Thinking of Working in Home Decor?

Have you ever seen a beautiful country home and wondered how the owner knew just what colors and styles to employ in the decor?

Or for that matter wished that you could do the same in your own home?

Many of us, who love to decorate, wonder what it would be like to be paid to be a decorator, consultant or interior designer, but few take the next steps. If you're really serious you'll want to not only study design, but also the ins and outs of the home decor business.

At the most primitive, an interior designer is a fashion or style consultant for the home. Your job will be to beautify a room or rooms and explain your vision and recommendations. Clients seldom desire to be kept in the dark, they often want to know every detail and the reason behind each decision you make for their homes.

What Can I Expect?

There is literally no limit to how much money you can earn as an Interior Designer. Of course a lot of that depends on what type of position you plan to have in the field as well. An assistant interior designer can start at $20.00 an hour, a certified interior designer can start anywhere from $50,000-$60,000 annually, and a partner can make as much as $200,000 annually.

These are really general estimates, but they are as was listed in 2003 in Decorator's Home Journal. Every person that is interested in Interior Design as a career can expect to make as much or as little as they want. You can virtually decide your financial potential on your own.

Extra Information: Many Interior Designers create their own products and product lines. They design everything from furniture, to furniture accessories. It can be a great way to promote your design services, and make a little bit of extra money. It's relatively common practice among designers, you may want to consider it.

What to expect when Getting Started

When you are just getting started in any business, you can expect to have to do a lot of leg work to get a clientele base. This is not easy, and requires a great deal of people skills from you. You will have to go out there and meet every person that you can think of.

You should expect to encounter a lot of rejection from consumers, as well as competition from other designers. Many times, a potential client will want to place your work and estimates against others. If you can, offer to outbid everyone that you can, but be careful because a client may not tell you the truth about the bids. It is good to try and check with the designers about their bids. Some will tell you.

As a new Interior Designer, you can expect to get a lot of resistance from potential clients. You can expect to spend a great deal of time and money on building up your name. You may have to lower your estimates at first. You may have to spend some money by advertising your services in your local newspaper or penny saver.
Here are a few good ideas on how you can get some attention for you and your business.

  1. Set up a booth at your local mall. Have business cards and your portfolio on hand. Try and set up some of your best work around you and prop them up for all to see. Offer free estimates to any takers.
  2. Do the same at any other community gatherings.
  3. Offer to do small jobs for free with the addition of a paid space.
  4. Insert flyers into you local newspaper.
  5. Build your portfolio.

How to Start your Interior Design Business

Starting any business is never simple, but it doesn't have to be as complicated as many people think. A lot of what is needed is actually fun. You have to understand that much of starting any business requires you to be a salesman. You have to build yourself and your company up.

You must get a business number and registration. You can check your government listings for the correct number. You must also check with your local accountant to see what needs to be done about taxes etc.

You must also decide if you are going to be a home business or if you are planning to run a studio for a lease. Make sure to purchase all of the necessary materials. Some items you can get for free if you know where to look. Here is a list of some of those materials.

What you will need

  • Color swatches for paints and fabrics ( you can get many of them for free from local paint stores if you ask)
  • Fabric samples are a necessity (you can get them for free from your local furniture store)
  • Interior design magazines for client perusal (it helps them get an idea of what they like)
  • Furniture catalogues (free from furniture dealers and retailers)
  • Fine arts catalogue, get them from art galleries
  • Kitchen and bathroom catalogues. Basically get catalogues from everybody that deals with furniture, art, and lighting stores
  • Photos of your work, and signed recommendations (remember you get them from family and friends when you are just starting out)
  • Your portfolio (always have a copy of your portfolio)

Tips for Building a Portfolio with Little or no Professional Experience

  1. Ask friends or family to let you design a room in their house, and take pictures of your work for the portfolio.
  2. Get your friends and family to write letters of recommendation for you or list themselves as references.
  3. A leather binder, or photo album can be used to hold all of this information until you have better resources.
  4. If you have them, copies of your credentials should be placed at the front of your portfolio to assure your future clients that you are qualified.
  5. Put your best work toward the front of your portfolio. Do not show any work that you are not proud of.

There are, of course, a couple of items that Interior designers always have on hand at all times. These are rather necessary, even if you are just starting out or want to get started.