Hire an interior
designer by the hour
Help with exactly the part that's stuck: colour, layout, sourcing or the finishing touches. Book a time that suits you, and your designer is in touch within 48 hours.
Help with exactly the
part that's stuck.
Colour schemes, window treatments, furniture research or the finishing touches that pull a room together: this is advice on the specific part you need, not a full design package. Book an appointment at a time that suits you, and your designer will be in touch within 48 hours to get started.
Colour & finishes
Palette, paint and material choices for a room that's starting to feel right.
Layout & furniture
Room arrangement and furniture placement, including the clearances that make a room work.
Sourcing & specification
Furniture and fixture options narrowed down to what actually fits the room.
Finishing touches
The last decisions: styling, lighting layers and the details that pull a scheme together.
Booked in one-hour
blocks, remote by default.
Ninety centimetres decides whether a room works. That's the minimum clearance most designers plan around for a main walkway, enough to pass a sofa without turning sideways or squeezing past a coffee table. Furniture problems usually trace back to this one measurement being wrong on day one, not to the pieces themselves. It's exactly the kind of thing an hour on a call can catch before anything is ordered.
What people ask before
booking their first hour.
How many hours should I book for a living-room refresh?
Most UK homeowners see great results with 2 to 3 hours: the first 60 to 90 minutes cover a live walk-through, layout tweaks and colour advice; the final hour refines sourcing links and emails you a styled mood board. One-room projects rarely need more than three hours unless structural changes are planned.
Can I split my hours across different rooms?
Yes. We sell time in one-hour blocks that you can divide between rooms or over multiple calls. Unused minutes stay on your account for six months, so you might spend 90 minutes on the lounge today and use the remaining 30 minutes to troubleshoot your hallway next month. Many UK e-design services offer the same split-session flexibility, so clients expect it.
What if I need more help after the session?
Simply top up in 60-minute increments or upgrade to a fixed-fee styling package if you'd like sourcing or installation support. We'll email a session summary within 48 hours and follow up two weeks later to see how the plan is progressing, so you're never left on your own.
Is on-site travel included in the hourly rate?
Our consulting-by-the-hour service is remote by default, so there's no travel cost for video calls. If you'd like a designer on site, just book a minimum of two hours plus the return journey time. We calculate travel at the same hourly rate, measured door-to-door from our studio, and confirm it before you pay. Prefer to meet away from a dusty renovation? We're happy to meet over coffee or lunch at a convenient spot, expert advice without the mess at home.
What clients say after
one session.
I booked a one-hour consultation because I was struggling with colour choices for my open-plan living room. In just that session, they gave me a clear palette and supplier suggestions I could action straight away. It saved me weeks of second-guessing.Jessica M, London
We didn't need a full design package but wanted professional advice on how to rearrange our furniture to make the space flow better. The hourly consultation was perfect: practical, affordable and packed with useful tips. Our living room finally feels balanced.Oliver P, Brighton
I wasn't sure whether an hourly consultation would be enough, but it was exactly what I needed. The Akiva designer answered my questions, recommended furniture options and helped me think ahead about lighting. I left the call with a full action plan.Daniel K, Edinburgh
Ninety centimetres is a rule.
Whether your room can give it is an answer.
Rules like that one are written down, and we have written a lot of them down. What a book cannot tell you is what to do when your room is 780mm across at the pinch point, or which of three compromises costs you least. That is the part an hour is for. If the rule is all you are after, start here instead.
Colour & finishes
Harnessing Colour, on undertones, orientation and why a sample looks different on two walls of the same room.
Layout & furniture
Ergonomics in Interior Design, where the ninety centimetres above comes from, along with every other clearance worth knowing.
Sourcing & specification
Furniture Budgeting & Sequencing, on lead times by category and the order to buy in.
Finishing touches
The Styling Guide, on placement, with 29 measurements and 8 diagrams across six rooms.
If it is more than one of those, The Interior Design Handbook covers the whole arc in eleven chapters. Each is an instant A4 PDF download. None of them can see your room, so none will tell you what to do about your particular pinch point, your particular light or your particular budget. That is still the hour.
Ready to book your session?
Pick a time that suits you and your designer will be in touch within 48 hours to confirm the details and get started.