Interior designers are often expected to act as translators, project managers, financial planners, and clairvoyants all at once. Nowhere is that more obvious than when a client asks the question every seasoned designer hears: “How much is the whole thing going to cost?” Understanding how to Talk Pricing can make this conversation easier. It sounds […]
How Interior Designers Talk Pricing When Some Costs Aren’t Theirs Read More »
Customer Service What happens when technology and tradition collide in the design world? Sharon Sherman of Thyme & Place Design delves into this question in her latest blog post, examining how AI is transforming the way interior designers approach customer service. “Interior design is still a relationship-based business. AI may be able to assist, but
Customer Service for Interior Design in the Age of AI Read More »
You design it, build it, then it gets stolen: When you design it, you put your heart into every detail. It’s crucial to recognize that when you design it, you deserve full recognition for your efforts. One way to protect what you design it is to keep a detailed record of your creative process. When
The first meeting between a designer and a potential client is not always about design. It is often about clarity. Who sets the pace? What is the expectation? How much should be given before a contract is signed? Interior designers have long debated whether or not to charge for this initial interaction. In a recent
Charging for That First Meeting: How Interior Designers Set the Tone from Day One Read More »
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
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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 »
