Starting Out in Interior Design. What I Wish I’d Known
When you’re starting out in interior design, it’s easy to get caught up in the creative buzz and ignore everything else that keeps a business running. Here are the things I wish I’d known from day one.
Keep your accounts clean
Track every bit of income and every expense right from the start. Use one bank account for business so nothing gets lost in the mix. Bring in an accountant as soon as you can. You need your time and headspace for design, not tax panic.
Understand space before you style it
Great design starts with how people move and live, not just how things look. Not matter how confident you feel, check the details about your spatial planning. Pick up The Architect’s Pocket Book or The Metric Handbook. Spatial planning is the foundation for every successful project.
Document everything
You’ll view 57 fabric samples and then want to go back to the third one which was perfect. You’ll reject a chair only to realise later that you need it on your next project. Keep notes on suppliers, finishes, lead times, colours and prices. Your future projects will rely on it. And it helps to build your expertise and your confidence.
Go to trade shows
Even if you feel like a bit of alien who doesn’t quite belong there. They’re the best place to spot new trends, products and makers, plus the talks are full of real insight. You’ll walk out with ideas and confidence you can’t get scrolling online.
Ask questions and set up your presence
No detail is too small and guessing gets expensive. Ask. Learn. Build relationships. And make sure your website, Instagram and email look like you mean business. A proper domain makes a difference. In time, you will need to document your processes. I know- that sounds dull. But it adds confidence and credibility and it will make your life so much easier, believe me.
Stick with it
There’s a lot to learn and the early stages can feel like a constant test. But with every project, every supplier conversation and every leap outside your comfort zone, you grow. Keep going. The view gets better every year. And in a flash, you’ll be over a decade in!