Claim OwnershipMastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design
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© 2026 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.
99 Episodes
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Send Katie a Text Message!! You raised your rates. You updated your website. You had the uncomfortable conversations. And you thought, This is it. This is the turning point. But you’re still working just as much. Maybe more. If that’s you, this episode of Success by Design is going to hit home. In this conversation, I break down why raising your interior design fees is often necessary — but never the magic fix everyone promises. Higher pricing doesn’t automatically create more freedom. In fa...
Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I swear I’ve already answered this,” while a team member pings you yet again, this episode is for you. Today, I’m unpacking one of the most exhausting leadership moments I see with designers — when your team keeps asking the same questions over and over, and it starts to make you wonder if you’re doing something wrong as a leader. I want to say this clearly right out of the gate: this isn’t a sign that you’re failing. It’s ...
Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever looked at your business and thought, “Why did this feel easier when I was making less money?”—this episode is for you. Today, I’m talking directly to designers who are doing “everything right” on paper. The revenue is there. The team is there. The projects are bigger. And yet… everything feels heavier. More complex. More draining. Here’s the truth I want you to hear upfront: you didn’t do anything wrong. This tension doesn’t show up because you fail...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Choosing a coach is a big decision—especially when your business is already successful, but something still feels heavy. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what coaching should (and shouldn’t) look like for interior designers. I share the mistakes I’ve made hiring coaches, the lessons I learned the hard way, and the exact criteria I use now—both when I hire support and when designers consider working with me. This isn’t about hype, Instagram follower...
Send Katie a Text Message!! If you feel stuck in indecision, overwhelmed by options, or frozen because you’re afraid of making the wrong move in your design business, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I’m talking directly to designers who are waiting for more clarity, more confidence, or more certainty before taking action — and how that waiting is often the very thing keeping them stuck. Indecision isn’t neutral. It’s still a decision, and it usually comes with hidden costs: st...
Send Katie a Text Message!! As we step into 2026, I wanted to record this episode before you opened your inbox, before you looked at last year’s numbers, and before you started telling yourself stories about what this year needs to be. This is your 2026 pep talk. Because most designers don’t start a new year with a clean slate — they start it carrying the emotional weight of the year before. And if we don’t address that first, it quietly shapes how we show up, the goals we set, and the decis...
Send Katie a Text Message!! 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—withou...
Send Katie a Text Message!! Today’s episode is one I’ve been wanting to record for a long time because it’s built entirely around the questions I hear every single week as a business coach. These are the questions that come up in strategy calls, Voxer messages, office hours, and hallway conversations at High Point. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure about hiring, confused by your numbers, or stuck relying on referrals, you are not alone — and this episode is for you. I’m walking you th...
Send Katie a Text Message!! If you want 2026 to look different than 2025, this episode is where that shift begins. Today, I’m walking you step-by-step through the 2025 Business Audit Worksheet and showing you how to look at last year honestly — without judgment, without overwhelm, and without getting stuck in the past. This isn’t busy work or a reflective exercise for the sake of reflection. It’s about understanding what actually happened in your business so you can make grounded, con...
Send Katie a Text Message!! 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 thro...
Send Katie a Text Message!! In this kickoff episode of our two-part series, I’m taking you behind the scenes of the work most designers avoid: facing the truth about what actually happened inside your business this year. Before we can build your 2026 vision (that’s coming in Part 2!), we have to strip away the assumptions, the emotions, the “I think I made money here… maybe?” and look at the real data. I’m talking revenue, margins, client load, time spent, energy, alignment—everything. I kno...
Send Katie a Text Message!! In today’s episode, I’m getting real with you — lovingly calling you out and calling you up. If you’ve been stuck in planning mode, waiting for the “right time,” or drowning in overwhelm while nothing truly moves your business forward, this is your wake-up call. I’m sharing the mindset shifts, micro-actions, and systems my clients use to stop overthinking, start taking action, and create a design business that actually supports their life. IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK...
Send Katie a Text Message!! When you’re deep in the day-to-day of your design business, it’s easy to forget why you started it in the first place. I’ve been there — chasing goals, saying yes to opportunities, and still feeling like something’s off. In this episode, I’m challenging you to step back and look at your business through the lens of a true CEO and visionary. Because you can’t scale what you haven’t defined. IN THIS EPISODE: Why most designers are stuck in their business instead of...
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...
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