The First Steps to Starting Your Interior Design Business (That Most People Get Wrong)

So, you've finished your interior design qualification, congratulations! That’s no small feat! 

You’re likely feeling excited, full of ideas, and dreaming of the day you’ll see your name on the side of a van or your signature style in a glossy magazine. You’re ready to dive into the business of design and start transforming homes.

And then… you freeze.

You’re staring at a blank page. You’re googling business cards. You're wondering if you should be building a website, posting on Instagram, or deciding on a logo. One minute you’re brimming with enthusiasm, the next you’re overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth that no one tells you when you’re starting out in interior design: most new designers begin in entirely the wrong place. They jump straight into the visible, shiny parts of their business: the Instagram grid, the glossy brochures, the oh-so-lovely font pairings, without building the essential foundation beneath it all.

And while it might feel like progress, starting this way can cost you dearly… in time, in money, and in confidence.

Why Most Designers Start in the Wrong Place

Let’s be honest: we all love the fun bits of business. Choosing colour palettes for your branding? Delightful! Picking a stylish font and crafting a clever Instagram bio? Utterly captivating. But none of these tasks matter… not yet.

I’ve seen far too many designers invest hundreds (sometimes thousands) of pounds on beautiful websites they later abandon. I’ve known designers who proudly handed out business cards, only to change their business name six months later. And I’ve spoken to countless talented people who felt like failures, simply because they started in the wrong order.

They focused on the aesthetics before building the structure.

Sound familiar? It’s like designing a gorgeous room on sand instead of solid ground. It might look lovely for a while, but it won’t last. And when cracks begin to show, the designer starts questioning themselves, when in fact, the problem wasn’t them at all. It was the order of operations.

So if business cards and social media aren’t step one, what is?

Start Here: The Three Foundations of a Strong Interior Design Business

Before you even think about your Instagram handle or spend a single penny on marketing, there are three essential foundations you must establish.

These foundations will help you build a business that’s aligned, sustainable, and deeply fulfilling. They’ll ensure that you don’t just look like a designer; you are one, confidently and intentionally building something that fits you like a bespoke suit.

1. Know Your Why

Let’s start with something that might sound a little fluffy but is, in fact, the cornerstone of everything: your why.

Why are you doing this?

Why interior design and not something else?

What drew you to the world of design in the first place? What impact do you want to have on your clients’ lives? What gets you out of bed in the morning (other than the promise of caffeine)?

Your why is more than motivation: it’s your brief. And as any designer knows, a good brief is gold dust.

Are you passionate about creating eco-conscious spaces? Do you want to help families feel proud of their homes? Are you driven by elegance, minimalism, colour, comfort? Your why will shape every decision you make: from the projects you take on, to the language you use on your website, to the way you price your services.

Most new designers skip this part because it feels obvious or they assume they’ll figure it out later. Don’t make that mistake. Clarity on your why makes everything so much easier.

2. Define Your Objectives

Next, let’s talk about goals… not just the vague kind, like “be successful” or “get clients,” but specific, honest, personal objectives that guide the way you build your business.

What does success look like to you?

Is it earning a full-time income? Working part-time around family life? Creating a boutique studio with a small team? Being featured in design publications? Specialising in a particular niche?

The clearer you are on what you’re aiming for, the more intentional your business will be. You’ll know what to say yes to, and just as importantly, what to say no to.

Without defined objectives, it’s easy to fall into the trap of saying yes to every job, every inquiry, every opportunity… only to find yourself overworked and out of alignment with the business you actually want to build.

So ask yourself: where do I want to be in 12 months? In five years? What does an ideal week look like? What income do I need to support my lifestyle? What kind of clients do I want to work with?

You’re the designer of your own life and business, so get clear on what you’re designing for.

3. Identify Your Ideal Client

Finally, and perhaps most crucially: know who you’re designing for.

When I ask new designers who their ideal client is, I often hear: “Well, I could work with anyone!” And yes, you could… but should you?

Trying to appeal to everyone means appealing to no one. The more specific you are, the easier it becomes to attract the right people. People who get what you do. People who value your expertise. People who are a joy to work with.

So, who is your ideal client?

Think about their lifestyle. Their problems. Their dreams. What’s frustrating them about their space? What do they value in a designer? What kind of budget do they have? Where do they hang out online?

When you know your ideal client inside and out, your messaging becomes magnetic. Your marketing becomes easier. Your services become more effective. You stop chasing clients, and start attracting them.

How to Lay Your Foundations (Without Overwhelm)

If your head is spinning a bit right now, don’t worry. This is big work, but it’s important work. And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Set aside a few hours… ideally with a cuppa, some quiet, and your favourite notebook, and start exploring the following:

For Your Why:

💡 What drew me to interior design originally?

💡 What do I want to change for my clients?

💡 What type of spaces light me up?

💡 What values matter most to me in my work?

For Your Objectives:

✅ Where do I want my business to be in one year? Five years?

✅ What kind of lifestyle do I want my business to support?

✅ How many hours per week do I want to work?

✅ What kind of income do I need?

✅ What does success feel like for me?

For Your Ideal Client:

⭐ Who do I most want to serve?

⭐ What are they struggling with when it comes to their space?

⭐ Why would they hire a designer instead of DIY-ing?

⭐ What do they value in a professional?

⭐ What kind of aesthetic are they drawn to?

Take your time with this. You don’t need to answer it all in one sitting. Let the answers simmer. Revisit them. Refine them. These aren’t just business exercises… they’re the bedrock of your entire career.

The Power of Starting in the Right Order

Here’s the beauty of doing things this way: everything else becomes easier.

When you know your why, your objectives, and your ideal client, you suddenly know what your branding should say, what your website should look like, where to spend your marketing energy (and where not to). You’ll know whether you even need business cards, and if so, what they should convey.

You’ll no longer be throwing spaghetti at the wall… you’ll be building with purpose.

And isn’t that what we’re all about, as designers? Intentional, beautiful foundations that support lives, not just aesthetics.

So, if you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed about how to start your interior design business, know this: you’re not behind. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re simply at the part where you lay the groundwork.

Build your foundations first. The rest will follow.

Want a Helping Hand?

If this resonates with you and you’d like a clear path through all five stages of building a successful interior design business, I’ve created something just for you. It’s called the Interior Designer’s Roadmap to Success, and it’s completely free.

It breaks down exactly what to focus on at each stage of business, and more importantly, what not to waste your time on.

Because beautiful rooms start with solid foundations… and so do beautiful businesses.

Click above to find out more!

Until next time...

Kate x