements shape a space, the fine print in a contract shapes your business. A well-drafted agreement protects your finances, time, and creativity, ensuring your artistic vision isn’t derailed by shifting tastes, indecisiveness, or unrealistic demands.
At Sharon Givoni Consulting, we believe in Legal Ease, not Legalese®—because contracts shouldn’t be filled with confusing legal jargon.
Our agreements are clear, practical, and designed to protect you while keeping your client relationships smooth and professional.
You wouldn’t start a design project without a blueprint—so why run your business without a contract?
As Billy Baldwin once said, “Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.” And that includes running your business with clarity, confidence, and the right legal protections in place.
To read more about the legal landscape for architects and interior designers, including key regulations and responsibilities, check out our blog: Designing Spaces: The Legal Perspective for Architects and Interior Designers – https://sharongivoni.com.au/designing-spaces-legal-insights-for-architects-and-interior-designers/
Please note the above article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice.
Please email us info@iplegal.com.au if you need legal advice about your brand or another legal matter in this area generally.