Interior Designers in the United States shape how people work, live, shop, learn, recover, travel, and experience buildings. Their role goes far beyond choosing colors, furniture, or finishes. Professional interior designers plan functional spaces, improve user experience, coordinate materials, support accessibility, manage specifications, align interiors with brand identity, and work with architects, contractors, engineers, owners, and suppliers.
The U.S. interior design market is broad. It includes commercial interiors, workplace design, hospitality design, healthcare interiors, residential interiors, retail spaces, education interiors, senior living, luxury homes, restaurants, hotels, airports, data centers, wellness spaces, and mixed-use developments. This makes the choice of designer highly project-specific. A firm known for luxury homes may not be the best fit for a hospital, office headquarters, hotel, or university building.
Demand is being shaped by hybrid work, hospitality recovery, wellness design, adaptive reuse, sustainability, luxury residential spending, healthcare modernization, and brand-led commercial spaces. Interior Design’s 2026 Top 100 Giants report shows major firms continuing to adapt and perform strongly, while its 2025 coverage noted that Gensler topped the most-admired firms list, followed by Rockwell Group, with HOK, AvroKO, and A+I also strongly recognized.
This guide profiles leading Interior Designers in the United States, explains what they do, and helps homeowners, developers, hotel owners, office tenants, healthcare systems, retailers, and institutions choose the right design partner.
Industry Overview: Interior Designers in the United States
Interior design in the United States includes large multidisciplinary architecture firms, boutique residential studios, hospitality design specialists, workplace consultants, retail design firms, healthcare planners, furniture and procurement advisers, and luxury interior decorators.
Professional services may include space planning, concept design, material selection, furniture specification, lighting coordination, finish schedules, construction documentation, procurement support, styling, brand experience, workplace strategy, accessibility coordination, sustainability consulting, and construction administration.
The industry is increasingly data-driven. Workplace designers study employee behavior, hybrid work patterns, space utilization, and collaboration needs. Healthcare interior designers focus on patient experience, infection control, staff workflow, and durable materials. Hospitality designers create memorable guest experiences while balancing operations, maintenance, and brand identity. Residential designers focus on lifestyle, comfort, craftsmanship, personalization, and long-term property value.
Regulation varies by state. Some states regulate interior design titles or require registration for certain commercial interior design work, while residential decoration is usually less regulated. Buyers should confirm whether their project needs a registered interior designer, licensed architect, engineer, or code consultant.
Ranking Methodology
This directory evaluates interior design firms based on reputation, sector expertise, public ranking visibility, project portfolio, design influence, geographic reach, buyer usefulness, innovation, sustainability, and service range.
The list includes major commercial interior design firms, architecture firms with strong interiors practices, hospitality specialists, and luxury residential designers recognized by major industry publications such as Interior Design, Architectural Digest, and Architectural Record.
Best Interior Designers in the United States
Gensler
Overview
Gensler is one of the most influential interior design and architecture firms in the United States. It is especially strong in workplace design, commercial interiors, retail, hospitality, aviation, mixed-use spaces, and brand experience. The firm has more than 6,000 people across 57 offices in 16 countries, giving it major reach for national and global clients.
Services Offered
Interior design, workplace strategy, architecture, brand design, planning, consulting, retail design, hospitality design, aviation interiors, sustainability, and experience design.
Industries Served
Corporate workplace, commercial real estate, retail, hospitality, aviation, technology, education, sports, mixed-use, and civic clients.
Notable Projects
Gensler’s New York office lists projects including New Terminal One at JFK Airport, IBM New York City Flagship, Google at St. John’s Terminal, Pearl House, and Jackie Robinson Museum.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is scale, workplace intelligence, research capability, and experience with major corporate and commercial clients.
Headquarters
San Francisco, California.
Website
gensler.com
Why It Stands Out
Gensler stands out for large commercial interiors, corporate workplaces, airport interiors, retail environments, and complex brand-led spaces.
Perkins&Will
Overview
Perkins&Will is a leading architecture and interior design firm known for healthcare, education, civic, workplace, science, technology, and sustainable design. Perkins&Will said Interior Design ranked it No. 3 overall in the 2025 Top 100 Giants and No. 2 in sustainability, while peers voted it the No. 1 most-admired healthcare firm.
Services Offered
Interior design, architecture, workplace strategy, healthcare design, education design, planning, sustainability consulting, branded environments, and research-based design.
Industries Served
Healthcare, education, workplace, science, technology, civic, cultural, commercial, and public-sector clients.
Notable Projects
The firm has designed healthcare interiors, university spaces, research environments, civic buildings, and workplaces across the United States and globally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is research-led design and strong sustainability standards.
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois.
Website
perkinswill.com
Why It Stands Out
Perkins&Will stands out for healthcare, education, workplace, civic, science, and sustainable interior design.
HOK
Overview
HOK is a major global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm with strong interior design capabilities. It is especially relevant for corporate workplaces, airports, sports facilities, healthcare, science, civic projects, and large institutional interiors.
Services Offered
Interior design, architecture, workplace strategy, aviation design, sports design, healthcare design, planning, engineering, sustainability, and brand experience.
Industries Served
Corporate, aviation, sports, healthcare, science, technology, civic, education, hospitality, and public-sector clients.
Notable Projects
HOK is associated with major airports, corporate headquarters, sports venues, laboratories, healthcare spaces, and civic buildings.
Competitive Advantages
Its strength is multidisciplinary design. HOK can connect interiors with architecture, engineering, sustainability, and large-project delivery.
Headquarters
St. Louis, Missouri.
Website
hok.com
Why It Stands Out
HOK stands out for large commercial, aviation, sports, healthcare, science, and institutional interiors.
Rockwell Group
Overview
Rockwell Group is one of America’s most admired hospitality and experience design firms. Interior Design’s 2025 coverage noted Rockwell Group among the most-admired firms, second behind Gensler. The firm is known for restaurants, hotels, cultural spaces, theater environments, luxury residential projects, and immersive interiors.
Services Offered
Interior design, architecture, hospitality design, restaurant design, theater design, cultural design, residential interiors, product design, and experiential design.
Industries Served
Hospitality, restaurants, hotels, residential, cultural institutions, entertainment, retail, and lifestyle brands.
Notable Projects
Rockwell Group has designed celebrated hotels, restaurants, theaters, cultural venues, and luxury spaces in the U.S. and internationally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is storytelling. Rockwell Group creates memorable spaces with strong atmosphere, craft, and hospitality identity.
Headquarters
New York City, New York.
Website
rockwellgroup.com
Why It Stands Out
Rockwell Group stands out for hospitality, restaurants, cultural spaces, luxury interiors, and experience-led design.
AvroKO
Overview
AvroKO is a highly regarded hospitality and interior design firm known for restaurants, hotels, bars, resorts, and lifestyle spaces. Interior Design’s 2025 most-admired coverage listed AvroKO among firms receiving strong peer recognition.
Services Offered
Hospitality interiors, restaurant design, hotel design, brand concept development, furniture and lighting design, retail design, and experience design.
Industries Served
Hotels, restaurants, bars, resorts, food and beverage, lifestyle retail, wellness, and luxury hospitality.
Notable Projects
AvroKO has designed restaurants, hotels, bars, and hospitality environments across the United States and internationally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is hospitality storytelling, atmosphere, and strong concept development.
Headquarters
New York City, New York.
Website
avroko.com
Why It Stands Out
AvroKO stands out for hotels, restaurants, bars, resorts, and food-and-beverage interiors.
A+I
Overview
Architecture Plus Information, known as A+I, is a New York-based design firm known for workplace, commercial interiors, adaptive reuse, and strategy-led design. Interior Design’s 2025 most-admired coverage listed A+I alongside HOK and AvroKO among strongly recognized firms.
Services Offered
Interior design, architecture, workplace strategy, adaptive reuse, brand experience, planning, commercial interiors, and environmental design.
Industries Served
Corporate workplace, commercial real estate, technology, media, retail, hospitality, and institutional clients.
Notable Projects
A+I has designed workplaces, headquarters, commercial interiors, and adaptive reuse projects for major brands and organizations.
Competitive Advantages
Its strength is strategic workplace design that connects brand, culture, productivity, and physical space.
Headquarters
New York City, New York.
Website
aplusi.com
Why It Stands Out
A+I stands out for workplace interiors, adaptive reuse, commercial spaces, and strategy-led design.
HBA
Overview
Hirsch Bedner Associates, commonly known as HBA, is one of the world’s most recognized hospitality interior design firms. It is known for hotels, resorts, luxury residential, branded residences, restaurants, spas, and lifestyle destinations.
Services Offered
Hospitality interior design, hotel design, resort design, luxury residential interiors, spa design, restaurant design, FF&E, branding, and procurement coordination.
Industries Served
Hotels, resorts, branded residences, restaurants, wellness, luxury residential, and hospitality developers.
Notable Projects
HBA works on luxury hotel, resort, residential, and hospitality projects across the United States and global markets.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is hospitality specialization and deep experience with luxury hotel brands.
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California, with global offices.
Website
hba.com
Why It Stands Out
HBA stands out for luxury hotels, resorts, branded residences, spas, and hospitality interiors.
NELSON Worldwide
Overview
NELSON Worldwide is a major architecture, design, and strategy firm with strong interior design capabilities across workplace, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, civic, healthcare, and commercial markets. The firm noted that Interior Design’s 2025 Top 100 Giants ranking is based on reported interior design fees and that the top firms collectively generated a record $6.3 billion in interior design fees.
Services Offered
Interior design, architecture, workplace strategy, retail design, hospitality design, brand strategy, environmental graphics, planning, and consulting.
Industries Served
Corporate workplace, retail, healthcare, hospitality, civic, mixed-use, commercial real estate, and public-sector clients.
Notable Projects
NELSON supports office, retail, hospitality, healthcare, commercial, and civic projects across the United States.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is broad commercial design capability combined with strategy and brand experience.
Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Website
nelsonworldwide.com
Why It Stands Out
NELSON Worldwide stands out for workplace, retail, hospitality, commercial, and brand-led interior design.
IA Interior Architects
Overview
IA Interior Architects is a global firm focused exclusively on interiors. It is especially known for workplace design, corporate interiors, strategy, experience design, and environments for organizations with complex space needs.
Services Offered
Interior design, workplace strategy, experiential design, space planning, change management, sustainability, furniture strategy, and brand environment design.
Industries Served
Corporate workplace, technology, finance, legal, professional services, healthcare, retail, education, and public-sector clients.
Notable Projects
IA Interior Architects has designed workplace and corporate interior projects for major organizations across the United States and globally.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is interiors specialization. Unlike multidisciplinary firms, IA focuses its brand strongly around interior environments.
Headquarters
San Francisco, California.
Website
interiorarchitects.com
Why It Stands Out
IA Interior Architects stands out for corporate workplace interiors, space strategy, and large-scale interior design programs.
Studio O+A
Overview
Studio O+A is a San Francisco-based interior design firm known for creative workplace interiors, technology company offices, culture-driven spaces, and experimental environments. The firm became influential through workplace projects that combine brand, employee experience, materials, and storytelling.
Services Offered
Interior design, workplace design, brand environments, furniture concepts, experience design, strategy, and creative direction.
Industries Served
Technology, creative industries, corporate workplace, startups, media, education, and innovation-led organizations.
Notable Projects
Studio O+A has designed offices and workplace environments for major technology and creative companies.
Competitive Advantages
Its advantage is expressive workplace design that communicates culture and identity.
Headquarters
San Francisco, California.
Website
o-plus-a.com
Why It Stands Out
Studio O+A stands out for creative workplaces, technology offices, and culture-driven interiors.
Industry Trends Affecting Interior Designers
Hybrid Workplace Design
Companies are redesigning offices around collaboration, flexibility, employee experience, and space efficiency. Interior designers are helping employers decide what offices should do when employees no longer sit at desks five days a week.
Hospitality-Led Interiors
Hotels, restaurants, offices, residential buildings, and retail spaces are borrowing ideas from hospitality design. Comfort, atmosphere, experience, lighting, food-and-beverage spaces, and lifestyle amenities now influence many sectors.
Wellness and Human-Centered Design
Clients increasingly want interiors that support wellbeing. This includes better lighting, acoustic comfort, air quality, ergonomic furniture, natural materials, biophilic elements, and calming spaces.
Sustainable Materials
Interior designers are paying closer attention to low-VOC materials, recycled content, responsible sourcing, durability, reuse, embodied carbon, and healthier product specifications.
Adaptive Reuse
Older offices, warehouses, malls, and historic buildings are being converted into housing, hotels, workplaces, schools, and mixed-use spaces. Interior designers play a major role in making these conversions functional and attractive.
Technology and Visualization
3D visualization, virtual reality, BIM, digital material libraries, AI-assisted concepts, and project management platforms are changing how designers present ideas and coordinate with clients.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Interior Designers
Match the Designer to the Project Type
A luxury home, hotel, workplace, hospital, restaurant, retail store, and university building all require different expertise. Choose a designer with direct experience in your project category.
Review the Portfolio Carefully
Look for completed work similar in size, budget, style, and complexity. A beautiful portfolio is useful, but relevant experience matters more.
Understand the Scope
Clarify whether the designer provides concept design, space planning, furniture selection, construction documents, procurement, styling, project management, or construction administration.
Ask About Budget Control
Interior design can become expensive if the scope is unclear. Ask how the firm manages budgets, alternates, procurement, lead times, and substitutions.
Check Technical Ability
Commercial interiors may require code knowledge, accessibility, fire safety, durability, coordination with architects, and contractor documentation.
Watch for Red Flags
Red flags include vague fees, unclear deliverables, poor communication, no relevant project experience, weak documentation, unrealistic timelines, and limited understanding of budget.
Why Interior Designers Matter in the United States
Interior designers influence how buildings perform for people. They affect productivity, comfort, safety, customer experience, brand identity, health, hospitality revenue, property value, and daily quality of life.
In commercial projects, good interior design can improve workplace efficiency, customer flow, employee satisfaction, and brand perception. In healthcare, it can support patient comfort and staff workflow. In hospitality, it can drive guest loyalty. In homes, it can improve function, comfort, and long-term livability.
As buildings become more experience-driven, sustainable, and flexible, Interior Designers in the United States will remain essential partners in real estate, construction, hospitality, healthcare, and residential development.
Conclusion
The leading Interior Designers in the United States include Gensler, Perkins&Will, HOK, Rockwell Group, AvroKO, A+I, HBA, NELSON Worldwide, IA Interior Architects, and Studio O+A. Each firm has different strengths. Gensler leads in scale and workplace design. Perkins&Will is strong in healthcare, education, sustainability, and workplace interiors. HOK brings multidisciplinary expertise. Rockwell Group, AvroKO, and HBA are major hospitality names. A+I, IA Interior Architects, and Studio O+A are strong in workplace and experience-led interiors. NELSON Worldwide offers broad commercial and brand-focused design.
For buyers, the best designer is not always the most famous name. It is the firm whose experience, process, budget discipline, communication, and creative direction match the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Interior Designers in the United States?
Some of the best-known Interior Designers in the United States include Gensler, Perkins&Will, HOK, Rockwell Group, AvroKO, A+I, HBA, NELSON Worldwide, IA Interior Architects, and Studio O+A. The best choice depends on project type. A hotel, workplace, hospital, restaurant, luxury home, and retail store all require different interior design expertise.
Who is the largest interior design firm in the United States?
Gensler is widely regarded as one of the largest interior design and architecture firms in the United States. Interior Design’s 2025 Top 100 Giants coverage named Gensler the most-admired firm, and the firm is also regularly ranked at the top of major architecture and design revenue lists.
What does an interior designer do?
An interior designer plans and designs interior spaces. Work may include layouts, materials, finishes, furniture, lighting coordination, color palettes, millwork, specifications, documentation, procurement advice, branding, code coordination, and construction support. Commercial designers also consider accessibility, durability, fire safety, workflow, and user experience.
What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator?
An interior designer usually works on space planning, function, materials, technical documentation, building coordination, and user experience. An interior decorator mainly focuses on aesthetics such as furniture, colors, accessories, styling, and decorative finishes. Some professionals do both, but commercial projects often need a trained interior designer.
Do interior designers need a license in the United States?
Rules vary by state. Some states regulate interior design titles or registration, especially for commercial interior design. Residential decoration is usually less regulated. For projects involving code, life safety, construction documents, or permits, buyers should confirm whether a registered interior designer, architect, or engineer is required.
How do I choose an interior designer?
Choose an interior designer by matching their portfolio to your project type, budget, style, and complexity. Ask about scope, fees, timelines, procurement, contractor coordination, documentation, and communication. For commercial projects, also review technical knowledge, code awareness, and experience with similar clients.
How much do interior designers charge in the United States?
Interior design fees vary by project type, location, scope, designer reputation, and level of service. Fees may be hourly, fixed, percentage-based, markup-based, or a combination. A residential styling project may cost far less than a hotel, workplace, healthcare, or multi-location commercial program.
Which interior designers are best for hotels and restaurants?
Rockwell Group, AvroKO, HBA, Gensler, HOK, and NELSON Worldwide are strong names in hospitality and restaurant design. The best choice depends on brand level, location, budget, guest profile, food-and-beverage concept, procurement needs, and whether the project is boutique, luxury, lifestyle, or large-scale.
Which interior designers are best for offices?
Gensler, IA Interior Architects, A+I, Perkins&Will, HOK, Studio O+A, and NELSON Worldwide are strong workplace design firms. Office projects require space planning, workplace strategy, hybrid work analysis, brand expression, furniture planning, acoustics, lighting, and change management.
What are warning signs of a weak interior designer?
Warning signs include vague fees, poor communication, no clear scope, limited experience with your project type, weak documentation, unrealistic timelines, no budget discipline, and little understanding of construction or procurement. For commercial work, weak code knowledge is also a major red flag.
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