Running a successful interiors business doesn’t just require design savvy. Launching and sustaining a profitable design firm requires a lot of financial know-how too. So Zena talked to Michele Williams of Scarlet Thread Consulting — whose firm offers business and financial coaching specifically tailored to the needs of interior designers — to get her tips for running a design business that will be highly profitable this year, the next, and for years to come.

Vintage and antique home furniture and décor adds a patina to a room that you can’t get from contemporary pieces alone. Whether you’re scouting Art Deco lighting features for a client’s 1920s home, want to score some vintage travel posters for a globetrotter’s office, or know that an iconic design like an Eames chair would complete a mid-century lover’s living room, sometimes pieces with a pedigree are the missing piece of a client project. 

As a design pro, you know all too well how lighting can make or break a room. According to the late, great American interior designer, Albert Hadley: “Design is defined by light and shade, and appropriate lighting is enormously important.” Indeed: good lighting can infuse fresh life into dark, dim spaces — while harsh, overly-bright illumination can ruin an otherwise beautifully designed room. Drab, underlit spaces not only do a huge disservice to furniture and décor, but can actually strain the eyes and affect mood and productivity. Whether you’re looking for purely functional under-cabinet lighting, or a work-of-art chandelier that will create a dramatic first impression in an entryway, there have never been more options for finding quality lighting online — in every style and price point. Here are the top sites to source the pendants, sconces, task lighting, chandeliers, floor and table lamps, outdoor illumination, and more you need to add that all-important layer of flawless lighting to your client projects.

Interior designers are creative by definition…which is why they may dread financial tasks like bookkeeping and filing taxes even more than the average taxpayer.

Interior designers know that nothing can transform the look and feel of a room as quickly as wallcoverings. From pastoral toiles to avant-garde contemporary abstracts — exquisite hand-painted Chinoiserie floral panels to trendy banana leaf prints that feel like living inside a tropical vacation — wallpapers have the power to create a vibe instantaneously.

When it comes to your interior design business, it’s impossible to overestimate the importance of community. From clients who come your way by word-of-mouth to vendors, contractors, and tradespeople endorsed by trusted fellow designers, your business is built on it. That’s why being part of groups created specifically for design pros can be so invaluable in boosting the success of your business. 

Twice a year, the design community descends on the otherwise-quiet southern city of High Point, North Carolina for one of the largest furnishings industry trade shows in the world. Bringing together retailers, designers, manufacturers, and industry professionals from over 100 countries, 75,000 attendees get the chance to explore more than 2,000 exhibitors spread across a staggering 11.5 million square feet of show space.

Nothing pulls a room together like art. But because it’s so deeply personal and individual, art is often the trickiest design element to source for clients. Thankfully, the bar for quality, selection, and range of pieces that can be purchased via online galleries has never been higher, making it possible to find room-making artworks online — no matter the client, and no matter the budget.

Mackenzie Collier, founder and owner of Arizona-based Mackenzie Collier Interiors, believes that the power of design can extend beyond the physical. Built on the foundations of innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability, she and her team at MCI aim to create residential and commercial spaces that also contribute positively to the community and environment.

“Creating a vibe is my art,” says Teressa Addington, owner of Paper & Onyx interior design studio in Lakeland, Florida. Teressa brings her background in fashion design and fine art to each and every one of her residential and commercial design projects — infusing a high-fashion sensibility that ‘s shaped both by trends in the interiors world, and by that season’s runway and couture shows.

While we know the world of design is constantly evolving, it’s hard for interior designers to take time away from already-overscheduled workdays to study up on the best ways to build, maintain, and further their businesses. 

Stay at the forefront of the design world in 2024 with our comprehensive guide to the standout interior design events and markets, offering insights, trends, and unparalleled opportunities for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Erin, you see each project as a direct extension of your client's identity. What is your philosophy, from a business perspective?