Office Interior Design in London: Process, Fees and Costs

Office interior design in London usually runs from brief and space plan through concept, detailed design and delivery over 6 to 14 weeks before work starts, with the finished scheme typically costing £40 to £95 per sq ft to build as a refurbishment or £120 to £200 per sq ft as a full Cat B fit-out; standalone design fees are often around £5 to £20 per sq ft, while design and build includes design in one price.

Fees and costs depend on size, complexity and how design is procured. Office Refurbishment London designs and builds offices across London, so the same team that designs your space delivers it.

What does an office interior designer do?

An office interior designer turns how your business works into a layout and a look. That means understanding your teams, how often people come in and what they come in for, then planning the space so it supports that. The designer chooses materials, colours, furniture, lighting and finishes, and produces the drawings and specifications needed to price, approve and build the scheme. Good office design balances how the space looks with how it works, what it costs and how easy it is to maintain.

Work out a budget for your own floor area, scope and location with our office fit-out cost calculator.

How does the office design process work?

1. Brief. Start with a workplace review: headcount now and in the future, attendance patterns, team relationships, meeting needs, focus needs, technology and brand. Staff surveys or workshops help.

2. Space plan. The designer tests layouts against the brief, showing desk numbers, meeting rooms, booths, kitchen and breakout space. This is the most important stage for getting value from the space.

3. Concept. Mood boards, material palettes and visuals set the look and feel. An early cost plan checks that the concept fits the budget.

4. Detailed design. Drawings and specifications for partitions, ceilings, lighting, finishes, joinery and furniture, coordinated with mechanical and electrical design.

5. Approvals and delivery. The design is submitted for landlord and building control approval and then built.

How much does office interior design cost in London?

The cost of building the design is usually far larger than the design fee:

Excluding VAT. See our UK office refurbishment cost guide for more detail.

What should an office design brief include?

• Headcount now and in three to five years.
• Attendance on the busiest days, and which teams come in together.
• Meeting rooms by size, booths and focus spaces.
• Kitchen, breakout, events and client spaces.
• Technology: video conferencing, screens, Wi-Fi, access control.
• Brand, values and the impression you want to give.
• Accessibility and inclusion needs, including neurodiversity.
• Sustainability goals and appetite for reuse.
• Budget, timescale and lease position.

How do you choose an office interior designer in London?

Look at completed work, ideally in similar buildings, sizes and sectors. Ask how they test layouts, how they control cost during design and how designs are delivered on site. Check they understand London building rules, landlord approvals and fire strategies. Ask to speak to recent clients. Our guide to choosing an office fit-out company in London has a fuller checklist.

Should you use design and build or a separate designer?

Our guide to office design and build in London explains how it works.

People reading this often go on to ask about office relocation.

What makes a good London office design?

• Choice of settings for different tasks.
• Enough meeting rooms and booths, especially small ones.
• Good acoustics, so open areas are usable.
• Daylight, fresh air and comfortable temperatures.
• A welcoming arrival and social hub.
• Brand expressed through materials and use, not just logos.
• Accessible, inclusive design for all staff and visitors.
• Reuse and durable materials.

Our guide to modern office design ideas has more examples.

How do you design for different London buildings?

London's office stock is varied, and the design should work with the building rather than against it. In Victorian and Edwardian buildings in areas such as Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and Soho, exposed brick, timber floors and high ceilings are often worth celebrating, but services have to be routed carefully and listed status may limit changes. In 1980s and 1990s buildings, deep floor plates and lower ceilings call for good lighting and careful placement of rooms so daylight reaches the desks. In new towers in the City and Canary Wharf, high-quality Cat A finishes and strict building rules shape what can be changed. A survey at the start tells the designer what the building allows and what it costs to change.

What does good design look like on the day you move in?

The test of a design is whether people can do their work easily from the first day: finding a desk near their team, booking a room that has working screens, making a call without disturbing others and making a coffee without a queue. A short review a few months after moving in, asking staff what works and what does not, helps fine-tune furniture, booking rules and room uses.

How long does office interior design take?

From brief to construction drawings, design usually takes 6 to 14 weeks depending on size and how quickly decisions are made. Approvals and ordering can run alongside detailed design. Construction then takes 2 to 20 weeks or more. Starting design before you sign a lease, with a test-fit space plan, can save time and confirm the space works.

Can interior design reduce fit-out costs?

Yes. Good space planning can reduce the area you need, which reduces rent and fit-out cost. Designing around existing partitions, services and kitchens can cut construction cost by 25 to 40%. Standard products with short lead times keep programmes and prices under control.

Talk to us about your office design

Share your brief, floor plan and dates, and we will arrange a survey and prepare a space plan and budget. Request a quote and we will be in touch.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Office Fit-Out Cost per Sq Ft and per m² in London (2026)
• Small Office Fit Out and Design: Ideas, Costs and Timescales
• Cat A vs Cat B Fit Out: What’s the Difference? (2026)
• Acoustic Office Partitions: Ratings, Types and Costs
• Glass Office Partitions London: Systems and Costs
• Office Fit-Out Cost Calculator London (2026)
• Office refurbishment and fit-out in London
• Areas of London we cover