Is Budget Interior Design in Dubai Really Possible?

Whether you’re going for a minimalistic look or maximalist interiors, every interior design trend you choose to follow comes with its own pros and cons.

While you can always change the interiors of your space, the cost that comes with it can often be too heavy to bear – especially when you’re in Dubai.

In this post, we explore if it is possible to get interior designing services in Dubai on a budget.

While there is no one-size-fits-all to an interior design budget, we recommend following the average square meter price and the required square meters.

A good base rate to keep in mind is around AED 1,500 per square meter – including partitions, ceiling, flooring, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and furniture. You can use these basics to serve as the building blocks to determine how much your dream interior design is going to cost.

Here are a few things we recommend when evaluating the cost of interior design in Dubai:

Interior design on a budget is quite the catch in Dubai, given that the city loves all things opulent and that the fickle mind keeps changing, and newer changes are generally more expensive – incorporating new ideas into what may already have taken shape.

Remember to give yourself enough time to understand your space and the nuances you’d like it to serve. Create a mood board, by yourself or with your Reno Design partner, or save ideas for as many corners for better clarity before you reach out to interior designers.

When building your dream home, getting quotes from multiple interior design and renovation companies is advisable. This exercise will help you get an approximate range of the expenditure that will be incurred.

A word of caution, though – most companies that under-quote for the sake of sealing a deal are not forthcoming of the hidden costs, price inflations, or variations that will happen once the project is underway. Plenty of research, vigorous thrashing of all aspects of building your dream home, and bringing all concerns to the table will save you a lot of heartburn later.

This is where Reno shines. Our bidding portal ensures you get a wide range of quotes from vetted companies. You can be assured of the best price, with no hidden costs, variations, or lies by omission during your renovation process. The payment to your chosen renovator will only be done after an inspection from 3rd party inspectors. We will be your partner to ensure that every step is transparent and convenient.

While having a clear vision is an acquired skill, the help of professionals cannot be discounted. Their expertise can help you in many ways – especially when you’re running on a budget.

Interior designers have a knack for making use of every square inch of space. They can assess the potential of a space better, giving you the best of style and efficiency in every corner – which is often tough to achieve when doing things yourself.

The interior designers in Dubai know where to source their material from, once you have summarized your vision. So you get access to the best material for your interior design on a budget without compromising on the quality.

Once you’re on the same page, interior designers help bring in more innovation to your ideas. They can suggest some very out-of-the-box interior design ideas and come up with variations you may not have thought of. With that, you can go beyond the Pinterest board inspiration and have something unique to yourself!

Interior design and renovation is easier said than done. Managing the nitty gritties of the project can be overwhelming, tiring, and prone to error. Interior designers are better at not just collaborating but managing the entire project without increasing overheads in terms of both time and resources allotted.

Dubai is known for its opulence but creating chic spaces within a budget is very much doable. Let’s talk about a few design styles that find favor with most people:

Simple, functional, sleek, uncluttered spaces that choose quality over quantity – pretty much the principles of sustainable living.

Middle eastern influence layered with eclectic decor, is a statement trend. Think textures, colors, and patterns and think layers and layers. This can be done on a budget with some thought to what goes better with what and texturizing.

Keep it light, clean lines, and throw in some functional furniture for good measure and you have a setting that is pleasing to the eyes. This is a home styling that is gaining a lot of favor, given the growing trend for keeping things simple and functional.

Exposed bricks, concrete floors, and metal accents and since the thrust is on staying with a raw, unfinished look, this style does cut on costs.

This style is a blend of rich colors, intricate patterns, and opulent textiles. You could choose to have a few statement pieces in your house while keeping the rest of the decor basic and muted.

Many may think that building a dream home on a budget in Dubai, is a distant dream. But with a few smart design choices and a conscious mindset, it is doable without breaking the bank.

Here are some practical tips from our interior designers when you’re on a budget:

• Prioritize needs over wants– Prioritize needs over things for vanity like elements for decoration. Focus on functionality and comfort. It’s easy to get tempted and distracted and make poor but expensive mistakes.
• Stick to a budget– Decide in advance how far you are ready to stretch or not and then, stick to it. This may cost you a few desired outcomes but will keep your mind in a happier place. You can leave room for future adaptations that can be done when you are more happily placed, financially, or when the first stage of your dream actualization is done with.
• Seek DIY or professional services – There are many things you can do yourself; sourcing of material for the walls, furniture, etc. Decide what you can pull off on your own and save your money for other needs. If you are someone who likes to dabble with paints and colors, you could well be on your way to saving your big money expenses.
• Upcycle and repurpose– It is not essential to buy everything new. The old can be refurbished and made to look like new. Sustainability is a laudable effort, remember that.
• Shop smart – Be on the lookout for sales and discounts and stock up, according to your mood board and preferences.
• Declutter– Before you start to buy new things, look around for things you don’t need anymore – things that have lost their functionality, aesthetics, or simply because they don’t fit your new vision board for your house. Consider also, if they can be refurbished, keeping sustainability as a constant thought at the back of your mind.
• Stick to a basic palette– Stay with the beiges, grays, and whites as they are the easiest to work around. They look elegant and timeless. It becomes infinitely simpler to throw in color with accessories and decor when the larger color palette is muted.
• Invest in quality – Don’t settle for cheap fixtures and furniture that’d need spending now and then. It’s always better to buy basic, yet timeless things that will stand the test of time, will age better, and demand less to no replacements.
• Make your own statement– Be it working on a piece and lending it a unique character, picking it up from local second-hand shops, thrift stores, or keeping an eye out for reusable stackable stuff that can fit into changing spaces. Unleash your creative side, innovate, and create.
• Opt for multi-utility items – Invest in box beds, storage ottomans, sofa beds, and extendable dining tables- visualize the space in your home and how differently you can put things to use. Even larger spaces can do with such pieces to help them stay roomy and make the space look well-appointed yet light on the eyes. For smaller homes, it’s an absolute necessity.
• Get organized with deals and discounts – Don’t give into impulse when you browse sales and discounts both online, and offline. Make Excel sheets if you need to, look for discount coupons and other bank offers, and stay abreast of the best the market has to offer.
• Simple does it – Sometimes, all you need is a fresh coat of paint to change the look of your home. Give simple changes a thought before planning out an entire redesign of your interiors. Breathe life into what is, and make it shine.

While self-restraint and clarity of mind are something you learn, reaching out to experts is prudence. It is time-saving and best of all, it actually streamlines everything from vision to expenses.

The back-and-forth you save is the other advantage.

All it will take to build that dream home in Dubai is some bit of meticulous planning, holding on to the purse string tightly, and then, bit by bit, putting your place together with a lot of help from the experts.

Looking for budget interior design experts in Dubai? Reach out to us.