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Quick answer: To choose an interior design company in Bangladesh, check four things before price: completed projects you can visit or verify, who will actually build the work (in-house teams or subcontractors), how the quote is itemised, and what the contract says about timeline, payments and warranty. The 12 questions below help you test each of these in a single meeting.
There are hundreds of firms in Dhaka calling themselves interior design companies. Some are design studios with no site team. Some are contractors with a designer on call. A few do both well. The difference only becomes visible halfway through a project, when the ceiling is open, the carpenter has gone to another site, and the final bill is 30% over the quote. Asking the right questions at the start is the cheapest protection you have.
The 12 questions to ask
1. Can I see projects you have completed, not just renders?
3D renders show what a company can draw. Photographs of finished spaces show what it can build. Ask for projects similar to yours in size and budget, and ask whether you can visit one or speak to the client. A company that has delivered corporate offices, banks and hospitals should be able to name them; ours are documented in the Concord Group case study, the BESTSELLER office, Unico Hospitals and the Pubali Bank auditorium.
2. Do you design only, or do you also build?
This is the most important question, because it decides who is responsible when something goes wrong. A design-only studio hands you drawings and you hire the contractor. A turnkey company designs and builds under one contract. Read our guide on turnkey vs design-only interiors to decide which suits you.
3. Who will build the joinery: your workshop or a subcontractor?
Wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and wall panelling usually take 40–60% of a residential budget. Companies with their own workshop control quality and timing. Companies that subcontract depend on someone else’s schedule. Ask to see the workshop.
4. Who will be my single point of contact on site?
Ask for the name and role of the person who will run your project day to day, how often they will be on site, and how you will receive updates. A dedicated project manager is the difference between a site that moves every day and one that waits for decisions.
5. Is the quotation itemised with quantities and rates?
A one-line quote (“Interior work for 1,500 sq ft: BDT 35 lakh”) cannot be compared or controlled. A good quote lists each item with its quantity, unit rate, material and brand. That is what lets you see where the money goes and what changes when you change a finish.
6. Which materials and brands are included?
Ask the company to name the board (MDF, HDF, marine plywood), the laminate or veneer, the hardware brand and the paint brand in writing. Two quotes for “a wardrobe” can differ by 100% simply because of these choices. Our board material guide explains what you are paying for.
7. How do you charge the design fee?
Companies in Bangladesh usually charge per sq ft (around BDT 50–200 for design only) or a percentage of the project value (commonly 8–15% on larger projects). Some include the fee in a turnkey rate. Make sure you know which model applies and what it covers. Our interior designer fees guide explains the options.
8. What is the payment schedule?
A fair schedule ties each payment to visible progress: a design advance, then milestones such as ceiling complete, joinery delivered and handover. Be wary of anyone asking for most of the money before work starts. A common structure is a 25% advance followed by milestone payments.
9. What is the timeline, and what happens if you miss it?
Ask for a written schedule with dates for design approval, site start, joinery delivery and handover. Then ask what happens if the company misses those dates. A firm that is confident in its planning will put the timeline in the contract.
10. How are design changes and extra work priced?
Changes will happen. Agree in advance that every change is quoted in writing and approved by you before work starts. This single rule prevents most end-of-project billing disputes.
11. What warranty do you give, and what does it cover?
Ask for the warranty period on joinery, hardware, electrical work and ceilings, and how quickly the company responds to a complaint after handover. One year on workmanship is a reasonable minimum.
12. Do you handle approvals, MEP coordination and building rules?
For offices, banks, hospitals and some apartment buildings, interior work involves building management approvals, fire safety requirements and coordination with air conditioning and electrical contractors. Ask whether the company manages these or leaves them to you.
Red flags to watch for
- A lump-sum quote with no quantities or brands.
- A request for 50% or more as an advance before drawings are approved.
- No physical office or workshop you can visit.
- Only 3D renders or stock photos in the portfolio.
- No written contract, or a contract without a timeline.
- Pressure to sign the same day for a “discount”.
A simple way to compare three companies
| Criteria | What good looks like | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Completed projects | Verifiable work similar to your project | 25% |
| Delivery capability | In-house joinery and site team, named project manager | 25% |
| Quote clarity | Itemised quantities, rates and brands | 20% |
| Contract terms | Milestone payments, timeline, warranty, change process | 20% |
| Design fit | Understands your brief and lifestyle | 10% |
Score each company out of 10 on every line and multiply by the weight. The cheapest quote often scores lowest once delivery capability and contract terms are counted.
How Concord Interior answers these questions
Concord Interior is part of the Concord Group. We design and build under one contract, run our own joinery workshop, assign a project manager to every site, and itemise every quotation. Our work covers corporate offices, bank branches, healthcare facilities and luxury residences. You can see our interior design service and our turnkey execution service for details, or start with the cost guide to set your budget.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose an interior design company in Bangladesh?
Check completed projects you can verify, confirm who builds the work and whether they have their own workshop, insist on an itemised quote with named materials, and sign a contract with a timeline, milestone payments and a warranty.
What should an interior design contract include?
It should include the scope of work, drawings, an itemised bill of quantities, material brands, a payment schedule linked to milestones, a timeline with dates, a change-order process and the warranty terms.
How much advance should I pay an interior design company?
A common and fair structure is around 25% at the start, followed by payments linked to visible progress on site. Avoid paying most of the contract value before work begins.
Is it better to hire a design-only firm or a turnkey company?
Design-only suits clients who already have a trusted contractor and time to manage the site. A turnkey company suits clients who want one accountable party for design, build, cost and timeline.
How many companies should I get quotes from?
Two or three is enough. Give each the same brief and floor plan, ask for itemised quotes, and compare them on delivery capability and contract terms as well as price.
Ask us the 12 questions. Book a meeting at our office, visit the workshop and see finished projects. Contact Concord Interior.
