The Best Tools To Grow Your Interior Decorating Business

This is a great question – and one that often gets confused. The main difference between the two terms is that interior designers are typically required to have a degree or certificate in interior design, whereas interior decorators are not.

Additionally, interior designers usually work on larger-scale projects, such as commercial spaces or new construction homes. They may also be involved in the architecture of a space.

On the other hand, interior decorators typically work on smaller projects, such as redecorating a room in an existing home. That said, many decorators still do work on larger projects. Importantly, they just won’t be a part of the architectural process.

As a rule of thumb, keep this in mind: interior designers can also be interior decorators, if they so choose. Their training qualifies them to do both. Interior decorators, on the other hand, cannot also be interior designers without the proper schooling and qualifications.

An interior decorator’s job is to make a space look and feel good. This involves choosing furniture, colors, fabrics, finishes, and more to create a certain atmosphere or mood. The goal is to reflect the client’s taste and style while also taking into account the function of the space.

For example, a client might want a light and airy feel in their bedroom. So, an interior decorator would select items like sheer curtains and light-colored furniture. They would also take into consideration the layout of the room to ensure that it’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Another example might be a client who wants a more cozy and intimate feel in their living room. In this case, a professional decorator would select items like richly-colored fabrics and furniture with clean lines.

This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends on each individual’s situation. For example, if you already have experience working in the design industry, then becoming an interior decorator may not be as hard.

On the other hand, if you’re starting from scratch with no experience whatsoever, then yes – it may be harder to become an interior decorator. The most important thing, though, is to have a passion for design and a willingness to learn.

In our experience, the single best way to ensure success is to get professional certification training – such as that offered by QC Design School. With a proper certification, you’ll be able to learn everything you need to know about interior decorating from the ground up.

Additionally, having reputable, internationally-recognized qualifications will make you so much more credible in the eyes of potential clients. They’ll see that you’re a true professional who is serious about their craft.

This will be a common question asked by your prospective clients. The answer is a resounding YES!

For instance, a study by the National Association of Realtors found that home staging (which is similar to interior decorating) can increase a home’s value by up to 20%. And while you might not be working on homes that are going on the market, the same principles apply to any type of space – whether it’s a home, office, or retail store.

An interior decorator can save their clients time, money, and stress by helping them make informed decisions about their space. Not to mention, they can also add their own personal touch to a project – something that would be difficult for most people to do on their own.

This is a great question, and one that doesn’t have a single, easy answer. The best way to become a better interior decorator is to simply get as much experience as possible. The more you work with clients, the better you’ll become at understanding their needs and wants.

Additionally, it’s important to always be learning and keeping up-to-date with the latest trends. The world of interior decorating is always evolving, so it’s important to stay on top of things!

First up is putting together a comprehensive business plan. This document will outline your overall goals, strategies, and plans for achieving them. Not to mention, if you’re thinking of getting financial assistance from a bank, they’re also going to require this document from you.

Essentially, your business plan will be critical to the success of your interior decorating business!

Now, if you’ve never written a business plan before, that’s totally okay. So long as it contains the following key info, you’ll be good to go:

When it comes to the best tools to grow your interior decorating business, insurance is a MUST! After all, it will protect you in the event of any accidents, injuries, or damages that occur while working on projects (or even afterwards).

Because there are a variety of different policies that you can choose from, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at first. Just take your time, do your research, and remember that your business won’t need every type of insurance you come across.

General liability insurance, for instance, will cover you if someone is injured while in your office or if you damage someone’s property. Professional liability insurance, on the other hand, will protect you in the event that a client sues you for damages (even if they’re not actually damaged).

Then there’s also product liability insurance, which will cover any injuries or damages caused by products you sell. The list goes on and on!

Before you can start legally operating your interior decorating business, you’ll first need to register it with the government. By registering your business name, no one else will be able to use it!

The reality is, literally every business owner needs a laptop and/or smart phone these days. These devices will be essential for keeping track of your appointments and projects, communicating with clients, managing your finances, etc. Additionally, you’ll need to be reachable, since you never know when a prospective client will be trying to contact you!

What list of the best tools to grow your interior decorating business would be complete without talking about your website? This is absolutely essential in order to have a strong online presence for your company.

Contrary to what you might think, your website doesn’t actually need to be fancy or complicated. It just needs to include all of the need-to-know information about your company. Your contact info, provided services, prices, social media links, portfolio, and online booking are all prime examples.

If you’re new to building a website, there are countless resources and guides available online. This guide by Business News Daily is a terrific example! If you have the budget for it, another thing you can do is hire a web designer to create the site for you.

When you’re first starting out in the design industry, it’s important to build up a strong portfolio of your interior decorating work. This portfolio will demonstrate to clients what you’re capable of – as well as help them decide if you’re the right decorator for their needs.

Your portfolio can include things like before vs. after photos, behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials, etc. Also, if you have any previous experience working as an interior decorator, be sure to include that in your portfolio as well!

Another important marketing tool to grow your interior decorating business are business cards. These can be handed out to potential customers, left at local businesses, distributed at industry events, or simply given to anyone who expresses interest in your decorating services.

When creating your business cards, make sure it includes the following info:

Additionally, you might also want to include your headshot on your business cards. This way, people can remember your face! Furthermore, you might also wish to include a brief tagline or slogan – something that sums up what you do and why you’re the best at it!

Last but not least, a strong social media presence is definitely one of the best tools to grow your interior decorating business. Thanks to the power of social media, you’ll be able to reach a wider audience AND connect with potential clients from all around the world!

These days, some of the most popular social media platforms include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Of course, there are plenty of other options out there as well. So, why not look around and see which one(s) would make the most sense for your business?

Importantly, once you’ve set up your profiles, be sure to regularly populate them with high-quality content. Original photos/videos, design and decorating advice/tips, blog articles, and positive client reviews are all excellent things to share. And as a result, you’ll be showing people how serious you are about your business.

Project management software will be your best friend – and Asana will help you keep track of all your skincare clients, appointments, and tasks, all in one place. When you’re trying to stay organized and on top of your business, this type of tool is remarkably useful. And let’s face it, staying organized is something that every business owner is forever doing!

Email campaigns will be yet another one of the best tools to grow your interior decorating business. When it comes to this kind of software, Mailchimp is considered the best of the best! With it, you can create and send newsletters, email campaigns, and other marketing materials.

All of this is super important, as you’ll be able to then stay in touch with your clients and promote your business at the same time!

Accounting software is a staple for any entrepreneur who either doesn’t have the budget to hire out an accountant, or simply wishes to manage their finances themselves. QuickBooks is – hands-down – one of the best software tools out there!

Thanks to QuickBooks, you can effortlessly manage your finances, invoices, and expenses all under one roof. Plus, they offer a free trial, too. As a result, you can try out their services before committing to a paid plan.

Nowadays, virtual design services are all the rage – and when people want to hold any sort of online meeting, they turn to Zoom Events!

Zoom Events is comprehensive, virtual platform that can help you run digital client consultations, follow-up appointments, online classes, etc. With this handy tool, you can live stream, have chat rooms, host webinars, or create breakout sessions. It also helps that Zoom’s platform is super easy to navigate and user-friendly.

As we discussed earlier, one of the best tools to grow your interior decorating business is a website. And Wix is considered to be BEST all-around website builder, according to Superb Website Builders! With Wix’s user-friendly platform, you’re given tons of free templates and designs to choose from, as well as powerful features.

Next up, we can’t forget about CAD software! This type of tool is essential for any interior decorator, as it allows you to create accurate drawings and designs of rooms. Plus, with CAD software, you can make any needed changes quickly and easily.

If you want to take your design business to the next level, then we highly recommend investing in some sort of interior design software. This type of tool is perfect for when you need to create detailed and comprehensive drawings or designs for your clients. Plus, it’ll help you save time and money in the long run!

Ah, Pinterest – one of the best tools to grow your interior decorating business! As you probably know, Pinterest is a visual social media platform where people can share and discover new ideas. And since it’s so heavily focused on visuals, it’s the perfect place to showcase your work as an interior decorator!

As an interior decorator, you’ll need to be able to move around easily and have all of your tools within reach. That’s why we recommend investing in a good tool belt! This way, you can keep all of your essential supplies close by, without having to lug around a giant tool box.

You’ll also need a few measuring tools, such as a tape measure, a laser level, and some sort of measuring wheel. These will come in handy when you’re trying to figure out dimensions or calculate distances.

Additionally, you’ll also need to invest in some sort of protective gear. This is particularly important if you’re working with power tools or hazardous materials.

As an interior decorator, you should also have a place to jot down all of your ideas. This could be a simple sketchbook or notebook. Or, if you prefer, you can use a digital note-taking app like Evernote or OneNote.

Another key investment, in terms of tools to help you do your job, would be a color wheel. This is essential for any interior decorator, as it will help you choose the perfect color scheme for your client’s space.

Another must-have tool you’ll need is a good pair of comfortable shoes! After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time on your feet, so you might as well be comfortable.

This is easily one of the most important tools on our entire list. After all, as an interior decorator, your job is to help people create beautiful spaces in their homes.

Of course, the most important tool you’ll need for your interior decorating business is an eye for design! This is something that doesn’t necessarily come naturally for everybody… But if you have the passion for it, it can be taught!

If you’re not sure whether or not you inherently have an eye for design, ask yourself this question: Do people often compliment your sense of style and/or the way your home always looks? If so, then chances are you have what it takes to be a successful interior decorator!

Phew, that was a lot of info to take in… Kudos to you for sticking it out ’til the end!

Remember: these are just a handful of the essential tools you’ll need to grow your interior decorating business. And while some of these things are physical products, others (like people skills and an eye for design) are more intangible.

Either way, make no mistake: all of these tools are essential if you want to be successful in this field! So, if you’re serious about pursuing a career in interior decorating, be sure to invest in everything discussed in this article.

Trust us, it’ll be worth it in the long run!