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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
112. The Hidden Cost of Saying Yes to the Wrong Projects
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What if the project draining your energy, your time, your profit, and your team was never actually the problem? What if the bigger issue is that you said yes to it in the first place?
In this episode of Success by Design, I’m talking about the subtle “wrong projects” interior designers take on all the time — the ones that seem fine at first. The budget looks decent, the client seems nice enough, and the space has potential. But somewhere along the way, the project starts pulling your business in a direction you never intended.
I’m unpacking why these projects create so much stress, how they quietly weaken your boundaries and positioning, and why saying yes to the wrong fit can completely reshape your business over time. We’re also talking about the hidden costs designers don’t always recognize — from scope creep and emotional labor to team confusion, burnout, and opportunity cost.
Inside this episode, I’m sharing:
- Why wrong projects are usually a positioning problem, not just a client problem
- The hidden cost of saying yes to misaligned work
- How weak filters lead to exhausting projects
- The difference between high-touch service and unlimited access
- Why pricing, boundaries, and process all act as client filters
- The 7-question framework I use to evaluate whether a project is truly the right fit
- How to stop building a business around fear-based yeses
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a project that looked good on paper but felt heavy in real life, this episode is going to hit home. Because the goal is not just to stay booked and busy. The goal is to build a design business that actually supports your life, your leadership, and your long-term vision.
Connect with Katie
LinkedIn
Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers
Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm
Website
