Interior designers take centre stage in homes

It is a hot Monday afternoon, the location is Nairobi’s Village Market. A fascinating event is taking place here — this year’s interior design exhibition. Style and elegance seem to be the lead themes.

As we approach Bilha Njau and Rose Akinyi’s stand, the two are all smiles.

They narrate their company’s journey into the interior design industry. The firm is called African Heritage Design.

“We have been in the interior design sector since 2006. From experience we feel that the industry is set for the horizons,” says Ms Njau, who is also the company’s head of public relations and marketing.

According to Ms Akinyi, a sales official at the company, the interior design sector is fast cutting its own niche in the building industry.

“The market seems promising as more people are willing to give their premises a better look. We recently witnessed preference for an African touch design, we feel that demand for interior design is set to grow,” Ms Akinyi says.

And demand is not limited to residential property as companies also go out to give their offices a better look.

“Our design is not limited to homes as we also work on corporate gifts among other designs,” adds Ms Njau.

Every new day brings along business opportunities for local interior designers.

From office space, to hotels, to residential property there is growing need for the professionals.

“Furnished apartments are steadily gaining currency. The trend is making money for home developers keen on developing residences and renting them out or selling them,” says Real Wealth Investments managing director Humphrey Odhiambo.

Real Wealth Investments are the organisers of this year’s exhibition at Village Market.

Statistics show that expenditure on interior designs has been rising to reach the current average of between 60 and 65 per cent of the total construction cost of a building.

Residential property is the largest consumer of interior design, contributing up to 40 per cent of the industry.

Following closely is office space which claims about 35 per cent of the industry. Hotels and other buildings claim the remaining share.