If you’re considering joining a professional membership organization that serves interior designers and supports the industry, it’s important to ensure that the organization is a good fit for you and your business, so the membership dues are a worthwhile investment. Additionally, all the organizations I’m highlighting below are very welcoming, provide ample opportunities to expand your horizons, and help to form social connections with like-minded people—always a plus!

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Nothing will lead to burnout faster than working all the time but barely turning a profit. If you feel like you’re constantly in motion but your bank account doesn’t reflect your effort, it’s time to take a hard look at what’s really happening inside your business.

The reality? It’s not just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. And for many interior designers, the reason they’re struggling to make money comes down to five key issues.

Inside this post, I’m breaking down:

• The hidden inefficiencies that are eating up your time and profits

• The biggest pricing mistakes designers make (and why your rates might be too low)

• How your marketing and client process could be attracting the wrong clients

• Why your overhead might be quietly killing your profits

• The first thing you need to fix to stop the cycle of overwork and under-earning

If you’re tired of working 24/7 and still feeling stretched thin, this article will help you pinpoint exactly what’s holding you back—and what to do next. Join The DTS Files for my advice.

What if you could attract better clients, increase your fees, and reduce your overwhelm—just by making a few simple tweaks to how you run your business?

The truth is, inefficiencies in your scheduling, communication, and client experience could be costing you time, money, and credibility. And your potential clients? They notice.

In this post, I’ll walk you through:

• The #1 mistake slowing down your business (that most designers don’t even realize they’re making)

• How a $10/month software can immediately elevate your client experience (and let you charge MORE)

• Why efficiency = luxury (and how to position it in your pricing and marketing)

If you’re tired of juggling manual scheduling, endless back-and-forth emails, and clunky client communication, it's time to make a change.

Join The DTS Files to unlock full access to my advice and insights.

Now, this may be old hat for many of you, but if you have a newly established business or have been hesitant to sell trade because of the fear of sales tax, this post is for you!

If part of your revenue comes from the re-sale of goods (whether it be furniture, fabric, accessories, or cabinets and countertops), and you purchase those items from a to-the-trade vendor at net pricing, then everything in this post is critically important to you. 

Sales tax (that we all pay every time we go shopping) is paid by the end-user of goods or merchandise. When you—as a designer—purchase goods and sell them to your clients, those clients are the end-user (not you) and therefore must pay sales tax to the state and sometimes also to a local jurisdiction (county or city) tax collecting agency. You collect the sales tax from the client and remit it to the state. 

Let’s talk about three parts of this process:

1. Purchasing from a to-the-trade vendor.

2. Selling goods to the client (the end-user) and collecting sales tax.

3. Paying that sales tax to the state and local tax collecting agencies.

   Join The DTS Files to unlock the full article (and mini lesson!).

Is It Time to Raise Your Rates? Here’s How to Know

Most interior designers are undercharging for their expertise, and chances are, you might be too.

If you haven’t raised your rates in the last year, are constantly booked out, or find yourself working nonstop yet barely profitable, it’s time to take a serious look at your pricing structure.

In this exclusive post, I’m breaking down the 11 signs that you’re overdue for a rate increase, plus:

• The mindset shifts you need to confidently charge more

• How to position your pricing to attract higher-end clients

• Why most designers struggle with pricing (and how to stop leaving money on the table)

• The key mistakes designers make when raising their rates—and how to avoid them

Your pricing directly impacts your workload, client quality, and overall business sustainability. If you're feeling burned out, frustrated, or constantly negotiating your fees, this post will show you exactly how to raise your rates the right way—without fear or second-guessing yourself.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

What should I do when an interior design client won’t pay?

When a Client Won’t Pay: How to Handle Non-Payment & Protect Your Business

There’s nothing worse than chasing a client for payment after you’ve poured hours into their project. Suddenly, you’re not just an interior designer—you’re a collections agency, too.

But before you assume the worst, it’s important to understand why a client may not be paying—and more importantly, how to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Inside this post, I’m breaking down:

• The most common reasons clients delay or refuse payment

• Proactive strategies to avoid non-payment before a project even starts

• How to structure contracts, invoices, and payment schedules so you never have to chase a client down again

• What to do when a client refuses to pay, including the steps to take before resorting to legal action

This is a must-read for any designer who wants to protect their revenue, set firm payment policies, and confidently discuss money with clients—without the awkwardness or stress.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Thinking about heading to High Point Market for the first time, or heading back this year and wanting to really make the most of the experience (and the investment)? 

We polled our designers and are sharing some of their best tips and advice to help you strategically navigate High Point Market, with less stress and a solid plan. 

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

How do I handle hourly clients who keep adding to their projects? The additional requests are hard to keep track of and I feel like I’m never able to complete a project because there are so many little things that are always open. HELP!

If you’ve ever had a client start with one room, then slowly add "just a few more things"—a light fixture here, a paint color there—until you feel like you're stuck in an endless cycle of selections, this post is for you.

Scope creep can derail your process, push your workload over capacity, and train clients to expect on-demand access to your expertise. So how do you manage additional requests while maintaining a clear process, ensuring profitability, and keeping your projects on track?

Inside this post, I’m sharing:

• How to set scope boundaries from the start—even as an hourly designer

• The red flag moment when a new request should become a new project

• Why "just saying yes" leads to burnout and client dissatisfaction

• How top designers structure their process to keep projects moving

If managing client expectations feels like a constant struggle, don’t miss this one.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.