How much does interior design cost in Nairobi?

The honest answer is that it depends on what you count. People asking this question usually mean one of three things: the design fee, the cost of the work, or the total for a finished room. This article separates them and gives the ranges we see on our own Nairobi projects. All figures are indicative and were current when written; your quote will be itemised and specific.

1. Design fees

A design fee pays for measuring, layouts, a mood board and a finish schedule. In Nairobi, single-room design fees typically run from Ksh 15,000 to Ksh 40,000. Whole-apartment design runs from about Ksh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000 depending on the size and whether 3D views are included. Many studios, including ours, deduct the design fee from the project cost if they also do the implementation.

2. Implementation costs

This is where the money goes. As rough per-item ranges for Nairobi in 2026:

• Interior painting including preparation: Ksh 350 to 650 per square metre of wall
• Flat gypsum ceiling: Ksh 1,800 to 2,800 per square metre, more with LED coves
• Laminate or SPC flooring installed: Ksh 2,200 to 3,800 per square metre
• Fitted kitchen: Ksh 180,000 for a compact melamine kitchen to Ksh 1 million and above with stone tops and appliances
• Bathroom renovation: Ksh 150,000 to 500,000
• Made-to-measure curtains: Ksh 4,500 to 12,000 per metre of window width

3. Finished-room totals

Putting it together, a 2-bedroom apartment refresh with paint, ceilings, flooring, curtains and some furniture typically lands between Ksh 400,000 and Ksh 900,000. A 3-bedroom apartment with a new kitchen and two bathrooms is usually Ksh 1.2 million to Ksh 2.5 million. A full house renovation starts around Ksh 2 million and can go much higher.

What moves the number most

• Kitchens and bathrooms. Anything involving plumbing, tiling and cabinets costs several times more per square metre than paint or ceilings.
• Materials grade. Quartz versus laminate worktops, engineered wood versus laminate floors, and branded versus generic sanitaryware can double a line item.
• Access and building rules. Apartments with no service lift, restricted hours or long carrying distances add labour days.

If you want a number for your own space, the quickest route is the quote form: photos, sizes and a budget range are enough for us to tell you within a working day whether what you want fits what you plan to spend.