An interior design agreement format in plain language
An interior design agreement format sets out who the parties are, the exact scope, drawings and specifications, fees and payment schedule, how changes are approved, the timeline, warranties and defect liability, and how the contract ends. Use the clause list below as a checklist for your own contract. It is not legal advice, so have a lawyer review it before you sign.
On this page
Before you use this
This page is a working checklist, not a legal document. Contract law, stamp duty and registration needs vary by state and by project. Have a lawyer review your final agreement before you or your client signs it. Neither BRANDSWOT Consultancy nor this page gives legal advice.
The clause list
| # | Clause | What it says in plain words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parties | Your firm's legal name and address, the client's name and address, and the site address. |
| 2 | Scope of work | Design only, or design and execution. Rooms covered. Refers to the approved quote and BOQ by number and version. |
| 3 | Drawings and specifications | The approved drawings, finish and hardware schedules form part of the contract. |
| 4 | Exclusions | What is not included, such as civil changes, appliances, electrical rewiring, society charges. |
| 5 | Contract value and taxes | Total value, and that GST is extra or included. |
| 6 | Payment schedule | Stages, percentages and the milestone that triggers each payment. What happens if payment is late. |
| 7 | Design approvals and freeze | How many revision rounds are included. After design freeze, changes are a change order. |
| 8 | Change orders | Any change in scope is priced in writing and signed before it is done, with its effect on cost and time. |
| 9 | Timeline | Start date, key milestones and completion date, and what pauses the clock, such as client delays or site access. |
| 10 | Site access and client duties | Society permissions, power and water, working hours, storage space for materials. |
| 11 | Materials and brands | Which brands or equals are used. What happens if an item is discontinued. |
| 12 | Warranty and defect liability | What you fix free, for how long after handover, and what is not covered, such as misuse. |
| 13 | Retention | If the client holds back a share, how much, for how long and when it is released. |
| 14 | Handover | How completion is confirmed: snag list closed and handover certificate signed. |
| 15 | Ownership of design | Whether the client may reuse your drawings elsewhere, and photo rights for your portfolio. |
| 16 | Termination | How either side can end the contract, and how work done and materials bought are paid for. |
| 17 | Disputes | Talk first, then mediation or arbitration, and which city's courts apply. |
| 18 | Signatures | Both parties sign and date every page or the last page with initials on each. |
Plain-language checklist only. Not legal advice. Have a lawyer review the full wording before use.
When to sign it
Sign the agreement before any material is ordered or any large advance is taken. A booking amount for design can be covered by a short design agreement first. The full design-and-build contract follows once the design is frozen and the quotation is approved.
Works contract format for interiors is the term often used when your firm supplies material and labour together. The clause list above covers that case too, with extra care on materials, taxes and defect liability.
Defect liability clause, explained
A defect liability clause says that for an agreed period after handover, you will repair defects in your work at no cost. It should define a defect, how the client reports it, how fast you respond, and what is excluded, such as damage from water leaks in the building or misuse.
A clear clause also gives the client confidence to release the final payment, because they know what happens if something fails later.
Common mistakes
- Scope described as full interiors with no reference to drawings or a quote version.
- No limit on design revisions, so the design stage never ends.
- No written change order process, so every extra becomes a dispute at the final bill.
- Copying a contract from the internet without a lawyer checking it for your state.
Keeping it in Word, Google Docs or a sheet
- Write the clauses in a Google Doc or Word file with fill-in fields for client, site, quote number and dates.
- Keep the payment schedule as a table inside the agreement, copied from your schedule sheet.
- Attach the approved quote, BOQ and drawings as annexures and list them by version.
- Save the signed copy as a PDF in the project folder and share it with the client.
Agreements in the D&B Operating System
In the D&B Operating System, the Agreements module locks in scope, milestones and payment terms before work starts, and change requests are tracked against it. Invoices then follow the agreed milestones. It does not replace a lawyer. It is built by BRANDSWOT Consultancy and is in early access.
Questions people ask
What should an interior design agreement format include?
It should name the parties and site, define scope with reference to the approved quote, drawings and specifications, list exclusions, state the contract value and taxes, set the payment schedule, limit design revisions, explain change orders, give the timeline, and cover warranty, defect liability, termination and disputes. Have a lawyer review it.
Is there a standard interior design contract format in India?
There is no single mandatory format for private interior projects. Most firms build their own from a clause list like the one on this page. General contract law applies, and stamp duty rules differ by state. Ask a lawyer to review your template once, then reuse it with project details filled in.
What is a works contract format for interiors?
It is an agreement for work where your firm supplies both materials and labour, such as turnkey woodwork and fit-out. It needs extra detail on materials and brands, taxes, defect liability and retention. Ask your CA how such contracts should be invoiced and a lawyer to check the wording.
How do I write a defect liability clause format?
State the period after handover during which you repair defects free, define what counts as a defect, explain how the client reports it and how fast you respond, and list exclusions such as misuse or building leaks. Link it to any retention release. Have a lawyer review the final text.
Should the design fee be in a separate agreement?
Many firms use a short design agreement for the design stage, then a full contract for execution once the design is frozen. This lets clients commit to design without signing the whole project. Both documents should refer to each other so scope and payments stay clear.