The Business of Beautiful Spaces Podcast for Interior Designers

156- Let's Talk About Client Relationship 101

Laura Thornton, Interior Designer Season 4 Episode 156

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0:00 | 16:17

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Client Relationships 101: How to Set Boundaries, Stay in Control & Create Happy Clients

Strong client relationships don’t come from being overly flexible or available 24/7. They come from clear leadership, well-defined processes, and confident boundaries.

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura breaks down exactly how interior designers can stay in control of their projects from day one without sacrificing warmth, professionalism, or client trust.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by constant client communication, unclear expectations, or decision fatigue, this episode will show you how to fix the process so your client experience feels seamless, elevated, and referral-worthy.

✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • Why most client issues are actually process problems
  • How to set the tone before the first client conversation
  • Why a Welcome Guide is one of the most powerful tools in your business
  • What to include in a “What to Expect” PDF to protect your time and energy
  • How to clearly define client vs. designer responsibilities
  • Why renovation projects require their own expectation-setting documents
  • How to stay in control of scheduling while still appearing flexible
  • The importance of weekly client check-in emails, even when nothing has changed
  • How limiting choices leads to better client decisions and less overwhelm
  • Pro-level systems that create happy clients who refer you again and again

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign