When Should Clients Hire an Interior Designer? Here’s How to Set Expectations

If you’re getting inquiries from potential clients who expect their project to be completed within weeks of reaching out, you’re not alone. Most people don’t realize how long the interior design process actually takes—and it’s your job as the expert to educate them.

This post walks you through simple ways to set clear expectations around project timelines so clients reach out before they’re in a rush (and before you have to turn them away!).

Inside The DTS Files, you’ll find:

• Done-for-you language for your website, contact form, and marketing to clearly communicate availability.

• The best FAQ questions to include on your site so clients come in informed.

• A client waitlist strategy to stop losing leads when your schedule is full (and get them to happily book for a later date).

• How to position your process as high-touch and premium, so clients see the value in planning ahead.

If you’re tired of last-minute inquiries and want clients to reach out earlier, join The DTS Files to unlock this post and get the scripts and strategies to set expectations with ease.

Why ‘Charge Your Worth’ Is the Worst Pricing Advice Ever

If you’ve ever been told to “charge what you’re worth,” I need you to throw that advice straight into the trash.

Here’s why: Your worth is priceless—but pricing your services? That requires actual strategy.

In this article, I’ll share:

• The biggest pricing mistakes designers make (and how they’re costing you thousands).

• The real factors that determine pricing (hint: it’s both art and science).

• The simple yet powerful shift that makes it easy to confidently present high-end proposals.

• What to track to ensure your pricing is backed by data, not emotions.

If you want to stop second-guessing your prices and start charging rates that reflect the real value of your work, join The DTS Files to unlock the full post.

Receiving fees, storage, white glove delivery, assembly, inspection, EEK! What does this all mean?

For some of our interior designer clients, the thought of finding and using a receiver is enough to make them not want to deal with buying and selling goods. But once you have a good receiver, it can make all the difference in your ability to source custom items, generate revenue from product sales, and have the ability to control the end result for those magazine worthy images. 

But how does a receiver even work? Who pays for it? Can you ship stuff direct?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

What do you do when someone tries to negotiate your fees? Do you run away from the client? What’s the best way to explain the cost and your worth?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Pricing your services as an interior designer can be one of the hardest parts of running a business—especially when creative work, project management, vendors, and unpredictable timelines are all in the mix. But here’s the thing: pricing shouldn’t feel like a guessing game.

In The DTS Files, I’m breaking down:

• The biggest mistake designers make when pricing their services (and how to fix it).

• How to price based on data (not fear), so you can confidently present fees to clients.

• What you should track to uncover hidden profit opportunities in your business.

• Why “charge what you’re worth” is the worst advice—and what to do instead.

Your business can be wildly profitable when you know how to price your services correctly. If you want to set fees that reflect your expertise without overworking yourself into the ground, join The DTS Files to unlock this article and my advice.

What I Learned from My Summer Slowdown—And How It Made My Business More Profitable

When I started my business, I thought success meant saying yes to everything, working 24/7, and pushing through burnout. Over time, I learned that real success comes from strategic decisions—like intentionally slowing down.

Every year, I step back, reduce my client load, increase my profitability, and focus on big-picture growth. And every year, it reinforces what I already know: working less (when done right) doesn’t hurt your business—it makes it stronger.

Inside The DTS Files, I’m sharing:

• How reducing my 1:1 client work actually made me more profitable.

• Why I restructured my services—and what I learned in the process.

• The business strategy behind stepping away (and why more designers should do it).

• How I used this time to increase my audience, refine my marketing, and make my company more scalable.

If you’re serious about building a business that works for you (not the other way around), this is a must-read. Join The DTS Files for my full breakdown.

Dear Dakota,

How to respond when a potential client or existing client asks, “Will you share your discount?”

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights AND learn how to stop this from happening.