12 Responses to “How Do I Start My Interior Decorating Business ? Please Advice.?”

1. Katie Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   to start a business in interior decorating, you need a degree in that.
   Definitely not short-term, I’ll admit.
   The best you can do without having to go to school is just help your friends with their rooms and such. Sorry.
   EDIT: Don’t bother listening to the people below me. You have to go to college for this profession. You’ll need a license to become an interior decorator.
   I also think you need to be informed that “interior decorating” isn’t just painting, mixing and matching, and rearranging furniture. You have to be pretty good in math, because this calls for planning ahead, and drawn-to-scales of rooms and the furniture to be placed.
   It’s just like driving. Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you’re good and will pass “the test”. You need to pass to get a license, and you need the license to do it legally. Plus, experience always helps.
   If you want to become an interior decorator, you have to learn the ropes. Good luck!
   EDIT 2: SA Writer is absolutely right!

2. Baby Dress Shoes Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   You cannot hold yourself out as an interior designer unless you are certified by the ASID. I would recommend starting a “House Staging” business. This uses many of the skills of interior decorators but does not involve electrical, plumbing, or mechanical modifications. You can start by staging homes for sale. Work with realtors or directly with homeowners. Once you get a bit of a reputation, advertise that you will “stage” homes for active living, entertaining, relaxing, etc. That way you get to use your talent without the long schooling that is required to be an interior designer. By the way, there are courses for home stagers that last weeks rather than months. Good Luck!

3. K M Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   i know this a brief answer to your question..but
   1.Network and Network do as much talking you can with various people and bring up this topic you will be amazed with your finding.
   2.Research and vist – you should make sure to research on your competitors usually talking to the owners. Ask them for their account projection yearly books they are obliged to give them to you if it is a plc
   3. Always request information from the business department of your government numbers are in the yellow pages you can find a lot of statistics and everything you need to know.
   4. find partners it is obvious you dont have any business knowledge it is good to find someone who can invest while he is taking care of the fincial side and you take care of the hands on stuff.
   I cant obviously tell you what path to take because there are numerous methods to start up but if you follow those 4 steps you will definetly find enough answers

4. Adam, California Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   The important thing is building relationships with people and businesses that can cover the things you can’t do. Above all trust is the most important thing, people want to feel secure with the people they are dealing with. The customer will probably want to deal with one person, but reselling someone else’s services can get dicey, especially if the customer is not happy with the service. You will have to make a choice as to how to handle sub contracting. Either way your reputation is on the line. Being in business also requires you to be very comfortable with numbers. It is very easy to sell yourself short, you will have to learn how to price your work and how to price sub contracted work. The other part of the business is knowing what licenses you will need. Starting a sole proprietorship is the easiest, but leaves a lot of liability in the case of a law suit. If you are going to resell products and services you will need a resale license so you don’t pay your vendors taxes, which in turn you will have to collect taxes from your customer and pay them to the state. I would recommend joining your local chamber of commerce. There you can find access to many services needed by small businesses. I do recommend you take some courses in both business as well as design broaden your experience.
   Good luck

5. Funny Horse Videos Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   You can*t fix electrical or plumbing and have the house pass inspection. Leave that to the professionals.
   Are there on-line courses you can take
   Sounds exciting – good luck! If you have decorated 5 homes already and have satisfied clients, get them to each write a letter of recommendation, make up a portfolio for new clients, with copies of these included, etc. Slow and steady wins the race (so they tell me)
   I would take before & after pictures of every project that you take on.

6. appleche Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   I’d take a portfolio of your work and go to interior designers that have shops and see what they say/think. Maybe they would higher you and you could get more experience.
   Then in a year you will have learned more, gotten a good reputation and a referral from the other designer. Then you can go out on your own …

7. Stephanie C Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   Hey!
   Im Stephanie and I am a Designer with Celebrating Home
   (formerly Home Interiors & Gifts – have you heard of it?)
   I saw your post and had to share =) If you really love decorating homes, etc.. please check out my website..
   CelebratingHome.com/sites/SaComeau
   With this company you get to do what you love and make
   a great profit, up to 49%!! The home decorating and entertaining market are two of the fastest growing businesses in the marketplace
   At Celebrating Home, we give you the opportunity to work from your home, be your own boss, & set your own hours! It is a really great plan where you can put your love of decorating and entertaining to work for you!
   If this is something you think you might like to do feel free to contact me =)..

8. Fake Security Cameras Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   You should try setting up a website to gain publicity, and possibly doing online studying of wiring, if you want to do a universal job, or just hire a part-time electrician to help. Also, you should look into online courses on decorating, it won’t be as time-, or money-consuming as a class.

9. Human Touch Massage Chairs Says:
   June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

   Put yourself out there and do it the best way like most new business.
   Advertise your services everywhere and keep at it, if they (The potential customer) dont know you exist….its not worth it. So make yourself some flyers, add some photos of your work….before/afters etc state a basic fee and your contact details.
   Hope that helps.

10. Nina Says:
    June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

    STICK TO WHAT YOU DO BEST!!!! Don’t go fixing bulbs, and wires if you don’t do that. Your client should know that you are there to make their home beautiful and NOT fix leaky pipes!!!! Get you’re creative juices flowing by using this tool belowhttp://www.findanyfloor.com/VirtualRoomD…
    it is so amazing!!!!!!! It just gives you good ideas!!! Also when you pitch you’re clients there’s no harm in throwing this tool out there and saying look here we go… lets decorate!!!! Hope this helps!!!!

11. Wayne K Says:
    June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

    hire someone

12. seamstre Says:
    June 28th, 2009 at 7:22 am

    You do not need a license or a formal education to be an Interior Decorator. One of the previous posters is very much mistaken that you HAVE to have a license and college education. Perhaps she is speaking of an Interior Designer. There is a difference between an Interior Decorator and an Interior Designer. An Interior Decorator decorates spaces, just like you have been doing. For residential decorating you do not need any sort of degree. I have been in the Interior Decorating business for 20 years. My talents come to me naturally as I began making window treatments which lead me into full blown room decorating. My clients come to me by way of referrals as I have not advertised in over 18 years.
    You have pleased people with your talents, so,already have your foot in the door. Follow your dream. I am living mine. And, I am earning enough to pay my own mortgage and all, including raising two sons.
    Check with your state requirements (Department of Revenue) on running a small service based business. You will need a Tax ID number and may have to collect tax on your services and submit it back to the state quarterly. Depending where you live, you can claim a home office on your federal tax return if the space used in your home is exclusively used for business purposes. Educate yourself on the laws in you state. Books at the library helped me a lot. I recommend other professionals to help me accomplish my decorating goals. I do all the sewing of window treatments, bedding, cushions and pillows, nurseries and some light upholstery myself. I either recommend independent carpenters, electricians, upholsters and painters, or II ask a homeowner to use their own trusted resources. I leave the professionals to work out prices with the homeowners and do not get in the middle of any of their transactions. Some of these other professionals will give me a finder’s fee based on a percentage of the referral and others will not. I charge my clients for my time spent with them so I do not depend on finder fees. I take pictures of every finished project, no matter how big or small. Personally, I find ‘before’ pictures worthless because the space looked so awful in the first place–any change would be an improvement!! The only time I have taken before photos is if I recommend walls be moved (and, my independent carpenter/builder professional takes full control of those changes).
    Do not ever call yourself an Interior Designer without a college degree.
    Interior Designers earned their title and should be respected as such. Interior Designers get infuriated with decorators who parade them-selves around as designers, justifiably so. I routinely ‘design’ window treatments along with all elements of interior decorating, but that does not make me a bonafide Interior Designer, whether I accomplish parts of the title or not.
    If you want to take your career a step further, there are on-line Interior Designer courses you can do at home in just a few months time. They range from $800.00 to $1,200. I wish you the very best of luck. P.S. the person I spoke of in the beginning of my post here, has since deleted her post.

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