Many designers we talk to say the interior design process can feel very “up in the air” or “loose,” and that’s why they never know when they can actually start new projects - so they just say yes and start them all right away. 

Not a good plan!

While interior designers clearly know the “design” part of the process, the timing of onboarding a new client and actually starting the project can be confusing. So today, we’re sharing a few tips for figuring out when you can begin new interior design projects and how to schedule them so you’re not burning the candle at both ends.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

I’d love to know more about setting up a design library for my boss. As a former librarian of books, I know my way around a library. However, I am not familiar with design libraries and best practices for them. I would love practical information on doing this.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Are you thinking about opening a retail furniture showroom to expand your interior design business?

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Heather Draper of The Heather Co. to talk about her experience adding a retail showroom to her interior design business.

In case you missed our conversation, you can grab the replay here.

We covered a lot, but here’s an overview:

Dear Dakota,

Can you tell me whether the processes are the same for commercial and hospitality projects as for residential ones? What do I need to do if I want to expand into these project types?

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It’s all about creating a design process that’s efficient, sensible, and enjoyable - and the most climactic moment of all is when your client sees their design presentation for the first time. You want to provide the highest quality design presentation possible so your client can clearly see and understand the vision you have for their space, and you also want to minimize the number of hours you or your team sit at a computer creating it! So, the choice of software for interior design presentations is key in streamlining this part of each project and ensuring a whole-hearted “WE LOVE IT! APPROVED!” from your clients. With so many software programs available to interior designers, it’s important to choose the right one based on the types of presentation drawings you typically produce and your comfort level with each platform.

In this blog post, we’ll highlight the best software for interior design presentations and share the project type each is most ideal for.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Whether you price your interior design services hourly or based on a flat fee, I am a strong proponent of tracking your time. And if you don't track your hours or find yourself saying “you aren’t good” at tracking your hours, then you cannot, under any circumstances, bill hourly for your interior design services.

You may have heard the saying, “In God we trust, all others bring data,” and I’m here to tell you: the data is in the numbers, and the numbers don’t lie.

As a business owner, it is your job to know your numbers, and part of that is knowing how long things take. 

Tracking your time and reviewing the numbers will empower you to make critical decisions for the long-term success of your company. 

Here are a few benefits of tracking your hours for interior designers…

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

My vendor just went out of business, and I’ve already paid them for my client’s furnishings. I cannot get ahold of anyone and am freaking out. What should I do?

Join The DTS Files for my step-by-step advice.

A friend of mine is in the process of starting a business and asked if I could share a few pieces of advice with her. I don’t often talk about my own business, but I thought my response to her could be helpful for those in the beginning stages of starting a company or for those who might feel stagnant in their growth.

Here are the tips I shared with her: