On this platform, I typically share interior design business tips and advice. I love doing this because I’ve built my own 6-figure interior design business from scratch with no formal degree, and now I get to teach hundreds of other women how to do the same thing. But when people ask how I got started, I don’t always give the full story. So today, I want to dive deeper into my personal journey of how I got started as an entrepreneur. I’m sharing all about my college experience, my first interior design job, getting fired, and having to start my business from nothing.

Working with an interior design client who is impossible to please, demanding, or outright rude to you is not worth the experience or the money. So today I’m sharing some major red flags to look out for before signing on with a new client, tips for how to handle challenging clients before and during a project, and how to position your business so you never need to feel desperate for projects again. 

As a new or aspiring business owner, it’s absolutely essential that you start with the correct mindset. Not only do you need to be confident in your own skills as an interior designer, but you also need to be prepared to deal with the challenges of starting and running your own business. In order to be successful, society tells us that we need to “go-go-go” and never let off the gas pedal. But, I disagree.

If you’re new to owning an interior design business, or if you’re aspiring to launch one, you’ll need to check out this interior design business terminology list! These 12 must-know terms for beginners will be crucial as you launch your own business, craft your marketing strategies, work with clients, manage design projects, and so much more. Read on to view my interior design business terminology list for beginners - not just definitions, but also practical applications and examples of each.

As a new or aspiring interior designer, you know you’ll need to try a few different methods to get clients. In this post, I break down the details of interior design networking groups, what happens at networking events, my personal experience, and what to do if networking isn’t your thing. 

If you’re looking to scale your interior design business into a full-time income while working part-time hours, you need to start offering full-service interior design! Don’t be intimidated by the term “full-service” - I’m breaking down the 10 steps you need to follow to offer this service like a pro.

If you’re a new interior design business owner, you might hear the term “receiving warehouse” and wonder what it is and if you need one. And if so, where do you find one and who pays for the fees? Don’t stress - I’m sharing all you need to know about interior design receiving warehouses.

A major challenge as a new interior designer, or as a seasoned designer in a rut, can be pricing your services. You need to charge what you’re worth and make a good living as a designer, but how do you accomplish that? As a new designer, you might not even know where to start or realize what’s possible to work toward. That’s why I’m sharing my experience - so I can help you understand how to price your interior design services and earn a good living doing what you love. 

If you’re thinking of starting your own interior design business soon, or if you’ve just launched your business, first let me say - congratulations! Starting a business can feel scary and overwhelming, and sometimes it’s hard enough just to take the first steps. And once you get past that first hurdle, you probably realize that there are tons of other decisions to be made… like how to find clients, price your services, manage your projects, stay organized, and so much more. Read on to learn my top 6 interior design business tips for beginners so you can make sure you’re off to a great start!

As a new interior designer, you might feel the stress of being pulled in a lot of different directions. Maybe you have kids, or work a full-time job in addition to designing, and so the projects you currently have are taking up all of your free time. It might seem impossible right now to leave your day job to become a professional designer or even get your business off the ground in the first place. You’re probably wondering how to make money as an interior designer and still have a balanced life. Let me help you solve that problem by sharing how you can work 10-15 hours per week and still earn a full-time income as an interior designer.

As a new interior designer, you have complete control over your business. You get to choose all of your branding elements, build a website that reflects your personal style, and even set your interior design fees for your packages. It feels amazing to have control over these decisions - but what happens when a potential client tries to negotiate your pricing? You might be thinking that it would be easy to stand firm on your interior design service fees - but what if it’s a dream client who has a gorgeous home and a ton of wealthy friends and family? That’s when the decision gets a bit trickier…

If you’re new to interior design or just starting your own business, you might be hearing the terms “to the trade”, “trade discounts”, and “resale certificate” a lot. You’re probably wondering what those terms mean and why they are important to running your interior design business. Read on to learn exactly what trade discounts and resale certificates are, why they are important, and how you can use them to make a profit in your interior design business. 

If you’re a new interior designer, you may be wondering if you really need to use 3D rendering in your design business. After all, skipping this process will save you time and energy on your projects, right? Wrong. Not only will incorporating 3D renderings in your design process set you apart as a true professional, these images will actually save you time by eliminating excess communication and conveying your ideas faster than if you simply created a mood board. Read on to hear my experience with 3D rendering, my tips on why you should include these images in your design process, and gain exclusive access to my comprehensive SketchUp course for interior designers.

If you’ve been thinking of starting your own interior design business, you’re probably imagining all of the amazing spaces you will get to design, the dream clients you’ll get to work with, and the 6-figure income you’ll eventually be earning — But, I’m here to tell you that running a successful interior design business takes a lot of work. In my experience, it’s 80% business and 20% designing. That might not be exactly what you want to hear, but it’s true. And the good news is, you can learn these extremely important traits to create the life you dream of. 

If you’re just starting your own interior design business, or trying to build your portfolio before officially launching a business, you might be wondering if you really need to use a contract on your first few projects. Obviously, contracts are important for big designers who charge thousands of dollars, but what about when you’re only practicing your design services as a beginner? Surely, you don’t need a full interior design contract just to help out some friends and family with their homes, right? Wrong…

Interior designers, have you ever worked with a client who watches practically every detail over your shoulder and asks how long tasks are going to take? Or even worse, they rush your creative process by telling you to speed up what you’re doing? If you answered “yes”, I’m willing to bet it’s because this client was paying an hourly project fee for your design services. If you want to eliminate this stress in your client relationship and give yourself a space to design freely without the pressure of how many hours are passing by, you need to consider switching to a project-based pricing model...

Have you ever wondered if you can become an interior designer without a degree? You might be dreaming of starting your own residential design business so you can have the freedom and flexibility of working your own hours, choosing which projects you take on, and having total creative freedom. But, what will you say to potential clients who ask where you got your college degree? How can you get your first interior design client if you don’t have any formal training? If this sounds like you, I have fantastic news to share.

If you’re dreaming about starting your own interior design business, or maybe you’re already in the process of doing so, you might be stuck on some of your business branding decisions. Fonts, logos, colors, website design, the brand name itself - there are truly so many choices you need to make! But try not to get completely stuck on this…

Maybe you’ve been considering starting your own interior design business for a while now. Or maybe you’ve been dreaming of the day when you can quit your current job and venture out on your own.  It’s really simpler than it seems - you can be on your way to earning 6-figures as an interior designer if you just take action! I’m going to challenge you to take action today. Here are three FREE action items to jumpstart your momentum and get you another step closer to working with your first interior design client.

Do you have a natural eye-for-design and talent for creating beautiful spaces in your home? Do you dream about becoming a professional interior designer, but don’t want to spend the time or money investing in a 4 year college education? Or maybe you already have a college degree, but you don’t find joy in working for someone else’s company, and you’re dreaming about the freedom of owning your own business. Well, I have huge news for you...