It sounds like a throwaway question: “When do you take final payment?” But for interior designers, the answer is rarely simple. The timing of that last check can expose issues in the contract, the client relationship, and the designer’s own business model. Sometimes it’s collected too late. Sometimes it’s tied to an arbitrary milestone. Sometimes […]
Perfectionist clients? Does this sound familiar? A client asks if the wallpaper seam could be a little straighter. They wonder if the wood tones are “too warm” in the morning light. They don’t love the grout color, even though it was exactly what they approved. You think: no problem. This is fixable. But it doesn’t
How Interior Designers Handle Perfectionist Clients, Without Burning Out Read More »
(Hint: It’s not just Instagram anymore) When we asked the Interior Design Community, “How are you finding new clients right now?” we expected the usual suspects: Instagram, referrals, maybe a fancy networking event. But the answers we got were something else. Hundreds of designers replied with innovative, scrappy, deeply strategic methods that are actually working
Strategies for Interior Designers to Acquire New Clients in 2025: Beyond Instagram Read More »
Survival Guide to the New Zip Code Dilemma: What happens when you have to move your design business? It started with a question from an Interior Design Community member: “Has anyone ever moved their interior design business out of state? My husband is in the military and recently got orders to a new location, which
Survival Guide for Moving Your Interior Design Business Read More »
Trade Access: Who’s Letting the Wallpaper Guy In? Things get tricky when your client still lives in the home you’re designing. Every installation, delivery, or paint touch-up becomes a mini-operation. Someone must let trades in, answer questions, point to the right room, and ensure the dog doesn’t escape. But who handles that? Is it the
Trade Access for Interior Designers in Active Homes Read More »
“How Interior Designers Manage Client Projects They Can’t Showcase Online” That’s the question a member of the Interior Design Community asked recently. What followed was a flood of supportive, savvy responses from designers who had all been there and come out wiser. Let’s rewind. This designer had guided her clients through an entire remodel. She
How Interior Designers Manage Client Projects They Can’t Showcase Online Read More »
It starts innocently enough. Your best friend needs help picking a rug. Your cousin bought a house and wants to “run a few ideas by you.” Your sister-in-law thinks it would be “so fun” to redo her guest room together. And before you know it, you’re knee-deep in hours of unpaid work, friends and family,
How Do You Charge Friends and Family for Design Work Without Regret? Read More »
Nothing wrecks a project timeline faster than a GC who implodes halfway through. One day, they’re promising timelines and updates. Next, you’re fielding frantic calls,
Should Interior Designers Charge for Fixing Contractor Issues? Read More »
Tracking your revenue isn’t just an accounting task; it’s part of your survival. With more designers offering full-service projects that include both sourcing and services, the financial side of design is only getting more complex.
How Designers Track Product vs. Service Revenue without Losing Their Minds Read More »
Interior design is as much about managing relationships as it is about executing sophisticated design vision. After years of representing interior designers in their business dealings, I’ve observed patterns in how these creative professional relationships unfold, particularly how they end. Today, I want to address the most challenging aspect of your business: navigating the emotional
Managing the Emotional Landscape of Designer-Client Relationships Read More »
