How to Start a Home Decorating Business

If you have a love of transforming homes through creative decorating, a home decorating business may be for you. While interior designers must be certified, decorators can start businesses on their own without certification. Before you start taking clients, practice on the homes of friends and family, assemble a portfolio of your work and license your business.

Step 1

Write up a business plan for your decorating business. Determine whether you will be a product-driven designer who conceptualizes the design and sells necessary products to the client, or simply a consultant who does not sell products. Designers with less experience usually begin as product-driven designers. Research other decorating companies in your area to see what they specialize in, how much they charge and what their designs look like. Consider how you can set yourself apart from other design companies by offering a different style of design, specializing in certain types of design, such as Colonial, offering lower prices or by specializing in specific areas such as window treatments or use of color and light. Make a list of equipment you’ll need to get started and determine how much capital you will need.

Step 2

Apply for a business license. Go to your local city hall and fill out an application. Wait for your approved license to arrive before designing clients’ homes.

Step 3

Gather design equipment and supplies. Purchase specialized design software so that you can present professional designs to your clients. Invest in office supplies, such as a computer, telephone and word processing software. Buy books of wallpaper, paint and carpet samples from manufacturers. Negotiate with sales representatives to get the best deals on these books. Avoid wallpaper and fabric companies that require you to purchase samples each month.

Step 4

Prepare a portfolio. Start by redecorating your own home and taking before and after pictures of the improvements you make. Experiment with a variety of techniques to create a varied portfolio. Volunteer to redecorate for friends and family and take pictures of these projects as you work. Choose 15 to 20 photographs that you feel best represent your work and put them in a photo album. Add letters of recommendation from those whose homes you have worked on.

Step 5

Connect with suppliers. Research companies who manufacture flooring, fabrics, carpet, wall coverings and furniture. Also contact painters and carpenters to find out their rates for designers. Interior decorators can get discounts of up to 50 percent from certain manufacturers, so shop around to find out who will give you the best deals. This way you can pass savings on to your clients.

Step 6

Market yourself. Network with other professionals, such as architects, real estate agents and home furnishing businesses who may offer you business referrals. List your business in your local phone book and in print and online versions of local newspapers and other publications. Create a website and post pictures from your portfolio. Create brochures and business cards to hand out to potential clients and make sure to take your portfolio with you when visiting interested clients.


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