In order to successfully run a streamlined interior design business, it’s essential to have your client-facing processes nailed down. The corporate world often refers to processes as SOPS (Standard Operating Procedures), but most of my interior designers don’t–so I'll call them processes to keep it simple. 

In this article, I share the top client facing processes you need to map out in your business, how to create standard operating procedures, and where I would start with your business if you hired me 1:1.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Are You Sending the Right Gifts to Your Interior Design Clients?

If client gifting feels like an afterthought—or worse, a last-minute scramble—it’s time to rethink your strategy. The right gift can elevate your client experience, strengthen relationships, and even increase referrals. But when should you send gifts? How much should you spend? And what should you absolutely avoid?

In this article, I’ll walk you through how to create a seamless, on-brand gifting strategy for your interior design business, including how to determine the perfect gifts, budget for them, and time them strategically. 

Plus, I’ll share expert insights on why sending gifts at unexpected times (hint: NOT the holidays) can have a bigger impact.

Access the full article inside The DTS Files and ensure your client gifting strategy is aligned with your ideal clients and making an impact.

There are so many ways to structure a design intensive or design day style service and I’ve helped hundreds of interior designers structure this service in a profitable and streamlined way.

Find out:

1. How to structure a design day/design intensive service

2. Why design intensives or design day services are better than design consultations

3. Who this service is great for

4. Who this service is NOT great for

Join The DTS Files to read the full post.

One of the most pressing issues my clients often come to me with is the overwhelm they’re experiencing from having an influx of business but no systems or processes to sustain it. I’ve had clients say they don’t even want to get out of bed because they’re so intimidated by their to-do list, and they don’t know where to start to make a dent in the ever-increasing list of tasks competing for space in their brains. I’ve had clients tell me they are simply turning clients away and saying no to business, even though they’re terrified of what business might look like next year if they don’t say yes to everything right now. 

On one hand, this is what they’ve dreamed of: a booming business, clients knocking down the door, and a variety of projects. But on the other hand, this insane demand is exposing the weaknesses in their business (and their boundaries) and has them working like crazy even though they’re not seeing much change to their bottom line. 

We’re running into the same issues time and time again with my interior design clients all over the world, and they most often can be traced back to (drumroll please)...

....the client experience process. 

Critical things like:

1. Pricing

2. Wasting time on less-than-ideal leads

3. Boundaries

This article focuses on pricing only as it relates to the client experience. It’s a big topic to cover, so here we go! 

Join The DTS Files to unlock my advice and insights.

Feeling Overwhelmed in Your Interior Design Business? Here’s Why—And How to Fix It

If you're constantly juggling projects, struggling to stay on top of client communication, or feeling like your business is running you instead of the other way around—you’re not alone.

The most successful interior designers have one thing in common: a clear, repeatable process for managing their business and client experience.

In this article, I’m breaking down:

• The top habits of million-dollar designers (that have nothing to do with talent)

• How your services may be contributing to overwhelm (and how to fix them)

• The exact steps to define your ideal client (without cheesy ICA exercises)

• Why your client experience process needs to come AFTER you refine your services

Ready to streamline your business and stop feeling buried in emails? Join The DTS Files to read the full article.

When I start working with interior design business owners to streamline their operations, most of them have a contract in place they’ve been using for years.

As we dive into their client experience and look for ways to strengthen their process, we often find opportunities to make their contract work even better for them—protecting their business and helping create a smoother experience for clients. While I’m not an attorney, I recommend reviewing your contract after every project to see if you need to tighten it up or make any changes to it (we all know every project presents its own set of challenges).

A solid residential interior design contract is one of the many steps to creating a seamless experience for you and your customers. If your contract terms aren’t aligned with your interior design process OR you’re unsure how to rely on your contract when issues pop up, you’ll eventually run into some bumps in the road.

The question is: how can you set things up ahead of time in a way that feels supportive to your clients AND aligns with your policies? It’s all about what’s in your contract and how you present it to your clients.

Note: I’m not an attorney and this is not legal advice. This is my experience based on working with hundreds of interior designers and many of their lawyers.

My NINE Favorite Contract Terms for Interior Designers (and how to use your contract to back you up.)

Join The DTS Files to make sure your contract has you covered!