The Best Advice Every Aspiring Interior Designer Should Hear

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I entered my 20s with more passion and determination than you could imagine. My interest in interior design began at a young age, and, strangely enough, it all stemmed from an unusual living situation. If you’re curious about that story, you can read more about it here.

I first pursued interior design as a kitchen and bath designer while working in plumbing sales at a prestigious Toronto showroom. That experience gave me a strong technical foundation and taught me how to work with clients, manage budgets, and coordinate with contractors. From there, I transitioned into an interior design assistant role while simultaneously building my own business on the side.

Years of hustling, learning, and making mistakes eventually allowed me to go fully independent. Since then, my business has evolved several times. I’ve run a full-service interior design studio, offered custom artwork, pivoted my entire business online to work with clients around the world, and built the platform you’re reading today.

Over the years, I’ve learned countless lessons—many of them the hard way. I’ve also spoken with many aspiring interior designers who dream of starting their own business. So, if you’re looking to launch your own interior design business, here’s the advice I wish someone had given me.

1. Don’t Work With Unaligned Clients

This is a lesson I had to learn more than once.

When you’re just starting out, it can feel terrifying to turn work away. You convince yourself that you need to say yes to every project that comes your way because you don’t know where the next one will come from.

But here’s the truth: working with clients who aren’t a good fit almost always leads to problems.

That’s why one of the best things you can do is thoroughly vet your clients before you agree to work together.

What Does Vetting a Client Mean?

A discovery call isn’t just for the client to interview you, it’s equally an opportunity for you to interview them.

There are two things you’re trying to determine:

Do they have realistic expectations?
Do you genuinely vibe?

Make Sure Your Client’s Expectations Are Realistic

In my experience, the majority of problems on an interior design project don’t come from design decisions—they come from unrealistic expectations.

A client may want a complete home transformation or a high-end renovation, but their budget simply doesn’t support the vision.

This is where many designers, myself included at times, make the mistake of trying to “make it work.”

Don’t.

If you genuinely believe that what they’re asking for isn’t achievable within their budget, your job isn’t to force a solution or tell them what they want to hear.

Your responsibility is to professionally explain what is possible within their budget.

It might feel uncomfortable in the moment, but trust me—it will save you countless headaches later.

As designers, our role isn’t to agree with everything our clients say. It’s to guide them, educate them, and help them make informed decisions while being honest about what’s realistic.

Make Sure You Have Chemistry

Working with a client is a lot like dating.

You don’t have to become best friends, but you do need chemistry.

You need to understand how they communicate, whether they trust your expertise, and whether you genuinely enjoy talking to each other.

Sometimes you know within five minutes that it’s a great fit.

Other times, something just feels… off.

I’ve learned to trust that feeling.

If you don’t feel like you’re connecting during the discovery call, it’s often better to politely decline the project.

Because at the end of the day, it’s incredibly difficult to create a successful project if the relationship isn’t there.

Think about your favourite hairdresser. You probably keep going back because they do a fantastic job, but also because you enjoy spending time with them. Interior design is no different. Clients are inviting you into one of the most personal parts of their lives, and that relationship matters.

Questions to Ask During a Discovery Call

One of the easiest ways to assess whether someone is a good fit is to hop on a video call. It doesn’t have to be overly formal, you simply want to get a sense of who they are, what they’re hoping to achieve, and whether your personalities align.

One question I always recommend asking is:

“Have you worked with an interior designer before?”

If they have, follow up with:

How was the experience?
What did you enjoy about it?
What didn’t go well?
Why aren’t you working with that designer again?

Then listen carefully.

Their answer will tell you far more than you might expect.

Sometimes you’ll discover they simply moved cities or their previous designer retired.

Other times, you’ll notice a pattern of unrealistic expectations, poor communication, or a tendency to blame everyone else.

Those are all valuable insights before you commit to months of working together.

Choosing the right clients is one of the biggest factors in building a successful, enjoyable interior design business. Saying “no” to the wrong project creates space to say “yes” to the right one.

2. Don’t Always Design Strictly to the Budget

Lesson number two is this: don’t always design strictly to your client’s budget.

Now, I know that might sound a little surprising, but hear me out.

Of course, there are clients who have a very realistic budget, and in the early stages of the design process, that budget often isn’t completely defined. As designers, we should absolutely be mindful of costs because, let’s face it, everyone has a budget—whether it’s clearly established or somewhat flexible.

What I’ve found, though, is that the best approach is to design for your client’s taste, not just their budget.

Yes, provide options that comfortably fit within their budget, but don’t be afraid to occasionally show them something that’s slightly above it if you genuinely believe it’s a better choice.

Why?

Because people are often willing to spend a little more if it means they’ll absolutely love the end result.

If you’re too rigid with the budget from the start, you can unintentionally limit the design. Your selections become narrower, and sometimes clients end up underwhelmed because they never got to see what was possible, which reflects poorly on your design abilities.

Instead, I like to present two options:

Option one: “This is a great choice that stays comfortably within your budget.”
Option two: “This is my favourite option. It’s a little above your original budget, but I think it elevates the design and is worth considering.”

You’ll be surprised how often clients choose the second option.

Sometimes they don’t…and that’s completely fine. But at least they were given the opportunity to decide for themselves.

Your job isn’t to spend your client’s money carelessly. It’s to show them the best possible solutions and let them make an informed decision.

More often than not, your clients will appreciate that you gave them options rather than limiting the design before they even had the chance to see what was possible.

3. Invest in Your Brand and Your Business

A business is an investment. If you’re not willing to invest your time, energy, and money into it, I don’t believe it will go very far.

That’s one of the hardest truths I learned while building my own business.

Building my brand required consistent effort and financial investment. From paying for professional photoshoots and improving my website, to purchasing courses, investing in software, and spending money on marketing, I’ve continuously reinvested back into my business.

Building a successful interior design business—or any business, for that matter—is about playing the long game. It’s a continuous cycle of investing in the hope of creating greater opportunities and a stronger return over time.

If you’re hesitant to invest in the right software, your website, professional branding, education, or the tools that make your business better, it will eventually show. Clients notice these things, even if they can’t always put their finger on exactly why.

People want to hire someone who takes their profession seriously. If it doesn’t look like you’re invested in your own business, why would they feel confident investing their money in you?

That doesn’t mean you need to spend thousands of dollars overnight. Every investment should be intentional and make sense for where you are in your business. But don’t be afraid to spend money on the things that will help you grow.

So my advice is simple: invest in yourself and invest in your business. Believe that the effort—and the money—you put in today will help create the business you want tomorrow.