Turning Your Skill at Interior Design into a Business

Some people just have a knack for interior design. They can look at the inside of a home, analyze what works about the design and what’s lacking, and transform it into something better with a little rearranging and some new purchases. If you’ve ever done that in your own home or the homes of your friends and it turned out really well, you might have what it takes to enter the field of interior design.

RELATED ARTICLE: A LOOK INTO THE BUSINESS OF INTERIOR DESIGN

The great thing about interior design is that it is a career that someone can follow at any time in their lives. You might need to pick up a little schooling in the field. However, there are many jurisdictions that allow someone to practice interior design on a professional level without licensing. Additionally, you might already have all the skills you need to be an interior designer. Now all you have to do it is learn some of the best ways to get your business started.

It’s a good idea at first to establish contact with some businesses in your area that can provide you with the products you’ll need to realize your designs. For example, you’ll likely need a high quality replacement window and door company. Here are some other ideas to consider as you embark upon your interior design business.

Know Your Style

Most interior designers have a certain style that defines their work. An easy way to understand this is to watch home design shows on television. Note how each celebrity designer seems to go back to the same stylistic flourishes time and again. When you define your style, you can then begin to set yourself apart from other designers in your market. You’ll also be able to market yourself in a much clearer manner. That alone will help draw in clientele looking for just what you offer.

Professional Touches

One thing that might send up a red flag to your clients is if you appear at their homes with only some vague notions of what you might do and no clear estimate of what the job might cost. You should be able to show clients exactly what you plan to change in their homes. Show them what the finished product will be via storyboards or computer simulations. You should also draw up a professional contract. This contract should show the client exactly what they can expect and how much the job will cost. These touches will reassure customers. Further, they will make them more likely to hire you, even if you’ve only just begun your business.

Marketing Tips

Networking is a big part of the equation for aspiring interior designers. This means you should be ready to attend seminars and conferences in an effort to make connections in the field. Any one of those connections could bring client referrals down the line. Social media is also a great tool for startup interior design businesses. You can put out the message about your business at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising while reaching a wide base of potential customers.

So if you’ve always thought you could transform a home into something more beautiful and functional, maybe you should consider an interior design business. Start with these simple suggestions, and the rest is up to you.