So, you’re thinking of starting an interior design business? Well, that’s great news and possibly a great career move too. According to statistics from IBIS World, the market size, measured by revenue, of the Interior Design Activities industry in the UK was valued at £1.5bn in 2022 which represents a growth rate of 9.7%. In fact, the market size of the Interior Design Activities industry in the UK increased faster than the economy overall.
But that doesn’t mean that is easy to start an interior design business. There are currently 6,212 Interior Design-related businesses in the UK as of 2023, which is an increase of 1.7% from 2022. So the competition is fierce. You will need to put the hard work in if you are to build a business that is resilient and can stand the test of time.
Luckily for you, we know a thing or two about starting an interior design business so you have come to the right place. This guide will take you through the steps required to build a strong business from the very get-go.
Determine your Services
The first thing you need to do when starting an interior design business is determine what services you are going to offer. As an interior designer, you’ll want to ensure you are not taking on more than you can handle. If you do then you may find that the quality of your service ends up dipping, and this is the last thing you need when you are just starting out.
One way for you to limit your projects would be to delve into a particular niche. Are you going to offer interior design for commercial spaces? Or will you be working with residential interiors?
If you opt for residential interiors, it’s also helpful to decide what rooms you want to work with. Are you going to be dealing with the whole house? Or are you going to be a kitchen and bathroom specialist?
Perhaps you want to go down the e-design route? In this case, it helps to make a list of the specific deliverables you can offer. This could include detailed notes, 3D renderings, mood boards and shopping lists. What you offer might be very different from someone who wants to provide the full interior design experience, as you won’t be dealing with contractors, manufacturers and suppliers. So you need to make it very clear what services you will and won’t offer.
By exploring things like this now, you can avoid setting people up for disappointment in the future.
Identify your Ideal Clients
Everyone has their own personal style so it’s a good idea to focus your attention on clients who match your style. For example, if you specialise in a modern rustic style then this is what you need to focus on. That’s not to say that you should only take on clients who reflect what you can do, but it does mean that you should be targeting your clients so you don’t cast your net too wide.
When starting an interior design business, ask yourself a few questions, such as what your design style is, and if you want to design indoor or outdoor spaces. Do you want to be dealing with kitchens and baths? Either way, you need to find your niche, your style and your ideal customer. If you can do this then you will be able to rocket the success of your business while also setting the right foundation for the future.
Work out Your USP
What is it that makes you different from the competition? Is it your approach to design? Is it the materials you use? Is it your style? Is it your environmental credentials? Is it the way that you work? Whatever it is, you need to figure this out so that you can use it in your marketing to stand out from the crowd.
You may be tempted to miss out this vital step when you are starting an interior design business, but if you forego this stage of preparation you will find it really difficult when it comes to marketing. It is worth dedicating a decent amount of time to building strong brand foundations before you move on to the more practical elements of starting an interior design business.
Choose a Catchy Business Name
Here’s where the practical stuff begins. You have to come up with a name for your company. It has to be catchy and it also needs to reflect the work that you do. If possible, you need to have a brainstorming session, where you write down all of your ideas.
Some of the things you need to keep in mind include not making things complicated, and not making your name hard to pronounce. You can even use your name if you want, for example, Sarah’s Interiors.
Where possible, you need to use words that are associated with interior design too. Some buzzwords include space, interior, design, etc. You want to bear SEO in mind here. What might people be searching for on Google. If your business name is too abstract or random this may create a challenge when it comes to search traffic.
If you find a name that you are happy with, you do need to make sure that nobody else has the same name as you. One way you can do this is by doing a simple Google search. That being said, even if you don’t see any results, that doesn’t mean that someone isn’t registered with it. Take the time to file a formal name registration request, and get yourself trademarked as this is the best way for you to make sure that you don’t run into issues at a later date.
Build a Fantastic Website or Hire Someone to Do it For You
If you are an interior designer then you will create stunning spaces. Right? So if you want to start a business, you need a website that tells people this. You need your site to match your career. If you don’t have any experience at all when it comes to site design then it could be worth hiring someone to take care of it for you.
If you insist on doing it all yourself because you have a limited budget, there’s nothing wrong with this, but you do need to make sure that you do everything right. Some of the steps you will have to take when designing your site include finding a good website host (I use Krystal and you can get £10 off when you sign up with them too by using this code 0E7C6523 at checkout), figuring out which content management software to use, registering your domain name, investing in a good theme and taking stunning images.
When you’re just starting out you can use royalty-free website images, but make sure you are not misleading people by using images of spaces that you haven’t designed. Once you have had a few clients you will have your own images to use.
Most clients will happily let you take photos of their space. It is recommended to get a professional photographer to take these images for you. Grainy, poorly lit images taken at bad angles will not reflect well on the quality of your work. You want to show off your work in the best possible way and professional photography is one of the best investments that you can make.
On your site, you should also make sure that you are providing all the relevant information which could include your contact information, services and testimonials as well as your portfolio when you have one.
Don’t forget to optimise your site, which isn’t easy and will take time to do. If you are unsure of how to do this, it is worth bringing in some professional help. It’s great having a shiny new website but if nobody can find it, you won’t get very far.
You also want to make it as easy as possible for people to contact you. Make your contact page as prominent as possible and make sure you have plenty of calls to action dotted around the site prompting people to get in touch.
If you are not great at responding in a timely manner, consider embracing the AI technology to help you with your customer service. Make sure you do your research so you can install the best chatbot for website use. If you can do this then you will soon find it easier to communicate with customers and to make sure that you are able to convert any leads that you generate.
Sadly, it’s not enough to simply build a fantastic website. You will also need to implement strategies for boosting traffic and understanding user habits. For instance, you can track website user behaviours to optimise your site for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords and creating valuable, shareable content. This way, you will gain valuable insights into visitor demographics, user behaviour, and popular content to make informed decisions to attract a broader audience.
Build a Portfolio
When you first start to build your interior design business, you may find that you don’t have a portfolio yet. That’s perfectly fine. You don’t need to have a huge portfolio when you are just starting your career.
If you need to demonstrate what you can do before you’ve actually had any paying clients, you can always show images of your own home or transformations you may have done for friends and family.
You could also try adding some 3D renderings of spaces you have designed. You will need to use some 3D software for this, but at the end of the day, it is an excellent way for you to show potential clients what you are capable of. Of course, if you have images that you have designed for your clients then even better, be sure to include those as well.
Set your Rate Early-On if Possible
When you feel ready to set your rate, you will have to do some research. How much do designers who work in your local area charge? Do you have any industry colleagues you can talk with? Use the going rate as a starting point but you will need to factor in your own personal circumstances. How much of a salary do you need to make, what are your ongoing expenses, and how many hours do you want to work? Answering these questions will give you good idea of how much you need to charge.
There are different ways of charging your clients, from taking a percentage of the overall cost, working from a fixed rate or even having a cost per square foot. You can also adopt an hourly rate if you want.
When you have become set on how you are going to charge your clients, you can then write out an agreement and have the clients who you work with sign an interior design contract. This is the best way for you to seal the deal.
Promote your Business
So you’re up and running, that’s it right? Wrong! You may have created a great site and you might be ready to take on new clients. But in order to get those clients coming through the door you need to promote your website and your services.
There are many ways you can market yourself from being active on social media, growing an email list, writing a blog and also using paid ads. Business cards may still be useful if you are putting yourself in scenarios where you meet people to give them to. You can also attend networking events and trade shows and you can ask your family or friends to spread the word and recommend you. You could also join associations, as this is a great way for you to get noticed and build trust.
Start a Blog
A blog is a seriously underrated aspect of marketing, but one that can help you to improve your SEO, share your knowledge and expertise, and allow your potential customers to get you know you and work out if they want to work with you.
You can write posts about design tips or interior trends, you can share your favourite finds and recommendations. You can even share case studies from your successful projects. Your audience will want to hear about such things and it is a great way for you to connect with them and provide value. When you write, just try and keep a few things in mind. Is the post about interior design? Is it interesting? Is it relevant? Are your readers going to come away with useful information? If not then it probably doesn’t belong on your blog.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
Now that you have taken care of all the digital aspects of your business, you need to be mindful of your workspace. Sure, working in your pyjamas can be fun, but you will probably be more productive if you have a good workspace.
Make sure that your space is clutter-free and that you have enough storage for everything. If you have the budget to rent or even buy some office space then this is fantastic, and you should go for it. A coworking space can be a great option if don’t need a dedicated space all the time or if you have a limited budget.
If you have somewhere suitable at home you can always create a home office. Just make sure that you have ergonomic furniture and that your desk has a good amount of light. It has to be fit for purpose.
So those are just a few tips for anyone thinking about starting an interior design business. Do you have anything to add? If so, add them in the comments below.