Full House Interior Design Cost in Kenya
What a whole-house interior really costs, what is inside the price, and how to build a budget you can trust.
By the SUIMAS Interior Designers team, Nairobi
Quick answer Full house interior design in Kenya costs roughly KES 5,000 to 12,000 per m² at budget level, KES 12,000 to 30,000 per m² at mid-range, and KES 30,000 to 75,000+ per m² for luxury. In square feet that is about KES 465 to 1,115, KES 1,115 to 2,790 and KES 2,790 to 6,970+. For a 3-bedroom home of around 130 m², the works come to roughly KES 0.7M to 1.5M (budget), KES 1.5M to 4M (mid-range) or KES 4M to 10M+ (luxury). Those figures leave out furniture. Once you add VAT, contingency and design fees, plan for about 30 to 40% more than the works subtotal.
Search for what a whole-house interior costs in Kenya and the answers seem to argue with each other. One page says KES 1,500 per m². Another says KES 25,000. A third says KES 3,000 to 8,000 per square foot. They can all be “right”, because each one measures something different: design fees only, finishes only, or a furnished, move-in-ready home.
This guide untangles that. It shows what a full-house price actually covers, gives every rate in both m² and square feet, prices each room and element separately, and adds up a complete 3-bedroom budget at three levels so you can follow the arithmetic. It also covers the extras that quietly add 30 to 40% to the final bill, so the number you plan is the number you pay.
1. What “full house interior design” actually includes
Most quotations bundle three separate costs together:
- Design. Layouts, 3D visuals, material boards, drawings and specifications.
- Fit-out (the works). Everything fixed to the building: floors, ceilings, paint, joinery, kitchen, bathrooms, doors, lighting, feature walls.
- Furniture and decor. Sofas, beds, tables, rugs, art, accessories and often curtains.
Some firms price all three. Others price one and call it “the cost of interior design”. That is the biggest reason two quotations for the same house can be a million shillings apart.
Here is a simple scope ladder for a 3-bedroom home of about 130 m² (works only, excluding furniture and VAT):
| Level | What it covers | Indicative cost (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Refresh | Paint, lighting upgrades, curtains and blinds, minor repairs, styling | 300,000 to 700,000 |
| 2. Key-room makeover | Level 1 plus kitchen, bathrooms, ceilings and main-area flooring | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 |
| 3. Full fit-out | Every room, including wardrobes, doors, feature walls, lighting and window dressing | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 (mid-range), 4,000,000 to 10,000,000+ (luxury) |
| 4. Turnkey and furnished | Level 3 plus furniture and decor | Add 800,000 to 2,500,000 for mid-range furniture |
Before you compare any two prices, work out which level each one is quoting.
2. Full house interior cost by house type
These are totals for the works, excluding furniture and VAT, in Nairobi.
| House type | Typical floor area | Basic (KES) | Mid-range (KES) | Luxury (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio or bedsitter | 25 to 45 m² | 150,000 to 400,000 | 400,000 to 800,000 | 800,000 to 2,000,000+ |
| 1-bedroom apartment | 45 to 75 m² | 300,000 to 700,000 | 600,000 to 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 to 3,000,000+ |
| 2-bedroom apartment | 65 to 100 m² | 500,000 to 1,200,000 | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 | 2,500,000 to 5,000,000+ |
| 3-bedroom house | 100 to 160 m² | 700,000 to 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 to 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 to 10,000,000+ |
| 4-bedroom maisonette | 200 to 300 m² | 1,200,000 to 2,500,000 | 2,500,000 to 7,000,000 | 7,000,000 to 18,000,000+ |
| 5-bedroom villa | 280 to 700 m² | 2,400,000 to 6,300,000 | 6,300,000 to 12,000,000 | 12,000,000 to 35,000,000+ |
Small homes cost more per m² than big ones because a kitchen and a bathroom don’t shrink with the floor area. Villas swing the other way: the range is wide because a 700 m² house with double-height spaces is a very different job from a 280 m² one.
For deeper dives on specific homes, see our guides to maisonette interior design cost and 5-bedroom house interior design cost.
3. Cost per m² and per square foot
Some designers quote per m², some per square foot. One m² is about 10.76 square feet, so the same price looks very different depending on the unit.
| Level | Per m² (KES) | Per square foot (KES) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 5,000 to 12,000 | 465 to 1,115 |
| Mid-range | 12,000 to 30,000 | 1,115 to 2,790 |
| Luxury | 30,000 to 75,000+ | 2,790 to 6,970+ |
Check it against the table above. A 130 m² 3-bedroom house at mid-range is 130 × 12,000 to 130 × 30,000, which is KES 1.56M to 3.9M. The house-type table says KES 1.5M to 4M. They agree, and that is the point: the rates and the totals describe the same thing.
If you see a mid-range whole-house figure well outside this band, ask what is left out. It is usually joinery, bathrooms or ceilings.
Budget your own house in five steps
- Measure the floor area of the rooms being done, in m². Plans or title documents usually give it.
- Pick a level from the scope ladder and a tier (budget, mid-range or luxury).
- Multiply the area by the per-m² range. That gives you a range for the works.
- Add the extras. For most projects, multiply the works by about 1.28 to cover 10% contingency and 16% VAT. If design is billed separately at about 10%, use about 1.40 instead.
- Add furniture on top, because almost everyone forgets it.
Example: a 90 m² two-bedroom apartment at mid-range. Works are 90 × 12,000 to 90 × 30,000, so KES 1.08M to 2.7M. Multiply by 1.28 and the planning budget is about KES 1.38M to 3.45M before furniture.
4. What budget, mid-range and luxury actually buy
“Luxury” is thrown around loosely. Here is what each level usually means in real materials.
| Element | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joinery boards | Blockboard or laminated MDF | Marine or waterproof board, branded boards | Veneer, lacquer, imported boards |
| Hardware | Standard hinges and runners | Branded soft-close | Imported, integrated lighting |
| Floors | Ceramic tile, vinyl | Large-format porcelain, SPC | Imported porcelain, engineered timber, natural stone |
| Ceilings | Flat gypsum | Tray ceilings with LED cove | Multi-level, feature and acoustic ceilings |
| Paint | Standard emulsion, two coats | Premium paint, skim and three coats | Textured and special finishes such as microcement |
| Bathrooms | Standard sanitaryware and tiles | Porcelain tiles, quality vanity, rain shower | Imported stone, freestanding bath, premium fittings |
| Doors | Standard flush doors | Quality flush or veneer doors | Solid timber or veneer, large glazed doors |
| Lighting | Basic fittings | Layered LED lighting | Designed scheme, dimmable, statement pieces |
| Window dressing | Ready-made curtains | Made-to-measure drapes and blinds | Layered or motorised systems |
Most people who ask for “high-end” are happiest with a strong mid-range house and two or three luxury moments: a stone island, a feature ceiling, one imported light. Spending luxury money on every surface rarely shows in the result.
5. Cost by room
These are fit-out costs per room, excluding furniture and VAT.
| Room | Budget (KES) | Mid-range (KES) | Luxury (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living and dining (about 25 m²) | 200,000 to 450,000 | 450,000 to 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000+ |
| Kitchen | 250,000 to 600,000 | 600,000 to 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000+ |
| Master bedroom (excluding bathroom) | 150,000 to 300,000 | 300,000 to 600,000 | 600,000 to 1,500,000+ |
| Other bedroom | 90,000 to 200,000 | 200,000 to 400,000 | 400,000 to 900,000+ |
| Bathroom (each) | 73,000 to 140,000 | 140,000 to 365,000 | 365,000 to 1,150,000+ |
| Home office or study | 60,000 to 150,000 | 150,000 to 350,000 | 350,000 to 800,000+ |
| Staircase (maisonettes) | 100,000 to 300,000 | 300,000 to 700,000 | 700,000 to 1,500,000+ |
| Entrance, corridors and balcony | 40,000 to 120,000 | 120,000 to 300,000 | 300,000 to 800,000+ |
The kitchen is the biggest single room cost, and the one most worth getting right. Our full guide to modern kitchen designs and prices in Kenya breaks it down by layout, cabinets, worktops and appliances. If the kitchen is part of a bigger renovation, see kitchen renovation costs in Muthaiga for a high-end example, and the kitchen cabinets and fittings range from our sister company Commercial Kitchens Kenya.
6. Cost by element
The same costs viewed by material instead of by room. These are the rates behind the sample budget in the next section.
| Element | Unit | Budget (KES) | Mid-range (KES) | Luxury (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring, supplied and fixed | per m² | 1,500 to 3,500 | 3,500 to 7,500 | 7,500 to 14,000+ |
| Gypsum ceilings | per m² | 1,200 to 2,000 | 2,000 to 3,500 | 3,500 to 5,500+ |
| Painting (wall and ceiling surface) | per m² | 120 to 200 | 200 to 350 | 350 to 1,200 |
| Wardrobes | per running foot | 8,000 to 11,000 | 11,000 to 16,000 | 18,000 to 30,000+ |
| Internal doors, with frame and ironmongery | each | 14,000 to 22,000 | 22,000 to 45,000 | 45,000 to 150,000+ |
| Bathroom, full refit | each | 73,000 to 140,000 | 140,000 to 365,000 | 365,000 to 1,150,000+ |
| Lighting package, excluding kitchen (3-bedroom) | package | 40,000 to 100,000 | 100,000 to 350,000 | 350,000 to 1,000,000+ |
| TV wall or feature wall | each | 40,000 to 80,000 | 80,000 to 250,000 | 250,000 to 600,000+ |
| Curtains and blinds | per window | 3,000 to 8,000 | 8,000 to 30,000 | 30,000 to 60,000+ |
| Kitchen, complete | per kitchen | 250,000 to 600,000 | 600,000 to 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 to 3,000,000+ |
Notes that save money:
- Floors are often the biggest line after the kitchen. Large tiles mean fewer grout lines and less cleaning. Our guides to tiling costs and flooring solutions explain the options, and we can handle floor installation as part of the project.
- Ceilings change a room more than almost anything else for the money. See typical prices in our gypsum ceiling and lighting installation cost guide or our gypsum ceilings and integrated lighting service.
- Paint is the cheapest upgrade per square metre. Skimming and priming properly matters more than the paint brand. See painting and special effect finishes.
- Feature walls such as fluted panels, wall units and textured finishes are covered in wall finishes and feature walls.
- Doors and windows in aluminium resist termites and humidity. Our sister company makes aluminium doors and aluminium windows, and can build glazed screens for home offices and partitions.
Furniture (not included above):
| Furniture | Budget (KES) | Mid-range (KES) | Luxury (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room set | 80,000 to 150,000 | 150,000 to 450,000 | 450,000 to 1,500,000+ |
| Dining table and chairs | 40,000 to 80,000 | 80,000 to 250,000 | 250,000 to 800,000+ |
| Master bedroom furniture | 50,000 to 120,000 | 120,000 to 350,000 | 350,000 to 1,200,000+ |
| Whole house, 3-bedroom | 400,000 to 800,000 | 800,000 to 2,500,000 | 2,500,000 to 8,000,000+ |
Stand-alone 3D renders, if you want visuals without the fit-out, are usually priced per room at roughly KES 15,000 to 80,000.
7. A worked 3-bedroom budget at three levels
Here is a complete example: a 3-bedroom home of 130 m² with 110 m² of floor to tile, 100 m² of ceilings, about 390 m² of painted surface, a kitchen, three wardrobes (10 ft, 8 ft and 8 ft), two bathrooms, seven internal doors and nine windows. It excludes furniture, strip-out and VAT.
| Item | Budget (KES) | Mid-range (KES) | Luxury (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring, 110 m² (2,000 / 5,000 / 9,500) | 220,000 | 550,000 | 1,045,000 |
| Gypsum ceilings, 100 m² (1,300 / 2,800 / 4,500) | 130,000 | 280,000 | 450,000 |
| Painting, 390 m² (150 / 250 / 450) | 58,500 | 97,500 | 175,500 |
| Kitchen (L-shape, finish level varies) | 420,000 | 609,000 | 1,600,000 |
| Wardrobes, 26 ft in total | 218,000 | 316,000 | 602,000 |
| Bathrooms, 2 (90,000 / 200,000 / 450,000 each) | 180,000 | 400,000 | 900,000 |
| Internal doors, 7 (15,000 / 28,000 / 65,000 each) | 105,000 | 196,000 | 455,000 |
| Lighting package, excluding kitchen | 50,000 | 180,000 | 450,000 |
| TV wall or feature wall | 50,000 | 150,000 | 350,000 |
| Curtains and blinds, 9 windows | 49,500 | 135,000 | 270,000 |
| Works subtotal | 1,481,000 | 2,913,500 | 6,297,500 |
| Per m² (130 m²) | about 11,400 | about 22,400 | about 48,400 |
| Per square foot | about 1,060 | about 2,080 | about 4,500 |
The mid-range kitchen is the 16 ft L-shape from our kitchen guide, before flooring and demolition. In this house, the kitchen and bathrooms together take about 35% of the mid-range works, flooring about 19%, and wardrobes about 11%.
From the sticker price to the real budget
The works subtotal is not what you will spend. Add design and supervision (if billed as a separate line), a contingency, and VAT.
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works subtotal | 1,481,000 | 2,913,500 | 6,297,500 |
| Design and supervision at 10% | 148,100 | 291,350 | 629,750 |
| Contract value | 1,629,100 | 3,204,850 | 6,927,250 |
| Contingency reserve at 10% | 162,910 | 320,485 | 692,725 |
| VAT at 16% on contract and reserve | 286,722 | 564,054 | 1,219,196 |
| Planning budget before furniture | about 2,079,000 | about 4,090,000 | about 8,839,000 |
That is roughly 40% above the sticker price. If design is already built into an itemised BOQ rather than billed separately, drop the 10% line and the uplift is about 28%.
Add furniture at the bottom: mid-range furniture for this house is KES 800,000 to 2,500,000. A furnished, move-in-ready, mid-range 3-bedroom therefore lands around KES 4.9M to 6.6M all in. That is not a scare figure. It is simply what the full scope costs when nothing is left out.
8. Design fees: how designers charge
Designers in Kenya price in one of five ways.
| Model | Typical range | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per m², design only | KES 1,500 to 10,000 per m² | Whole homes where you manage the trades | What the fee includes: drawings only, or sourcing and supervision too |
| Per room | From KES 25,000 design-only to KES 150,000 per room | One or two rooms | The price jumping once the design is done |
| Percentage of project cost | 10 to 20% of the project | Turnkey and renovation projects | What the percentage is applied to |
| Hourly consultation | Roughly KES 3,000 to 15,000 per hour | Advice only | Time adding up faster than expected |
| Built into the BOQ | Included in an itemised fit-out price | Design-and-build projects | Check the design line is visible |
On a 130 m² house, a design-only fee of KES 1,500 to 10,000 per m² is KES 195,000 to 1,300,000. That spread is huge, so the question that matters is not “what is your rate” but “what does it include?” At the low end you are often buying drawings and a shopping list. At the high end the fee should cover sourcing, supplier negotiation, trade coordination and site visits.
At SUIMAS, the design work is built into the itemised BOQ instead of being billed as a separate fee on top of the fit-out. For more on fees across the market, see how much interior designers charge in Kenya.
9. Designer, fundis or one design-and-build team?
The route you choose changes your cost and your risk more than almost any material.
| Route | Who coordinates | Cost level | Main risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hire fundis directly | You | Lowest upfront | Mismatched finishes, rework, nobody accountable for the whole | One simple room, a hands-on owner |
| Design only | You, with a plan | The design fee | Execution drifts from the plan | Owners who want to manage trades |
| Design and supply | Shared | Fee plus materials | Installers are still yours to manage | Owners who want control of specifications |
| Design and build, one team | The firm | Highest upfront, usually lowest overall risk | Choosing the wrong firm | Full houses and projects on a deadline |
A fundi is cheaper on paper, because there is no design fee. In practice the saving often disappears into rework, wrong materials ordered in bulk and finishes that don’t match. A designer earns the fee back on larger or higher-spec jobs. For a single simple room on a tight budget, a good fundi with a clear reference photo can be exactly right.
If it’s a rental or short-let: spend where guests photograph and notice, which is the living area, the bed and the bathroom, and keep the rest durable and easy to clean. We deliberately don’t quote returns on investment here, because they depend entirely on the property and the market.
10. New build or renovation, and where the house is
Empty shell or occupied home. A new, empty house is the cheapest to finish. A renovation adds strip-out and disposal, making good, and the work of protecting what stays. Expect KES 80,000 to 300,000 for a whole-house strip-out, plus allowance for repairs behind what you remove. For complete renovations, see Renovation by SUIMAS Interiors or our renovation services.
| Factor | Typical effect on cost |
|---|---|
| Nairobi | Baseline |
| Satellite towns (Kiambu, Ruiru, Kitengela, Ngong) | Similar to Nairobi, plus transport |
| Coast (Mombasa, Diani, Malindi) | Roughly 5 to 10% more for humidity-rated materials and transport |
| Upcountry and remote sites | Roughly 15 to 25% more for transport and limited skilled labour |
| Apartment blocks | Management rules on working hours, lift protection and deposits |
| Gated estates | Contractor approvals and security passes |
| Structural changes | Wall removal and new openings need an engineer and approvals |
11. Hidden costs that change the final bill
The gap between a quotation and the final invoice almost always comes from this list. Ask about each one.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| VAT | 16% of the invoiced amount |
| Strip-out and disposal (renovation) | KES 80,000 to 300,000 for a whole house |
| Transport and delivery | KES 30,000 to 200,000, more outside Nairobi |
| Building management fees, lift protection, deposits | Varies by building, so ask before booking contractors |
| Electrical rewiring or board upgrade | Roughly KES 100,000 to 400,000 for a whole house, depending on age and size |
| Plumbing relocation or re-piping | Roughly KES 30,000 to 150,000 |
| Wall repairs, plastering and levelling | Roughly KES 30,000 to 200,000 |
| Structural changes, with engineer | KES 80,000 to 400,000+ |
| Snagging and final cleaning | Roughly KES 15,000 to 60,000 |
| Contingency | 10 to 15% of the contract |
None of these disappear because a quotation leaves them out. They just arrive later as “variations”. Ask for strip-out, structural and electrical works to be priced separately from finishes.
12. How long it takes
| Project | Typical time on site |
|---|---|
| Refresh (paint, lighting, curtains) | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Single room | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Key-room makeover | 6 to 10 weeks |
| 2 to 3 bedroom full fit-out | 8 to 16 weeks |
| Maisonette or villa | 12 to 24 weeks |
Design and approvals usually take 2 to 4 weeks before work starts. The things that stretch a timeline are long-lead items: imported tiles and lighting can take 4 to 8 weeks, custom joinery 3 to 5 weeks, and made-to-measure curtains 2 to 3 weeks. Order those first and let local work run alongside them.
The fastest way to lose time is changing the design after fabrication has begun. Approve the 3D design properly first. Our 3D interior design renders show every room before a single board is cut.
13. Phasing and funding a full house project
Not everyone can pay for a whole house at once, and you don’t have to.
Phase the finishes, not the infrastructure. This is the rule that saves the most money. Do all the work hidden behind walls and ceilings for the entire house in one go: electrical conduits, plumbing, waterproofing and ceiling framing. Then phase the visible finishes room by room. Doing infrastructure room by room means opening up finished walls later.
A sensible order:
- Phase 1 (about 40 to 50% of the budget): all hidden works, kitchen, master suite, main living floor and ceilings.
- Phase 2 (about 30 to 35%): secondary bedrooms, extra bathrooms, doors, wardrobes and wall features.
- Phase 3 (about 15 to 25%): window dressing, furniture, decor and outdoor areas.
Ways people fund it. Savings and income released in stages, SACCO or bank loans, employer loans, and remittances sent in tranches. Some lenders and SACCOs offer development or home-improvement loans. Terms differ widely, so ask what they will finance, over what period, and whether they will pay a contractor directly.
Fitting out from abroad. If you live outside Kenya, insist on 3D approval of every room by video call, milestone payments tied to delivery and progress, regular photo and video updates, and one trusted person on site for handover. Never send the whole amount upfront.
14. Materials that hold up in Kenyan homes
A cheap material that fails in a few years is the most expensive choice. A few local realities to plan around:
- Humidity and water. Avoid particle board anywhere near water. Use waterproof or marine board for kitchen and bathroom joinery, and waterproof behind and under tiles before they go on.
- Termites. Aluminium frames and treated boards outlast untreated timber.
- Sun fade. Fabrics, paint and timber near large west or south windows age quickly. Use lined curtains and UV-resistant paint.
- Coastal air. Salt corrodes mild steel. Use powder-coated aluminium or stainless steel.
- Floors. Large-format porcelain handles traffic better than thin ceramic. Solid hardwood is a poor choice in kitchens and wet areas.
- Hard water. In some areas it marks glass and chrome fittings, so choose finishes that clean easily.
15. How style changes the price
Style has a real price, mostly through materials and labour rather than taste.
| Style | Cost effect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Warm contemporary | Best value | Local timber, woven textures and earthy paint are made here and survive the sun |
| Modern minimalist | Mid to high | Plain surfaces hide nothing, so joinery, paint and tiling must be near-perfect |
| Japandi | Mid | Light timber and quiet palettes, with the cost driven by veneer vs laminate |
| Industrial | Low to mid | Raw surfaces cost less, but good metalwork and lighting are needed to look deliberate |
| Classic or ornate | Highest | Cornices, panelling and detailed joinery are mostly labour |
| Luxury contemporary | High | Stone, veneer and statement lighting |
16. How to save without making the house look cheap
Where to save
- Keep the existing layout, especially wet areas. Moving plumbing is the quickest way to add cost.
- Use one premium surface as a feature, such as a stone island, and a good standard finish elsewhere.
- Keep joinery simple: flat panels instead of routed doors.
- Use the same floor and ceiling language throughout the house for visual flow and fewer trades.
- Buy ready-made curtains for secondary rooms and made-to-measure for the living room.
- Phase furniture over time instead of filling the house on day one.
Where not to save
- Waterproofing, electrical and plumbing quality.
- The board and hinges in the kitchen and wardrobes.
- Good design and measurement before anything is cut.
- Ceiling and lighting plans, which are hard to change later.
17. How to compare quotations
Put two quotations side by side and check each of these:
- Is it itemised, with quantities and rates, or just a lump sum?
- Which materials and brands are named for boards, hardware, tiles and paint?
- Is VAT included or excluded?
- Is furniture included or excluded?
- Are strip-out, transport and structural works shown?
- Who handles supervision?
- What are the payment milestones?
- How are variations priced and approved?
What a proper BOQ looks like
Here is a sample extract for a 24 m² living room at mid-range. Every line has a unit, a quantity and a rate.
| No. | Description | Unit | Qty | Rate (KES) | Amount (KES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Large-format porcelain 600 × 1200, supplied and fixed | m² | 24 | 5,500 | 132,000 |
| 2 | Matching porcelain skirting | m | 22 | 450 | 9,900 |
| 3 | Gypsum tray ceiling with LED cove | m² | 24 | 3,000 | 72,000 |
| 4 | Recessed LED downlights, supplied and fitted | no. | 10 | 2,500 | 25,000 |
| 5 | Premium paint, skim and three coats, walls and ceiling | m² | 70 | 250 | 17,500 |
| 6 | TV feature wall with floating unit | item | 1 | 180,000 | 180,000 |
| 7 | Lined drapes with sheers and track | window | 3 | 18,000 | 54,000 |
| Subtotal | 490,400 | ||||
| VAT at 16% | 78,464 | ||||
| Total | 568,864 |
If a quotation can’t be broken down like this, you can’t compare it with anything.
Six signs you may be overpaying or about to be:
- A lump-sum figure with no written, itemised breakdown.
- A deposit of more than about half before any drawings, materials or work.
- Demands for full payment for materials upfront, with no receipts.
- No contract, scope document or timeline.
- Prices that don’t say whether VAT and transport are included.
- Pressure to decide “today” for a discount.
A fair payment plan is staged: a deposit to start, then payments tied to approvals, material delivery and progress, and a final balance after you have inspected and signed off.
18. What we offer at SUIMAS
We design and fit out whole houses across Kenya, from studio flats to villas. You work with one team from the first measurement to the last handover.
Our full house services
- Residential interior design for apartments, bungalows, maisonettes, townhouses and villas
- 3D design and layout planning, so you approve every room before work starts
- Kitchen interior design and bedroom interior design
- Gypsum ceilings with integrated lighting
- Floor installation in porcelain, vinyl, SPC and natural stone
- Built-in wardrobes, TV walls and wall units
- Bathroom design and refit
- Painting, textured walls and special finishes
- Curtains, blinds and window treatments
- Building and construction services for new builds and structural changes
- Project management from concept to handover
How we work
- Free site visit and consultation. We look at the space and talk through your lifestyle, style and budget.
- Measurement and layout. We note where water, drainage and power already sit.
- 3D design. You see each room before anything is made.
- Itemised BOQ. Every line has a quantity and a rate, and the design is built into it rather than billed on top.
- Fit-out. Our in-house team coordinates every trade.
- Inspection and handover. We walk through the house with you and fix anything on the snag list.
Our network, working together
- AluminiumPro Kenya for aluminium doors, windows, partitions and kitchen cabinets
- Commercial Kitchens Kenya for kitchen cabinets, islands, worktops and fittings
- Interior Finishes Kenya for ceilings, floors, wall finishes and residential interior design
- Renovation by SUIMAS Interiors for interior design and full home renovations
- SUIMAS Interiors for design, fit-out and construction
19. Areas we serve
We design and fit out houses across all 47 counties in Kenya.
In Nairobi, we regularly work in Karen, Runda, Muthaiga, Gigiri, Kitisuru, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Westlands, Parklands, Riverside, Spring Valley, Lang’ata, South C, South B, Embakasi, Kasarani, Roysambu, Ruaraka, Ruaka, Kiambu Road and Thika Road.
In and around the city we also serve Kiambu, Ruiru, Juja, Kikuyu, Ngong, Kitengela, Syokimau, Athi River and Machakos, and further afield Mombasa, Nakuru, Naivasha, Nyeri, Eldoret and Kisumu.
Get a full house interior quotation
Send us your floor plan or a few photos, tell us your budget and the rooms you want done, and we will advise on scope, show you a 3D design and give you an itemised BOQ. The site visit is free and there is no obligation.
SUIMAS Interior Designers Solar House, Fourth Floor, Nairobi CBD Phone: 0717 044 443 / 0739 255 050 Email: info@interiordesigners.co.ke
20. Frequently asked questions
How much does full house interior design cost in Kenya?
Full house interior design in Kenya costs roughly KES 5,000 to 12,000 per m² at budget level, KES 12,000 to 30,000 per m² at mid-range and KES 30,000 to 75,000+ per m² for luxury. For a 3-bedroom house of about 130 m², that is roughly KES 0.7M to 1.5M, KES 1.5M to 4M or KES 4M to 10M+, excluding furniture and VAT.
How much is interior design per square foot in Kenya?
The works cost about KES 465 to 1,115 per square foot at budget level, KES 1,115 to 2,790 at mid-range and KES 2,790 to 6,970+ for luxury. One m² equals about 10.76 square feet, so always check whether a quotation uses m² or square feet before comparing prices.
How much does it cost to do the interior of a 3-bedroom house in Kenya?
A 3-bedroom house of 100 to 160 m² typically costs KES 700,000 to 1.5M at budget level, KES 1.5M to 4M at mid-range and KES 4M to 10M+ for luxury. These are works only. A worked mid-range example of 130 m² comes to about KES 2.9M in works and about KES 4.1M once design, contingency and VAT are added.
How much does a 2-bedroom apartment interior cost in Kenya?
A 2-bedroom apartment of 65 to 100 m² typically costs KES 500,000 to 1.2M at budget level, KES 1M to 2.5M at mid-range and KES 2.5M to 5M+ for luxury, excluding furniture and VAT. A 90 m² apartment at mid-range, with contingency and VAT, plans out at about KES 1.38M to 3.45M.
Does the price of a full house interior include furniture?
Often it does not. Many quotations cover only the fit-out: floors, ceilings, paint, joinery, kitchen, bathrooms and lighting. Mid-range furniture for a 3-bedroom house adds roughly KES 800,000 to 2.5M. Always confirm whether furniture, curtains and decor are included before comparing quotations.
How much do interior designers charge in Kenya?
Design-only fees run roughly KES 1,500 to 10,000 per m², KES 25,000 to 150,000 per room, or 10 to 20% of project cost for turnkey work. Hourly consultations are usually KES 3,000 to 15,000. What matters most is what the fee includes: drawings only, or sourcing, coordination and site supervision as well.
Is VAT included in interior design quotations in Kenya?
Not always. VAT is charged at 16%, which adds KES 160,000 to every KES 1,000,000 invoiced. Ask whether each quotation is VAT-inclusive or exclusive, otherwise you may compare two prices that are not on the same basis.
How much extra should I budget on top of the quotation?
Plan for roughly 28% above the works subtotal to cover a 10% contingency and 16% VAT. If design is billed separately at about 10%, plan for around 40%. Renovations may also need strip-out of KES 80,000 to 300,000 and allowance for repairs behind existing finishes.
How long does a full house interior take?
A 2 to 3 bedroom full fit-out usually takes 8 to 16 weeks on site, and a maisonette or villa 12 to 24 weeks, after 2 to 4 weeks of design and approvals. Imported tiles and lighting can add 4 to 8 weeks, so order long-lead items first.
Can I do my house interior in phases?
Yes. Do all the hidden work for the whole house first, such as electrical, plumbing, waterproofing and ceiling framing, then phase the visible finishes room by room. A common split is 40 to 50% in the first phase, 30 to 35% in the second and 15 to 25% in the third.
Is it cheaper to hire a fundi directly instead of an interior designer?
It is cheaper upfront because there is no design fee. The saving can disappear into rework, wrong materials and finishes that do not match, because you become the project manager. A designer or design-and-build team tends to earn its fee back on larger or higher-spec projects.
What is the cheapest way to make a house look finished?
Good paint with proper skimming and priming, a simple gypsum ceiling with LED lighting, matching floors in the main areas and decent curtains give the biggest visual change per shilling. A refresh of this kind for a 3-bedroom house typically costs KES 300,000 to 700,000.
Can I manage a full house interior project from abroad?
Yes, with the right controls. Approve every room in 3D by video call, pay in milestones tied to delivery and progress, ask for regular photo and video updates, and have a trusted person present at handover. Avoid paying the whole amount upfront.
Does SUIMAS do full house interiors outside Nairobi?
Yes. SUIMAS designs and fits out houses across all 47 counties in Kenya. Coastal and remote projects can cost more because of humidity-rated materials and transport, which we show as separate lines in the itemised BOQ.
Keep reading
- Modern kitchen designs and prices in Kenya
- Maisonette interior design cost in Kenya
- 5-bedroom house interior design cost in Kenya
- How much interior designers charge in Kenya
- Kitchen renovation ideas and cost in Muthaiga
- Bathroom and kitchen tiling cost in Kenya
- Gypsum ceiling and lighting installation cost in Kenya
- Aluminium kitchen cabinets
Prices in this guide are indicative planning ranges in Kenya shillings for Nairobi. They vary with specification, site conditions and supplier, exclude furniture and VAT unless stated, and are not a quotation. Contact us for a project-specific, itemised price.
