.png)
Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design
As an interior designer, do you find yourself caught between your love for design and the realities of running a profitable business? Whether you're launching your firm or scaling to new heights, the business side of interior design can be complex—and often overwhelming.
That’s where Katie Decker-Erickson comes in. As a business coach for interior designers and the founder of a multimillion-dollar design firm, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while staying true to your creative vision. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Katie is actively in the trenches—elevating her own firm while helping other designers master the business of design.
We’ll answer questions like:
How do I get more interior design clients?
What should I charge for interior design services?
What are the best marketing strategies for interior designers?
How can I grow my interior design business?
How do I build a brand as an interior designer?
How can I scale my interior design business?
What systems do I need to run a successful interior design business?
How do I create a client onboarding process for my design firm?
Is it worth hiring a coach for my interior design business?
This show delivers actionable tips on how to grow an interior design business with smart, sustainable strategies. You'll get insights on marketing your interior design services, building a strong brand, streamlining your systems, and scaling your firm—without burning out.
If you're an interior designer, firm owner, or creative entrepreneur ready to build a profitable, passion-filled business, you're in the right place.
Tune in, and let’s grow your interior design business—together.
Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design
88. Turn Your 2026 Vision Into a Design Business That Actually Works
Welcome back, designers! This is Part 2 of The Design Business Growth Blueprint, and today we’re shifting from the hard-number reality of Part 1 into something just as important - building your 2026 strategy like a true CEO. Not from vibes, not from wishful thinking, and definitely not from “I just want to make more next year,” but from real data, real capacity, and real clarity about the life you actually want to live.
In this episode, I’m walking you through how I create strategic growth plans inside my own multimillion-dollar design firm, and how you can do the same. Grab your notebook and your favorite pen, we’re going deep.
IN THIS EPISODE, I BREAK DOWN:
• The difference between being a business owner running on feelings and being a CEO making decisions from data
• The four essential data categories every designer needs to evaluate before planning 2026: revenue + profit reality, time tracking, true capacity, and demand
• Why numbers don’t shame you — they reveal you — and how that clarity becomes your power
• How to evaluate where your time actually goes and why time, not money, determines your scalability
• Why your business should expand and contract like an accordion depending on the season of life you’re in
• The three must-haves for growing into high six figures and seven figures: repeatable services, pricing that reflects demand and capacity, and a proactive team plan
• The biggest traps designers fall into every year, feeling-based goals, vanity
• Why the 2026 Business Blueprint Worksheet will help you set up a confident, strategic Q1
This episode is all about stepping into your CEO era - not by hustling harder, but by grounding your decisions in numbers, capacity, clarity, and the reality of the life you’re building. As you look toward 2026, I want you to sit with one big question: What does your life need next year? When you honor that answer, everything else gets clearer.
If you want support building out your strategy, head over to fixmydesignbiz.com and grab the 2026 Business Blueprint Worksheet when you register for the masterclass. It will walk you through your data, help you find your gaps and opportunities, and give you the clarity you need to set goals like a CEO, not a business owner running on fumes.
I can’t wait to hear what your life is asking for in 2026. Send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and tell me - I read every single one.
Connect with Katie
LinkedIn
Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers
Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm
Website
