Cathy MerrittYour commercial space matters more than most business owners realize. A well-designed interior, for one, can support productivity and reinforce your brand.
But pulling that off isn’t simple, especially in competitive pockets like Liberty Village or Yorkville. One bad hire and you’ll be swamped with poor layouts, permits, fees, deadlines, and more.
You can avoid that by closing a deal with first-class commercial interior designers and renovators! If you don’t know where to start with the first, our review below will help point you to the right team.
How much do interior design services cost in Toronto?
In Toronto, the average cost of interior design services is $11,513, but firms follow their own pricing structures. Some charge $250–$300 per sq ft, others bill $200 an hour, and a few take a cut of 15%–20% from the total project cost.
Fees are often dictated by designer experience/expertise, project location, size, complexity, design style, materials, timeline, site conditions, and permits/approvals.
How We Chose
1. LUX Design Inc.
Address: 628 Wellington St W
Contact Details: +1 416-848-3108
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
Since 2008, the award-winning LUX Design Inc. has been creating practical and stylish spaces that meet client timelines and budgets.
Medical offices, restos, boutique spaces, and hotels are their forte in terms of commercial interiors. The service is end-to-end.
Just make sure to reserve a session as early as you can. LUX is a highly popular choice for residential spaces (especially condos) as well, so slots can vanish fast.
A chunk of their portfolio also leans toward bigger outfits. Small ventures might find the rates a tad heavy.
Hardly anyone moans about their comms, though. The firm being responsive and open to feedback are two major reasons why.
Consult quality is another. They often prep and review plans in detail, helping clients with complex tasks like picking or combining materials, colours, lighting, and fixtures.
What’s more, clients have the option to explore designs realistically, thanks to 3D visualizations.
Excellent Experience
We had an excellent experience working with LUX Design Inc. for our building permit drawings. They arranged a site visit the day after we reached out and had all drawings finalized within five business days, saving us at least a full week on our timeline. The quality of the drawings was high, and Eira, the architect we worked with, was exceptionally responsive and helpful throughout the process. Their efficiency and attention to detail made a real difference in keeping our project moving forward. Highly recommend working with LUX!
– Corey Bialek, Google Review
Very Professional
I had a fabulous experience working with Lux Design for my condo in downtown Toronto. They transformed a tight space into something spacious, expansive and elevated. I am really impressed with the way their designers strike the balance between high fashion trends and something that makes your home feel alive and cosy. Very professional and skilled team! Highly recommend.
– Sehr Tejpar, Google Review
2. Swisterski Design Inc.
Address: 77 Carlton St. Suite 307
Contact Details: +1 416-574-0552
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
With a career kicking off in 2007, Joanne Swisterski of Swisterski Design Inc. is no rookie to commercial interiors.
Style-wise, you could say hers is about creating eye-catching spaces that enhance human interaction and emotional experience. The spacious Los Colibris, glam Caribbean Glitz, and moody El Caballito are some of the prime examples.
Joanne also treats art as a focal point. She meticulously integrates custom pieces that harmonize with the entire room to achieve a cohesive and meaningful look.
Clients aren’t left out of projects either. From what we heard, her team is collaborative and uses 3D visualizations when updating.
The main drawback is manpower. Compared to most entries, they’re leaner in size, which could be tricky if you’re trying to design multiple spaces or looking to start instantly.
What’s not lean is their portfolio. Beyond the restos above, they’ve worked on high-end homes, condos (need cleaners for yours?), and cafes.
Listened to My Ideas
I wanted to give my living room a fresh look but didn’t know where to start. I contacted Swisterski Design, and Joanne was a joy to work with! She listened to my ideas and suggested a beautiful color palette that reflected my personality. She helped me choose new furniture and even styled the space with unique decor pieces. Now, my living room is not only stylish but also feels incredibly cozy. It’s the perfect place for family gatherings!
– ffnoob gaming, Google Review
She created a functional living area
Joanne’s designs for our kitchen and living room renovation were beyond all of our expectations. She created a functional living area, maximizing every inch while making it visually stunning. She has the ability to see the potential in a space and create designs that make her skills and expertise apparent. Joanne was wonderful to work with, so much so that we are starting another project with her soon. I would highly recommend working with Joanne as she is an extremely talented designer and we feel very lucky to have met her.
– Meghan Rinkel, Google Review
3. Designed By Iman
Address: 311 Bay St. Unit 4103
Contact Details: +1 647-465-4626
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
If you’re dreaming of a magazine-ready space that supports daily operations, it’s smart to phone Designed By Iman.
Iman Lalji, the owner and lead designer, is often called a creative visionary with a keen eye for detail. She has 20-plus years of experience and award-winning works to support that.
Her six-step approach earned our kudos, too. It runs for months, covering steps such as moodboard creation, material/budget discussions, and art curation.
Many also love that she coordinates with building contractors to ensure the plan is executed flawlessly.
Like our first entry, however, you must keep Designed by Iman’s pricing and availability in mind. Most of the firm’s patrons are “high-end,” and they draw several of the lot.
Personally, I’d say they’re not a bad spend. Iman’s access to global suppliers alone is a major perk, giving clients way more options for accessories and furniture.
Work Ethic Is Commendable
We used Iman’s services to design and furnish our main floor in Toronto. As you can see from the pictures, her design is incredible and the chosen furniture worked beautifully with the space. One of our key requirements was making the space more functional along with more storage. She was able to achieve this with creative solutions that we could not have thought of on our own.
Iman is able to take a project from vision to finished product while making you feel like you’re her only client. Her commitment and work ethic is commendable.
I highly recommend Designed By Iman.
– Hafeez Lalani, Google Review
Worth Every Penny
Iman was our designer for a very complex renovation of our house. She took the time to understand what we wanted, liked and loved. She married that with her amazing flair for design and created a home for us that exceeded our expectations.
Iman was bold where we wanted and more subdued in other areas. But the whole house came together as one vision. I thought Iman’s job would be done in the early phases of the project, but she was with us through every curveball and every question we had. Her attention to detail was appreciated (from millwork to stone to wallpaper and paint, all of it!) and she was always available to us. Iman’s amazing at what she does but its paired with a level of customer service that is exceptional.
I would 100% recommend Iman to anyone who appreciates her design style and is willing to take the look of their house (or a floor) to the next level. She is worth every penny!!!
– Anchie Contractor, Google Review
4. House of Layth
Address: 20 Minowan Miikan Ln
Contact Details: +1 416-400-1381
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
House of Layth’s portfolio caught our eye right away. Their artsy, narrative-rich, and expressive creations look theatrical and atmospheric, sometimes even dream-like.
Layth Raoof, an arts and culture savant with a formal design education, is the guy who makes it happen. That’s no hyperbole; he oversees every detail and decision!
And the majority of clients have no qualms with that. Those we spoke with even gave props to his detailed and speedy answers.
The best part is that he plans commercial spaces to flow properly. Nearly every square metre is maximized, with each piece of furniture and decor carefully picked to maintain visual identity (just check snaps of the now-closed Lyfe Meditation Studio).
Unsurprisingly, this pick falls short on size. Some of our entries come with bigger teams.
Another hiccup is the studio’s distance from Downtown Toronto. It’s an 18-minute drive; most options are closer than 10 minutes.
The Process Was Smooth
Layth has an incredible eye for design and detail—he completely transformed our space into something stylish, functional, and welcoming.
What impressed us most was his ability to really understand our taste and lifestyle. He carefully selected furniture and décor pieces that not only look beautiful but also fit perfectly with how we use our home every day. From start to finish, the process was smooth and stress-free, and Layth made sure everything came together seamlessly.
If you’re looking for someone who goes above and beyond, combining creativity with practicality, I highly recommend House of Layth. Our home feels like a reflection of us now, and that’s thanks to his vision and dedication.
– Ahmad Mustafa, Google Review
Exceeded Our Expectations
We hired Layth to assist with the interior design and decor of our new condo in the Beaches area that we downsized to. His design proposal incorporated some of our existing sentimental furnishings that were updated with newer and contemporary pieces, elevating the overall look to a modern style we had hoped to achieve for our new home. Aside from his exceptional design skills, Layth took care of procuring all ordered pieces, design of custom millwork and smooth project coordination of assigned trades and deliveries. All was completed stress-free, on budget and on schedule, while continuously updating us through clear and constant email correspondence. Layth exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend Layth for anyone looking to work with an interior designer.
– Colm Murphy, Google Review
5. Sansa Interiors
Address: 171 E Liberty St #274
Contact Details: +1 647-556-3137
Operating Hours: Mon to Fri – 9 am to 5 pm
A big part of Sansa Interiors’ popularity comes down to their holistic approach.
Jude, the founder/designer, thinks about how people feel and move through a space. That’s why her lighting, finishing, and texture choices generally have emotional and physical impacts (like her biophilic touches).
Designing aside, her team collaborates with everyone involved, including the architects, suppliers, contractors, and, of course, the client. That reduces delays.
They’re also efficient in helping clients sort out complicated permits. From interviews, the wait time rarely stretches for a month.
If there’s one catch, it’s Sansa Interiors’ mid-to-large scale specialty. Smaller projects aren’t their focus.
Some might view their 2019 opening as a drawback as well, particularly with other studios being around a decade or more.
We can’t say they’re short on projects, though. For a “newer firm,” they’ve already worked on tons of retail spaces, restos, cafes, and even boutique hotels!
Stayed on Schedule
We’ve worked with Sanse Interiors on four projects and have always been thrilled with the results. Jude, Hiba, and the team are not only professional but truly care about bringing your vision to life. They worked within our budget, stayed on schedule, and created beautiful, functional spaces.
We’ve used them for both business and personal projects, and the feedback from our clients has been wonderful. We can’t recommend them enough!
– Diana Sideris, Google Review
Transformed Our Visions into Beautifully Functional Spaces
We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Sansa Interiors on the design of our Adelaide location, marking our third successful project together. Their holistic approach to interior design, led by the talented Jude Kamal, has consistently transformed our visions into beautifully functional spaces. The team’s attention to detail, professionalism, and innovative design perspective have made each project a seamless experience. We highly recommend Sansa Interiors to anyone seeking exceptional interior design services in Toronto.
– Ramzi Yanis, Google Review
