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
91. Lessons From Our Big Mistakes w/ Michelle Lynne
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As this year comes to a close, I wanted to have a very honest conversation—one rooted in experience, not perfection. In this episode, I’m reflecting (with another seasoned firm owner- Michelle Lynne) on the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we learned the hard way, and what actually matters when you’re trying to move your business forward with clarity instead of chaos.
This isn’t about beating yourself up for what didn’t work. It’s about looking back clearly—without ego or shame—so you can recalibrate your direction, trust yourself again, and make smarter decisions as you head into 2026.
Here’s what we dig into in this episode:
In this episode, I talk about:
- Why you can’t change direction in your business without honestly looking in the rearview mirror
- How growing just for the sake of growth often leads to stress, misalignment, and regret
- Why busyness, headcount, and “looking successful” can hide deeper operational problems
- The real cost of ignoring your intuition—and why it always shows up eventually
- How intuition becomes powerful when it’s supported by data, not separated from it
- Why avoiding your numbers only creates bigger problems down the road
- What I call the “toll of the soul,” and why some profitable work still isn’t worth it
- How letting go sooner—clients, projects, models, or people—can lead to faster alignment
- Why leadership requires hard conversations, not avoidance
- How reflection is meant to recalibrate your business, not keep you stuck in regret
This episode is for designers who know something needs to change—but don’t want to burn everything down to make it happen. My hope is that this conversation helps you look at your business with more honesty, more confidence, and a lot more self-trust as you step into what’s next.
You don’t need to have all the answers for 2026 right now. But you do need to be willing to look clearly at where you’ve been—so you can choose where you’re going on purpose.
If you’re ready to move forward with clarity instead of guesswork, this episode is for you.
Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/
Connect with Katie
LinkedIn
Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers
Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm
Website
