Starting an Interior Decorating Business
Do you have an eye for design? Do you often provide advice to friends and family when it comes to decorating their homes? Do you take pride in the fact that you’ve single-handedly decorated your own home?
If so, then perhaps you might want to think about starting your own interior decorating business. After all, what other venture allows you to use your natural talents while providing the freedom that a business like this can provide. Not to mention, you’ll be making some good money doing what you love.
As an interior decorator, you will be working directly with the customer to bring their dreams and concepts a little closer to reality. While the customer might be able to visualize how they want their home or business to look, few people have the talent to actually make that happen. Therefore, working with the customer and having the ability to completely understand what they want, while making your own suggestions, is one of the most important aspects of becoming an interior decorator.
On the other hand, some customers might look to you for an analysis and suggestions of what you think would look best. They may not have any idea what they want and are looking to you, the professional, to get them started.
Of course, in order to make this happen, you’re going to have to have experience in such things as flooring, paint, wallpaper, furniture, lighting, and the ability to put them all together to create a finished product that anyone would be proud of.
Experience/Education
While there’s a lot to be said for natural talent, and anyone can simply start their own interior decorating business without any formal education or experience, it’s in your best interest to take an interior design course from a local community college or school of design before you get out there and start practicing in this trade. Even better, get some experience to go with your formal education by working in the field for a year or more.
With formal training and job experience, your new interior decorating business is going to be a force to be reckoned with. The alternative is that people will quickly see that you’re not the professional you led them to believe you were. Word gets around quickly in this industry and your business could be sunk before it starts getting any traction.
Your clients
In this business you’ll be catering to residential and commercial customers. On the residential side you could be working for builders, wealthy homeowners, new homebuyers, and real estate agents. As far as the commercial side goes, the possibilities are endless; but some of the typical commercial clients will include store owners, professional offices, boutiques, and corporate offices.
Getting started
In this business, word-of-mouth is everything and your biggest challenge is going to be getting a foothold in the industry. Over time, your reputation will speak for itself and most of your clients will be referred to you by other professionals. Until then, you’re going to have to build a portfolio while marketing your services. Slowly, but surely, you’ll make a name for yourself and build that all important reputation.
Initially, you could start practising on your own home or offer your services to friends and relatives to build your initial portfolio. Once people see examples of your work, they’ll start taking you seriously.
Networking is also going to play a huge role in getting your business off the ground. By getting to know builders, contractors, real estate agents, and even furniture dealers, you will be getting the word out about your business to the very people that are in the best position to recommend your services. Trade shows are an excellent way for you to get to know people.
Okay, that’s the way things should work; but the cold hard reality is that, initially, you may be delivering flyers to prospective customers, posting your ad at building supply stores, and doing some cold calling just to pay the bills.
One good thing about a building supply store is that they can serve two purposes. First, they can supply you with most of your material once the jobs come in. Second, they have all the contacts you need in this biz. The good news is that it’s in their best interest to “hook you up” with contractors, builders, and designers.
Where can you go from here?
An interior decorator can take the next step and become an interior designer by completing an education in design (can be up to 4 years). A designer will usually take drafting and CAD courses along with ergonomics, lighting engineering, furniture history, and space planning. After that, you’ll need more time in the field working as an interior designer under the supervision of a professional. Lastly, you should become certified by taking the National Council of Interior Design Qualifications examination.
Ultimately, you might own a business where you have interior decorators working under you (the interior designer) providing one-stop shopping for your clients.
Earning potential
Interior decorators will typically earn around $20/hr as an employee. Interior designers earn in excess of $50,000/yr and some earn well into the 6 figures. Of course, owning your own business means that your earning potential is completely dependant on the amount of work you put into the business. However, it’s not out of the question to be able to build a million dollar business over time.
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