Dear Dakota: Should I Offer Holiday Decorating Services?

Oct 27

Considering offering holiday decorating as a seasonal service? I'm actually not a fan of this, and think it could devalue your expertise as an interior designer. I'm a big fan of small services, especially when getting started.

Updated March 2024

Dear Dakota,
With the holiday season approaching, should I consider offering holiday decorating as a seasonal service?

What a great question, and I can understand how offering holiday decorating services to your interior design clients could seem like a good idea.

However, I'm actually not a fan of this, and think it could devalue your expertise as an interior designer. Plus, do you WANT to do this type of “decorating”?

While it could be a great way for a new interior designer to get new leads and get their foot in the door with clients (though the same is true for any small service), I know many designers who have offered it and despised it.

People treated them like personal assistants, had them running around town returning $10 ornaments and Target decor, and left the designer with nothing to photograph or show for all that actual physical labor. Plus, you’re often working with the client's existing holiday decorations and potentially unprofessionally designed rooms, so may not have much control over the final outcome anyway. I mean, you’re good, but you’re not a magician!

And worse, there is a risk to your reputation - being known as a designer who does "decorating" projects. That statement could get me some heat, but there is a difference, and it majorly impacts the perceived value of what you do and what people will pay.

Now, maybe holiday decorating is a service you want to offer to existing clients - because you know their home is beautiful, and you know they’ll totally trust you to do your thing. But again, the time to source all those teeny tiny little items is very consuming. Even if you planned ahead and bought decor through your trade sources MONTHS ago (so you have an opportunity for product sales), most likely, you'll still be cruising all over town picking up retail items or stopping at local flower markets to purchase items to complete these holiday decorating projects - again, very time consuming. I imagine at some point, the client will struggle to justify the expense. Twenty hours at $200/hour to shop for holiday decor and then decorate my living room for Christmas? That amount could seem crazy, and it doesn’t even include the cost of the decorations! (Which total side note, if you WERE to offer holiday decorating, the only way to do it would be flat fee).

So, rather than offer holiday decorating, there are several other ways you could help your ideal clients prepare for the holidays. I compiled a few very simple ideas that you could package up and offer to your ideal clients in no time at all:

A Working Design Consultation, 1-1.5 hours long. This can be done virtually or in their home (your call). You simply show up during the consultation and work through their priority list in a very structured and efficient way. Check out our Paid Design Advice Consultation Client Experience Kit for Interior Designers here. Note, this is not the same as a consultation to prepare a scope of work and design fee agreement.

A Design Day. Start promoting your bedroom designs in your marketing and let clients know you can help them design a luxurious guest bedroom for their holiday hosting. Because the design day is a quick turnaround service, your client could have their bedroom design plan in hand SAME day to implement. Read more on offering a design day service here.

Designer-Approved Bedding & Bath Collections. Something I've learned about buying fits for people who seem to have it all is that rather than get them something random, get them the absolute BEST version of something they use every day. You know, weave some luxury into their daily life.

What would those things be? Well, as a designer, you know more than me, but I would say high-quality sheets and blankets, the thickest, softest towels, the coziest throws, the best smelling candles. You could package these up and offer the collections to your clients so they can treat their partner or themselves, or upgrade their guest bedroom before hosting their beloved family and friends for the holidays.

Styling Only Services. Rather than style with seasonal holiday decor, style with pieces your client will love all year long (there is SO much more value in that). You hand select the accessories and finishing touches through your favorite vendors and then make their space absolutely perfect on their scheduled styling day. If you're a pro at styling, you could also offer this service virtually.

A Workshop To Teach Them How To Decorate For The Holidays or Prepare a Tablescape. Most luxury clients love a good soiree. And, who better to host one than their favorite designer?

If you have a studio space or can partner up with a local industry partner to use their space, you can invite an exclusive list of clients and friends for a fun night to learn a few ways to decorate a specific part of their home for the holidays. Maybe it's a workshop on "Three ways to style your mantel for the holidays,” "Three ways to style your dining table for the holidays," "3 ways to style your front porch for the holidays,” or "3 ways to style your bar cart for the holidays.”

You get the idea!

Then, at the actual event, you could offer gift certificates for purchase for your smaller services or the option for guests to purchase the items you've used in the workshop (either as a point of sale or they purchase and pick up once the items arrive at your office).

So, while I'm a big fan of small services, especially when getting started, I think these other options could better serve your business in a more efficient, profitable, enjoyable, and aligned way.