Stop Waiting to Feel Ready: Why Your Interior Design Business Needs You to Launch Now

If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard an aspiring designer say, “I’m just waiting for the right time to launch…”, well, let’s just say I’d be typing this from a beachfront villa in Ibiza.

It usually goes something like this:
They want the perfect processes. The ideal client journey. The polished portfolio. The brand photos that look like they belong in Elle Decoration. They’re thinking through every detail, every eventuality, every what if.

And I get it. Really, I do. But here’s the truth bomb no one wants to hear:

You will never, ever feel truly ready.

What often looks like being professional is actually procrastination in a very clever disguise. We call it procrasti-learning, procrasti-researching, procrasti-preparing… and if this sounds like you, I’m waving a massive red flag right now.

Because here’s the problem: all that careful “getting ready” might actually be keeping you stuck. Safe. Comfortable. But also... invisible.

Meanwhile, someone else, with less experience, fewer bells and whistles, and only half as many Pinterest boards, is out there doing the thing. Getting paid. Getting better. Building a business.

So what’s really going on?

It’s perfectionism. Sneaky, fear-dressed-as-efficiency perfectionism. It tells you you’re not quite ready yet, just one more course, just one more tweak to the website, just one more moodboard...

But here’s the thing: you don't need to be ready. You just need to begin.

Because confidence doesn’t precede action, it follows it.

Three Mindset Shifts to Help You Launch Before You're Ready

1. From Perfect to Professional

No, you don’t need a slick magazine-style portfolio shot by Annie Leibovitz. What you need is clear, well-lit photos of your work. Even if it’s your own living room. Even if it’s your best mate’s downstairs loo. Natural light, a tidy-up, and your iPhone will get you miles ahead.

Imperfect but visible is better than perfect but invisible. You can’t build a business in the shadows.

2. From Experience to Enthusiasm

You might think clients only hire the designer with the longest CV. They don’t. They hire the one who listens, who cares, who brings energy and excitement to their project. You can’t fake that. And actually? You don’t need to.

Your fresh eyes and genuine enthusiasm might be exactly what that client wants. Let your passion do the talking. Charisma opens doors that credentials can’t.

3. From Knowing Everything to Being Resourceful

Spoiler alert: no designer knows everything. Not even the ones who’ve been doing it for decades. What matters is knowing how to find answers. Who to ask. How to Google like a pro. Where to source that obscure tile or how to handle an awkward contractor.

Resourcefulness > encyclopaedic knowledge. Every time.

Still Worried About Mistakes?

You will make them. Of course you will. We all do. But wouldn’t you rather make them while you’re getting paid and gaining real experience, instead of in a vacuum of “theoretical readiness”?

Here’s the good news: your comfort zone? That tingly, slightly nauseating feeling you get before you hit ‘post’ on your launch announcement? That’s not fear. That’s growth knocking.

Answer it.

Your 4-Step Launch Plan (Even If You Don’t Feel Ready)

Here’s what you actually need to get going:

Step 1: Define Your MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

All you need to start taking clients is:

• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance
• A solid client contract

That’s it. Everything else is optional extras.

Step 2: Build a “Good Enough” Portfolio

Take photos of any design work you’ve done; your home counts! A friend’s kitchen counts! Focus on transformation. Before-and-afters. Tidy the space. Use natural light. Three great projects trump fifteen average ones.

Step 3: Practise Talking About Money

This is where most people trip up… not because they don’t know their worth, but because they haven’t practised saying it. So practise. In the mirror. In the shower. To your dog. Say your prices out loud until they feel like second nature.

Step 4: Tell People You’re Available

Sounds obvious, but you’d be shocked how many people forget to mention they’re open for business. Post on Instagram. Update your LinkedIn. Message your WhatsApp groups. The clients can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist.

A Little Something To Help You...

And when you get that first enquiry? You’ll figure it out. Because you’ll have to. And trust me… that’s when the magic happens.

Now, if your brain is whirring and you’re thinking, “Okay Kate, I get it, but I still don’t know where to start!”, don’t panic. That’s exactly why we created The Interior Designers’ Business Roadmap.

It’s a straight-talking, fluff-free guide that walks you through exactly what steps to take to go from “I think I want to do this” to “I’ve just signed my first paying client.” No jargon, no overwhelm, no skipping straight to branding before you’ve got your contract in place.

We break it down into bite-sized, doable stages, so you always know what to focus on right now, and what can wait. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been stuck in planning mode for far too long, this roadmap will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward.

Imposter Syndrome is Just a Sign You’re Growing

That jittery, wobbly “who do I think I am?” voice? It’s loudest right before a breakthrough. Don’t let it stop you. Let it fuel you.

Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.

So here’s my challenge to you: launch this week. Even if it’s just a soft launch. Even if it’s just a single post saying “I’m now taking on design clients.” Just take that first step.

Because honestly? The world doesn’t need another perfectly polished interior designer who never quite got started. It needs you: showing up, making mistakes, learning fast, and making homes more beautiful one brave step at a time.

Until next time,

Kate