Got questions about interior design? You’re not alone.

At Akiva, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners across the UK and Europe, and we know the same questions often come up, from how much interior design costs to what styles we offer.

This FAQ page covers everything from our pricing structure and design process to site visits, styling, and more, so you can feel confident about starting your renovation journey with us.

 

 General Questions

  • We are hired from homeowners nationwide for our award winning Interior design solutions and procurement service. Our clients are able to measure their home with ease using our easy to follow “How to measure guide

    Within the Greater London area we are able to connect our clients with builders and decorators to help realise your design

  • Yes, we offer a free initial consultation in the form of a discovery call, which typically lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. Before the call, we ask clients to share relevant information to help make the conversation as efficient and productive as possible. During the call, we discuss the best approach for their inquiry and provide tailored recommendations. Based on their requirements, clients can even receive a free proposal outlining how we can help bring their vision to life.Description text goes here

  • We believe in 100% transparency when it comes to design, which is why we offer fixed-price packages—Basic, Premium, and Deluxe—based on the room and its size. Our complete design packages include everything required to finish your room, with the exception of bespoke furniture design and 3D renders, which are optional upgrades. For larger homes or entire floor levels, we are happy to explore any offers we can make at the time, although this is typically assessed on a per-project basis. We encourage you to review our comparison charts to see the deliverables included in each design package.

    If you don’t require a full interior design solution, we also offer fixed-price styling packages and space planning packages to suit your specific needs. Upgrades for custom-made furniture design and 3D renders can be added for all rooms or just a single room, depending on your preferences.

 

Questions regarding site visits and measured surveys

  • A site visit isn’t always essential, but it can make a big difference. During a home visit, our designers can see the space in person, take accurate measurements, and understand natural light, layout, and existing features that may not show up on photos or old floor plans. For larger renovations or structural changes, a visit is strongly recommended, while for smaller styling projects we can often work remotely using photos, videos, or existing drawings.

  • At Akiva, we believe that our site visits provide valuable and personalised advice that can significantly enhance the design of your space.

    Our designers invest a considerable amount of time and effort into understanding your specific requirements, preferences, and vision for your space.

    During the site visit, we examine the existing space, assess the design requirements, and provide tailored recommendations to create a cohesive and functional design.

    Our team of designers are highly experienced and trained to provide expert advice on colour schemes, furniture placement, lighting, and other design elements to create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing space.

    While our site visits are not free, we strive to provide transparent pricing and ensure that our fees are competitive and reasonable.

    Our designers are committed to delivering high-quality services and creating a space that meets your unique needs and preferences.

    We believe that our site visits are an investment in creating a beautiful and functional space that you'll love for years to come.

  • During a site visit, one of our designers will walk through your home with you to understand your goals and challenges. If purchased, we’ll take precise measurements, note structural details, and assess lighting, circulation, and storage potential. It’s also a chance to discuss your ideas, budget, and style preferences in person. Afterward, we use this information to create accurate plans and tailored design proposals that reflect both your lifestyle and the space itself.

  • Yes, Akiva offers virtual site visits for homeowners who prefer remote support. Using video calls, photos, and floor plans, our designers can review your space, answer questions, and provide guidance without needing to be on-site. For larger renovation projects, we may still recommend an in-person visit to ensure accurate measurements and technical details are captured.

  • A measured survey provides an accurate record of your property’s dimensions, which is essential for creating reliable floor plans and design proposals. Without precise measurements, even small errors can lead to costly issues during construction, like customer furniture not fitting, misaligned fittings, or delays with contractors. A professional survey ensures every detail is correct from the start, giving you and your builders confidence in the design.

 

Questions regarding Interior design

  • An interior designer helps transform your home into a functional and beautiful space that reflects your lifestyle. At Akiva, we go beyond choosing colours and furniture, we create floor plans, 3D visuals, and technical drawings, advise on materials, and ensure every detail is planned before work begins. Our role is to guide you through the entire process, making renovations less stressful and more successful.

  • Yes, hiring an interior designer can save you money in the long run. By planning your space correctly from the start, we help avoid costly mistakes such as buying furniture that doesn’t fit, poor lighting placement, or redoing finishes. Akiva also passes on trade discounts from trusted suppliers, meaning our clients often save more than the cost of the design fee itself.

  • At Akiva, we take pride in our talented team of designers who excel at transforming spaces into stunning, functional environments.

    With their diverse expertise, we offer an extensive range of design styles, from timeless classics like Traditional and Mid-Century Modern to contemporary favourites like Minimalist, Scandinavian, and Industrial. Whether you’re drawn to Eclectic or Bohemian vibes or prefer the sleek elegance of Modern or Contemporary styles, our team has the creativity and skill to bring your vision to life.

    Our designers are dedicated to understanding your unique preferences and needs, collaborating closely with you to craft a space that perfectly reflects your personal style and individuality.

  • At Akiva, we have the freedom to offer furniture from a wide range of well-known brands, and we're committed to providing personalised design solutions that meet your unique preferences and requirements.

    We have established loyal relationships with many of these suppliers, which enables us to pass on great discounts to you.

    It's important to note that our recommendations are unbiased and based solely on our expertise in design and your individual needs.

    Our ultimate goal is to help you create a space you love, and we're dedicated to working closely with you to achieve this goal.

  • At Akiva, we recognise that hallways are not typically considered a room in the traditional sense. Therefore, we offer hourly consultancy services for these spaces instead of including them in our interior design packages. Our consultancy services mean that we provide recommendations for everything you may need in your hallway, including furniture, lighting, and decor. However, we do not provide the same level of technical design for hallways as we do for other rooms in your home or building.

    When you hire us for our hourly consultancy services for your hallway, you can still expect to receive a mood board and a shopping list, which will help you visualise the recommended products to create a cohesive and stylish hallway.

    Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions about our consultancy services for hallways or any of our interior design packages.

  • Yes, we do offer flexible payment options for our interior design packages and furniture purchases.

    We understand that investing in your home can be a significant expense, so we have partnered with a well known lender to help spread the cost. You can choose to pay for your purchases in instalments, rather than all at once.

    This can make it easier to manage your budget and get the home design you've always wanted. Please let us know if you have any questions about our payment options.

  • At Akiva, we take pride in providing excellent customer service, which has been recognised for nine consecutive years. Our secret?

    We offer an easy and convenient way for you to communicate with our team.

    Once you start working with us, you'll receive a link to download our app, where you can access your entire project. This means you can communicate with us from anywhere and share anything you want, without having to download or share anything outside of your project. Plus, if you need to add anyone else to your project, we can do that for you, saving you time and hassle.

    If you choose to work with any of our preferred installers or tradesmen, they'll be automatically added to your project, keeping everything in one place for easy tracking. And once your project is complete, we'll archive it safely, so you can access it again with just one click.

    No emails, no fuss. Just easy, streamlined communication with Akiva.

 

Questions regarding design implementation

  • Yes. At Akiva, our involvement doesn’t end when the design is signed off. We can support you through the implementation phase by reviewing technical questions, advising on finishes, and ensuring contractors have the information they need to execute the design correctly. For full peace of mind, many homeowners choose our Post-Design Support packages, which include site checks and milestone reviews.

  • Yes, we can suggest trusted builders, decorators, and specialist contractors that we or our clients have worked with successfully in the past. These trades operate independently of Akiva, so you should always vet them directly, as we cannot take responsibility for their pricing or workmanship. Many of our clients have hired them and been very satisfied. If you’d like us to liaise with your chosen trades during the build, this service is available exclusively through our Post-Design Support packages.

 

Questions regarding product sourcing and procurement

  • The procurement service is where we purchase all of the items on your behalf, the reason why it’s so popular is because we take care of it all, you have one single point of contact for all orders, we pass on any discounts that we get to you and give you access to a schedule with tracking links and more. We offer three variations the the service which are called

    Lite - Pro and Pro +

    We suggest that you compare them and then contact us with any further questions

  • Yes and you can view the entire list here. Please bare in mind that it is an ever growing list and the data is being constantly updated so the best thing to do is check with a member of the team to confirm any of the details before you buy.

  • The discounts we pass on are usually discounts off of the RRP price from the supplier or brand. Sometimes the supplier or brands website may run a sale and on the rare occasion a particular item maybe not warrant the discount we can offer or the level of discount we can offer may change.

  • Our procurement service is valid for 12 months from acceptance, this means that you can stage your payments over time and priorities items that you wish to buy immediately. Most client’s purchase the items that come with longer lead times first and then come back at a later date to purchase the rest.

  • The procurement service itself does not include procurement but should you need help with the assembling of items we can consider that when adding the shipping costs because many suppliers offer assembly options within their delivery fees, commonly known as a “White glove service”

    It’s worth mentioning that our pro + option enables us to send all items to a secured location minimising the risk of items being out of stock or discontinued. These are then checked for any damages and held until you need them. Then everything is delivered in a single delivery. This is perfect if you don’t have access to your property yet but want to place orders, or perhaps you have the house full of builders and don’t want to risk any damage to your precious items.

 

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