Interior design: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering interior design

Interior design is sold on the plan and the trust that the finished room will match it, so customers want to see the process and the deliverables. Win the job by showing a clear scope, a sample board and a plan that is measured to the room.

What customers ask

  • What will I get at the end, and in what format?
  • How many revisions are included?
  • Can you work with the furniture I already own?
  • Will you manage the orders and the delivery?
  • How long does the project take from start to finish?

How to win the job

  • On the first visit, measure the room, photograph the windows, doors and outlets, and ask how the household uses the space.
  • Show a concept board for the room in the first meeting, with the colors, materials and one or two furniture pieces, so the client sees the direction.
  • Put the deliverables in the proposal by name, such as the layout plan, the elevations, the boards and the shopping list.
  • Explain the revision process and the number of rounds in the agreement, and state what changes outside that count.
  • Name the procurement steps and who places the orders in the proposal, with any markup or fee disclosed clearly.
  • Set up the schedule with the milestones and the approval points, so the client knows when each step is due.
  • Offer a site visit at installation and a final walk-through to check the room against the plan.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of rooms you designed, with the layout and the finishes visible
  • Photos of concept boards and the drawings that went with each project
  • Photos of the rooms in use, showing the furniture placement and the lighting
  • A list of the room types and project scopes you take on

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care guide for the finishes and fabrics in the room, sent after the install
  • A check-in after a few months to see how the room is used and what needs adjusting
  • A quote for the next room, offered only if the client asks

Licenses and permits

Interior design title and practice rules vary by location, and construction or electrical work tied to the design can need licensed trades. Confirm your business registration, any required credentials for the title you use and your insurance in your state and locality before you take the project.

Questions

Should I use the word designer in my business name?

Check the rules in your state and locality on the use of design titles before you choose the name or put it in the quote. Use the title only where the rules allow it.

How do I handle a client who wants to buy items from a source I do not know?

Put the source in writing and check the item's dimensions, finish and delivery terms before the order is placed. Say in the proposal who holds the warranty on the item.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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