Starting a Home-Based Interior Decorating Business

Interior decorators and designers assist homeowners and business owners with decorating or designing interior spaces. Interior decorators may specialize in residential decorating or commercial decorating, or even in a niche within the residential or commercial market.

Many states require interior designers to be licensed or registered. Licensing or registration usually requires college-level training in interior design, related work experience, and successful completion of an examination such as those offered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) or the California Council for Interior Design Certification (IDEX). The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) maintains a list of state licensing requirements on their website4. Some "interior designers" who lack these credentials reportedly advertise their services as "interior decorators" instead as a way to avoid their state's licensing requirements.

The United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)5 reports in their occupational projections data that 71,700 interior designers were employed in the USA during 2008. This occupation is expected to grow by 19.4 percent over the decade from 2008 - 2018. Median annual wages were reported to be "high" at $44,950. 26.7 percent of interior designers are reported to be self-employed.

Getting Started

It is not uncommon for home-based, interior decorating businesses to start out by providing decorating or design services for family and friends. This approach provides an opportunity to practice decorating for someone else before taking on new clients, as well as providing the opportunity to better calculate the cost and time requirements for various decorating projects.

Interior decorators may perform painting, wallpapering, and similar decorating tasks or may contract this type of work out to various professionals. Decorators who plan to contract with other professionals may wish to identify who they plan to work with, and to negotiate rates for various services, in advance.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) published a paper titled Interior Design in the New Economy: Lessons Learned from the Great Recession6 in 2010. This paper explores the state of the interior design industry, identifies changes that have been witnessed in the industry as a result of the Great Recession, and discusses steps that design and decorating professionals can take to improve the profitability of their business in the New Economy. Interestingly, one of the trends outlined in this paper is that established interior designers are scaling back their offices and eliminating meeting or conference rooms - something that home-based entrepreneurs have been doing for years.

Marketing

Marketing approaches for the home-based, interior decorating business may vary depending on the target market. In particular, residential and commercial clients will require different marketing approaches.

Commercial accounts may be solicited by cold calling, by sending mailings to new businesses or businesses that are planning expansions, by networking through Chamber of Commerce or civic group memberships, and through advertisements in trade or local business publications.

Residential accounts can be solicited through direct mailings to new homeowners, by posting brochures and business cards on community bulletin boards, and through advertising in local and community newspapers.

Setting up a business website and social media accounts can be useful for commercial and residential interior decorators. These new media approaches allow potential clients to find your business and to learn more at their convenience. Social media accounts and e-mail newsletters provide an opportunity to network and to establish relationships that can result in profitable business opportunities.

Interior decorators can also use vehicle lettering or signs to market their business. Putting a sign or lettering on the work vehicle turns the vehicle into a mobile advertisement. This mobile sign will be seen in parking lots and on roads everywhere that it is driven or parked.

Cautions

Approximately half or US states require registration or licensing of "interior designers." Some interior décor professionals reportedly advertise their services as "interior decorators" to avoid these licensing requirements. It is a good idea to review occupational licensing requirements in your state before starting a design or decorating business to verify whether your planned activities will require licensing or registration. Consulting with an attorney about any questions is also an option.

Appropriate business insurance should always be carried on any vehicle that is used for business. Many automobile policies can have a rider added to cover business use of a personal vehicle.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurs who have an "eye" for design may find an interior decorating business to be an ideal home-based business. Interior decorating offers the opportunity to be creative and to create interior spaces that client's will appreciate - all while earning a respectable profit.

SOURCES

United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Site accessed on 7 October 2010.

American Society of Interior Designers. Interior Design in the New Economy: Lessons Learned from the Great Recession. American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Accessed on 17 January 2011.

California Council for Interior Design Certification. Site accessed on 17 January 2011.

National Council for Interior Design Qualification. Site accessed on 17 January 2011.

How to Start a Home Design Business. Entrepreneur. Site accessed on 3 December 2010.

How to Start an Interior Decorating/Design Business 1-2-3. Home Inc. Business Center. Site accessed on 3 December 2010.