Interior Design Services

The 16,100 interior design firms in the US plan, design, and administer projects in interior spaces to meet the physical and aesthetic needs of customers. Revenue comes primarily from design services and product sales. Companies may specialize in a particular sector (hospitality, health care, institutional, residential), room (kitchens, bathrooms, closets), or style (contemporary, traditional).

Demand Driven By Construction Trends

Interior design services are often tied to new construction and remodeling projects.

Design Driven By Trends And Fads

The interior design market is often driven by styles and trends in the fashion world.

Sep 23, 2026 - Homeowners Favor Multigenerational and Accessible Design

• The American Institute of Architects' third-quarter Home Design Trends Survey shows strong interest in features that support multigenerational living, accessibility, and aging in place. These preferences can create interior design opportunities involving flexible layouts, accessibility improvements, first-floor living, and spaces that accommodate changing household needs. Among architects reporting increasing client interest, 53% cited accommodations for multiple generations, 52% cited first-floor primary bedroom suites, and 47% cited wider doorways and hallways. Demand also remained positive for ramps, future elevator shafts, on-grade entries, multiple laundry facilities, and additional storage. The trends suggest that homeowners are increasingly considering how interiors will function over longer periods and for occupants with different mobility and lifestyle needs.
• AD PRO reports 2026 home renovations are becoming more intentional, with designers and clients emphasizing longevity, healthy materials, and layouts that can adapt to future needs. Greater focus on long-term functionality can expand interior designers' role in selecting durable materials, creating flexible spaces, and planning homes that support clients through different life stages. Designers are also responding to demand for homes that can better withstand natural disasters and extreme weather. At the same time, homeowners are looking for floor plans that balance open space with greater privacy. Those priorities can favor more customized renovation planning rather than purely cosmetic updates and may increase collaboration among interior designers, architects, contractors, and specialty suppliers.
• Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), rose one point to 35 in August 2026, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. Persistently weak builder sentiment can limit new-home construction and reduce interior design opportunities tied to model homes, buyer selections, furnishings, and post-purchase customization. NAHB said elevated mortgage rates, construction costs, and economic and geopolitical uncertainty continued to weigh on builders. A slower new-home market may increase the importance of remodeling existing homes for interior designers seeking to offset softer demand tied to new construction.
• Home remodeling spending growth is expected to slow through mid-2027, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report released in July by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. Homeowner spending on improvements and repairs is expected to increase by 2.1% to $517 billion in the third quarter of 2026, compared with Q3 2025. In the fourth quarter of 2026, remodeling spending will again rise by 2.1% from Q4 2025 to $520 billion. Spending growth will then slow to 0.7% in the first quarter of 2027, reaching $524 billion. In the second quarter of 2027, year-over-year spending is forecast to rise just 0.5%, dropping to a total of $519 billion. Remodeling, permitting, and building product sales have remained flat recently, and remodeling activity growth is projected to remain sluggish absent a rebound in US home sales.

Industry size & Structure

The average interior design service provider operates out of a single location, employs 4 workers, and generates about $1.2 million annually.

• The interior design services industry consists of about 16,100 companies that employ about 58,000 workers and generate $19.3 billion annually.
• The industry is highly fragmented; the top 50 firms account for 11% of industry sales.
• Large companies that offer interior design as part of a portfolio of services include Gensler, HOK, and Perkins+Will. The majority of firms are small, independent companies with localized operations.