Claim OwnershipMastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design
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© 2025 Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design
Description
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.
86 Episodes
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Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever looked at another designer’s success and wondered, “What do they have that I don’t?” - this episode is for you. I’m digging into the real mindset work behind scaling a design business - and it’s not about better clients, a bigger team, or even a new offer. It’s about confidence. Because growth doesn’t start when your circumstances change; it starts when you decide to trust yourself again. I’m sharing how self-doubt sneaks in even when things are wor...
Send Katie a Text Message!! So many designers get stuck in their businesses because of the beliefs they carry about money, success, and what it takes to grow. In this episode, I’m talking honestly about the most common limiting beliefs I see in my coaching practice — from thinking you have to struggle to make money, to believing that success takes years, to feeling like you’re not ready yet. I’m sharing how these beliefs show up, why they’re keeping you stuck, and, most importantly, what you...
Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, I’m kicking off a brand new series all about building a business that works for you — not the other way around. If you’ve ever felt like your design business has more potential than what it’s currently producing, this conversation is for you. I see you out there trying to scale, trying to take home more income, trying to show up for your family and your clients, trying to build something meaningful without burning yourself out. It’s not easy — esp...
Send Katie a Text Message!! This week on Success by Design, I’m diving deep into one of my favorite topics: how to grow your design business thoughtfully, without letting it take over your life. I chat with Heather about the differences between W2 employees and 1099 contractors, and how choosing the right type of hire can make or break your business as you scale. We also talk about coaching, systems, and one-on-one strategies for creatives who have already hit six figures but want to push in...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Welcome back to Success by Design! I’m wrapping up our three-part series, Your Interior Designer Survival Guide Through Economic Uncertainty, with one of the most important conversations we can have right now — how to build a business that bends but doesn’t break. In this episode, I’m sharing how to strengthen your foundation through visibility, creative adaptability, strong systems, the right support network, and emotional sustainability. Whether you’re feeling t...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Hey designers — welcome back to Success by Design! I’m Katie Decker Erickson, and this week we’re diving into part two of our three-part series, Thriving Through Economic Uncertainty. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to create demand even when the market feels quiet — because slowing down doesn’t mean sitting still. I’m sharing the exact mindset and marketing strategies that keep designers (including me and my clients) booked, visible, and confident w...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Welcome to Success by Design! I’m kicking off a brand-new three-part series called The Interior Designer’s Survival Guide Through Economic Uncertainty. Let’s be honest—the economy feels weird right now. Clients are cautious, interest rates are high, and confidence can feel scarce. But while you can’t control the broader economy, you can control your pricing, positioning, and profit strategy. In this episode, we’re diving into how to price confidently when fear st...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Hey designers, it’s Katie Decker Erickson, and today I’m giving you something totally different — no fluff, no hype, and no sugarcoating. This is your five-minute State of the Industry for interior designers, and a heart-to-heart about what’s really going on behind the pretty photos and Pinterest boards. Because let’s be honest — the economy isn’t doing us any favors right now. Margins are tight, clients want miracles for pennies, and too many designers are drowni...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Scaling an interior design business isn’t just about hustling harder—it’s about systems, boundaries, leadership, and strategic support. In this episode, I sit down with my client Shannon to share her journey from feeling overwhelmed to confidently scaling her interior design business. We talk about the unexpected lessons she learned along the way and how coaching helped her master each step of growth. IN THIS EPISODE: How Shannon recognized she needed help and to...
Send Katie a Text Message!! In this week’s episode, to wrap up our Project to Profit Series, I'm getting real about the one step most designers skip that could save you hours, protect your margins, and stop you from repeating the same costly mistakes project after project. Here’s the kicker: research shows that teams who actually take this step improve performance by 20–25% on their very next project. Yep, it’s that powerful. And don’t think this is just for big firms — if you’re a team of o...
Send Katie a Text Message!! What if one happy client didn’t just mean a beautiful portfolio photo — but also became the gateway to three more dream projects? That’s the power of a referral strategy for designers that actually works. In this episode, I'm sharing why most interior design referrals don’t happen by chance — and how to move beyond “word of mouth” into a system that brings you consistent, pre-qualified leads. If you’ve been wondering how to get more design clients without burning ...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Scope creep: two little words that can drain your profits, stretch your timeline, and zap your energy if left unchecked. But here’s the twist—done right, scope creep can actually fuel your profit margins and strengthen client relationships. In this episode, I'm breaking down the sneaky ways scope creep shows up (and why it feels so personal). The #1 mindset shift that transforms extra client requests into profit opportunities. What to say in the moment when a clie...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Every design project begins with excitement, but if you skip one crucial step, that excitement can quickly spiral into misunderstandings, scope creep, and profit loss. That step? Onboarding and expectation setting. In this episode, part of our Project to Profit series, I'm pulling back the curtain on why onboarding isn’t just paperwork and contracts. Done right, it becomes your profit protector, a system that saves you stress, strengthens client trust, and protect...
Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever said, “I gave a discount just to keep the client happy,” this episode of Success by Design is for you. In this week’s Projects to Profit series, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the most common traps interior designers fall into: discounting. What feels like a quick win for keeping a client can harm your profit margins, dilute your brand, and erode your confidence as a designer. Check out the full show notes and other resources at https:...
Send Katie a Text Message!! This week, we’re kicking off a six-part series I’m calling "Turning Projects into Profit." As designers, we pour our hearts into projects that photograph beautifully, but sometimes those same projects barely move the financial needle. I know that tension well because I’ve lived it in my own business. That’s why this series is all about helping you stop leaving money on the table and start building a business that fuels your creativity and pays you well. And we’re ...
Send Katie a Text Message!! What every designer needs to know about neuroaesthetics, biophilia, and charging what you're worth. In this episode of Success by Design, I'm sitting down with Mike Peterson, founder of Science in Design, to explore how neuroscience is validating what designers have known intuitively for years: beautiful spaces make people feel better. Now we have the data to prove they also make people healthier. Check out the full show notes and resources at https://succes...
Send Katie a Text Message!! What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas — especially when Success by Design gets the inside scoop from the market floor. In this week’s can’t-miss episode, Katie sits down with Diana Ruston on her team and fresh off the plane to unpack the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre from the latest Las Vegas Market. This isn’t just another trends episode. It’s a no-holds-barred conversation about what’s really happening in design — from West Coast market shifts t...
![67: Interior Design Business Strategy That Works in a Downturn [The Table]](https://storage.buzzsprout.com/p675h6jm6iha8pqg6lf16bagwxgf?.jpg "67: Interior Design Business Strategy That Works in a Downturn [The Table]")
Send Katie a Text Message!! Interior designers, mark this moment: this is not just another podcast episode—it’s a masterclass in how to lead your business through chaos. In the latest quarterly roundtable, I invited two of the most respected minds in our industry, LuAnn Nigara and John McClain, to sit down and discuss their insights. But not just any shop. We dove into the murky waters of economic uncertainty, a topic that’s foggy at best and terrifying at worst. And trust me, you’re going t...
Send Katie a Text Message!! What if the answer isn’t more ads, more hustle, or more burnout? In this week’s episode of Success by Design, I drop 7 zero-cost, high-impact strategies to attract interior design clients without spending a dime. And no—it’s not just “post more on Instagram.” This episode is the grounded, practical pep talk you didn’t know you needed. Perfect for designers in a season of growth, reset, or re-alignment. Check out the full show notes and resources at https://s...
Send Katie a Text Message!! As an interior designer, you pour passion, creativity, and dedication into your business every single day. But what happens when the market slows, projects stall, or uncertainty creeps in? It’s not about if—it’s about when. But here's the good news: you don’t have to panic. You can proactively prepare. In this episode, Katie is diving into actionable strategies specifically crafted for interior design professionals facing a slowdown. Check out the full show notes ...
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