Thinking about starting your own interior design business? If you have a good eye for interior design and an entrepreneurial mindset, you might find this to be one of the best decisions that you ever make. Starting a new business will always be intimidating, though, so read on for advice on how you can get started with your own interior design business.
What Does an Interior Designer do?
First, it is worth looking at what is involved with this type of business. An interior designer will use their expert knowledge, creativity and skills to design beautiful and functional spaces for clients. This can involve the use of colours, lighting and materials to decorate and create a space that the client will be happy with.
Deciding on Service
One of the main decisions to make will be on the services that you provide. An interior designer could offer design work for commercial spaces and/or residential services. You may also have expertise in a certain area, such as landscaping or antique furniture.
Identify Your Market
Once you have established what service(s) you will provide as an interior designer, you can then identify your target market. If you will be focusing on antiques, artwork and elegant designer pieces, for example, then your target market is high-end clientele. You want to keep this target market in mind when creating your brand and advertising, so it is important to have a strong understanding of this group. This will include likes and dislikes, wants and needs.
current trends and consumer habits.
Build Relationships with Suppliers & Contractors
To succeed in the interior design world, you need to have a large network of suppliers and contractors that you can trust. You need to have people that can deliver to a high standard so that you can complete projects on time and to a high standard. This can include cabinet suppliers, textile suppliers and plywood board suppliers for garden fence panels just as a few examples. This means that you need to know how to build and maintain a large professional network.
Set Your Rate & Build Your Portfolio
You also want to take your time to set a competitive rate. This should include an hourly rate, overall cost, fixed rate and cost per square foot. It is then a case of building your portfolio, including 3D renderings of spaces using interior design software. This will help you to win over clients and build a strong reputation.
These are a few of the main steps to take when starting an interior design business that will hopefully help you to hit the ground running.
