Short answer: before hiring an interior designer in Sri Lanka, ask who will build the furniture, how the design is charged and what you will receive, whether you’ll approve a 3D design first, whether the build quote is itemised, whether the payment stages and timeline will be in writing, what the warranty covers, and who your single point of contact will be. The full checklist of 15 questions is below, with what a good answer sounds like and when to be careful.
Print this page or keep it open on your phone during your first meeting.
About their work
1. Can I see finished projects, not just renders, and can I speak to a past client? Real photos show the quality of joinery, finishing and installation. Renders show intentions. Check their Google reviews too, especially what people say about timelines, communication and after-sales service.
- Good answer: photos of real homes, with the location and roughly when each was finished, and a past client you can call.
- Be careful if: the portfolio is all 3D images, or they can’t put you in touch with anyone who has finished a project with them.
2. Who will build my furniture and joinery, and which parts of your past projects did you build yourselves? It tells you whether the company makes furniture itself or only designs it. If the build is subcontracted, ask who checks the work and who is responsible if it’s wrong. (See Interior designer, carpenter or design-and-build?)
- Good answer: a clear answer on who makes each part, and who is responsible if it doesn’t match the drawing or fails later.
- Be careful if: the answer is “It will be sorted out on site”.
3. Do you handle ceilings, flooring, painting and lighting, or only furniture? If not, you will need to coordinate other contractors, and their timelines, yourself.
About the design
4. Will you measure the site yourselves? In Sri Lanka, wardrobes, pantry cupboards, kitchens and TV units are usually made to measure, so who measures, and when, matters. Accurate measurements are the foundation of made-to-measure furniture.
5. Will I see a 3D design before anything is made? You should approve layouts, 3D views, colours and hardware before fabrication starts.
6. How do you charge for design, and what will I receive? Designers usually charge per square foot of the area designed or per 3D rendered view, and some include the design with the build. Ask whether you get 3D views of every space, the size of every item, colours and materials (including board specifications and fabric codes), any electrical layout changes, how many revisions are included, and whether the fee is deducted if the same company builds. See How much does interior design cost in Sri Lanka?
- Good answer: a written list of what you will receive, including how many revisions, before you pay.
- Be careful if: the price covers images only, with no sizes, materials or specifications, so the details get decided later.
7. What materials do you recommend for each room, and why? A good designer explains how materials handle humidity, daily use and cleaning, not just how they look. Ask what they would use under the sink and in bathrooms: for example, treated hardwood such as teak or mahogany with an exterior-grade protective coating for anything that gets wet, and fully sealed HDHMR only where the cabinet stays dry. (See our guide to board materials and solid wood.)
About cost and payments
8. Is the build quote itemised? The design fee and the build quote are usually separate. Ask for the build quote to list furniture, hardware, ceilings, electrical points, painting and installation separately, so you can compare quotes fairly.
- Good answer: each item listed with its size, material and hardware, plus what is not included.
- Be careful if: you get a single lump sum with no breakdown.
9. How are changes during the project priced? Changes happen. Agree how they are costed before they do.
- Good answer: each change is priced in writing and agreed before the work is done.
- Be careful if: extras appear on the final bill without being agreed first.
10. What is the payment schedule, what does the advance cover, and will it be in writing? Payments linked to clear stages (design approval, start of fabrication, installation, handover) protect both sides. Ask what the advance pays for, get a receipt in the company’s name for every payment, and keep an agreement or written quote that lists the scope, drawings, payment stages and timeline.
- Good answer: a clear payment schedule, given to you in writing, that says when each payment is due and what it covers.
- Be careful if: there’s no clear schedule for when each payment is due, there’s no receipt in the company’s name, or nothing is in writing.
11. Is there a charge for the site visit? Some companies visit free within their main area and charge elsewhere. If you live outside Colombo and its suburbs, ask whether there is a visit charge and whether it is credited against the work.
- Good answer: any charge, and whether it is credited, is made clear before the visit.
- Be careful if: the charge, or what it covers, only becomes clear after the visit.
About delivery and after-sales
12. How long will my project take, and when is the timeline agreed? It depends on the scope, the amount of made-to-measure furniture and how quickly decisions are made. A realistic timeline is easier to set once the design and materials are settled. Ask when it will be agreed and what stages it includes.
- Good answer: a written timeline with stages, agreed once the design is approved and before fabrication starts.
- Be careful if: there’s no timeline in writing, or no stages to check progress against.
13. Who will be my single point of contact? One named person who answers your calls makes a long project much easier.
14. What does the warranty cover, and for how long? Ask specifically about the structure of the furniture: carcasses (the main box of each cupboard or wardrobe), joints and frames. Ask too about hinges, drawer runners (the slides that drawers run on) and other hardware, and about surface finishes. Get it in writing.
- Good answer: a written warranty that states how long it lasts, when it starts, what it covers on the structure (such as carcasses and joints), and whether hardware and surface finishes are covered or excluded.
- Be careful if: the warranty is only verbal, or nobody can say what it covers.
15. What happens after handover if something needs adjusting? Hinges settle and doors sometimes need aligning in the first months. Ask how quickly they return.
- Good answer: a named person to call, and a clear idea of how soon someone comes back.
- Be careful if: nobody can tell you who to call after handover, or whether adjustments are charged.
Printable checklist
- Real project photos, a past client and Google reviews
- Who builds my furniture, and what they built before
- Ceilings, flooring, painting, lighting included?
- Who measures, and when
- 3D design before fabrication
- How design is charged, and what I receive
- Material advice for each room, including wet areas
- Itemised build quote
- How changes are priced
- Payment stages, advance and receipts, in writing
- Site visit charge, and whether it is credited
- Timeline, and when it is agreed
- Single point of contact
- Warranty: structure, hardware and finishes
- After-handover adjustments
Our answers, for reference
At SM Interiors, we measure on site, show 3D views before anything is made, make the furniture and joinery in-house to the approved drawings, and handle the finishes and styling too. You have one point of contact throughout. You can see finished projects on our portfolio.
We price design per square foot for the area ranges in our cost guide, which lists current guide prices; other sizes are quoted after a site visit or a discussion. The fee covers 3D renders of all the spaces and items in the design, the size of every item, colours and materials (including fabric codes and board specifications), electrical layout changes if needed, and three revisions free of charge. If you do the full job with us (design, fabrication and finishes), the design fee is deducted. Furniture, fabrication and finishes are quoted separately, based on the approved design. Our interior design service page explains the process.
You can also hire us for the design only. It includes all the details a builder needs, so you can take it to any builder and compare prices.
We agree a clear timeline with you after the design stage, before fabrication begins.
The design fee is paid upfront. For fabrication, we take a 60% advance when fabrication starts, a 25% interim payment, a further 10% in stage payments as the work progresses, and the final 5% at handover. We provide a signed quotation.
Our furniture carries a 5-year warranty on its structure against manufacturing defects (surface finishes and hardware, such as hinges and drawer runners, are not covered). Site visits are free across Colombo and suburbs; elsewhere there is a visit charge, paid in advance and credited to the fabrication cost (not to design fees) if you go ahead with us building your furniture.
Related: How to choose an interior designer in Sri Lanka · How much does interior design cost in Sri Lanka? · Interior designer, carpenter or design-and-build?
Common questions
What is the most important question to ask an interior designer?
Ask who will build the furniture and joinery. In Sri Lanka much of the built-in furniture is made to measure, so this matters. If the designer subcontracts the build, ask who is responsible when something doesn't match the drawing or fails later.
Should an interior designer show a 3D design before starting?
Yes. You should approve layouts, 3D views, finishes and hardware before anything is fabricated, because changes are cheap on paper and expensive afterwards.
What should I ask about warranty?
Ask how long it lasts, whether it covers the structure of the furniture (carcasses, joints and frames), whether hardware such as hinges and drawer runners is included, whether surface finishes are included, and what happens if something fails.
How do I compare quotes from different interior designers?
Compare design fees by what you will receive, not just the price. For the build, ask each company for an itemised quote that lists furniture, hardware, ceilings, electrical work, painting and installation separately, so you are comparing the same scope.
How long does an interior project take?
It depends on the size of the space, how much made-to-measure furniture you need, the finishes, and how quickly the design is approved. Ask for a written timeline with clear stages. It is most reliable when it is agreed after the design is approved and before fabrication starts.
How do I check an interior design company is genuine before paying?
Ask to see finished projects you can visit or a past client you can call, read their Google reviews, and check that it is a registered company. Before you pay anything, get a written quote that lists the scope, and make sure every payment gets a receipt in the company's name.