When it comes to deciding what you should do as a career, perhaps the best starting point is to ask yourself: what am I passionate about? The idea is that if you’re doing something that you inherently enjoy, then your job will feel less like work, more like fun. If you’re creative and love interior design, then you may consider starting your own interior design business, for instance. However, it’s not as if finding success in this industry will be automatic; you’ll have to work hard to ultimately make your dream come true.
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at some tried and tested tips that’ll push you towards success.
Build Your Expertise
First thing’s first: if you want people to hire you for your interior design skills, then you’ll need to ensure that you have them. Most people who work in this sector decide to do so because they understand, on some level, that they have a talent for it. But your initial talent will only be the starting point. You’ll need to nurture it in order to become a professional. This could involve studying on an interior design course, working within an existing design company before setting out on your own, or building up your portfolio by working for free or reduced rates. Before long, you’ll find that you’ve got enough experience to really push forward and build your business.
Find Your Niche
There are, of course, more than one style of interior design. While you should have a broad understanding of all the different types, at some point, you’ll want to get specific and focus on one (or a couple) only. This will allow you to market yourself as an expert in that specific area. You’ve probably already got an idea of your specific style, which will be your starting point.
Develop Your Branding
As we mentioned earlier: success in this field does not come easily. There is a lot of competition, after all. If someone is going to pick you over the other options out there, then you’ll need to present an image of professionalism and expertise. This is where your branding comes in. Since you’ll be largely focused on the job at hand, your branding may become a secondary thought — indeed, you may be tempted to let it develop automatically. While that is an option, it’s better to take some time to develop it with care. Because to put it simply: your branding is too important. It’s still underrated by many interior designers (and companies in general), but it can have a huge impact on your overall success (or failure).
Marketing and Finding Clients
You’ll get some business through word of mouth, but you should also invest in your marketing. Focus predominantly on building your SEO and marketing through the main social media channels.
Photographs Are Everything
Most prospective clients will find you through your website. While you should work on getting the text right on your website, the most important aspect will be your photographs. After all, you are selling your visual talents, so if people are going to hire you, then they need to see what you’ve got. It hopefully goes without saying that you should never use stock photographs on an interior design website. Have a professional photographer take photos of your projects, so you can exhibit them on your site.
Develop Your Soft Skills
You might love nothing more than getting creative and designing spaces, but remember that’s only one aspect of your job. It’s the most important aspect, but still only one. One of the skills that can really benefit interior designers is communication, and more generally, people skills. After all, if people are going to trust you with their home, then they’ll need to feel a connection. This is something that generally comes with time, but there are things you can do to improve your soft skills.
Get the Software
Software is increasingly integral to all industries, and that includes the interior design industry. If you have the right software, then you can present a clear vision of what you can do for your prospective clients, and it can also help you to budget and create quotes correctly. It’s best to get software that is designed specifically for your area of expertise. If you design kitchens, then you’ll want to use kitchen design software. If you’re designing the layout of an entire home, then software that includes floor planning will be useful. Not only will investing in software allow you to do a better job for your clients, you’ll also find that it makes your job easier. One of the reasons why so many businesses incorporate technology into their operations is because it makes everything run more smoothly, and that’s just what you’ll find with software for interior designers.
Attending Trade Shows
There’s a strong community of interior designers that you will be a part of. So look at connecting with them. Interior design trade shows are an excellent way to learn about new trends and connect with other designers. They’re also excellent places to showcase your own talents and find clients.
Keep Pushing Forward
Finally, remember that while you’ll know a lot about interior design when you launch your business, it’s not as if you’ll know everything. Indeed, this isn’t possible, because interior design trends are always evolving and changing. If you’re going to have long-term success, then you’ll need to continue to develop your talents, and keep up with the latest trends. The styles that are in fashion five years down the line will be different from the ones that are in style now. Of course, you shouldn’t follow trends religiously. People are paying you because of your eye, so you should always put your own spin on the decor when appropriate.
Conclusion
People will always invest to ensure that their home or business looks the best that it can look, so there’ll be a lot of capacity for finding work now and in the future.