Interior Design Business

Are the stories you're telling yourself holding your interior design business back? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by IDBA’s Head Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore how the stories we create in our minds shape our decisions, confidence, and business success. Many designers hesitate to pursue bigger opportunities, raise their fees, or change the wa...

Is the real reason you're underpaid your pricing model, or something much deeper? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I wrap up our series on hourly billing versus design fees by exploring the real issue behind getting paid what you're worth: your relationship with money. Many designers believe switching from hourly billing to design fees will solve their profitabili...

Are you the biggest obstacle standing between your business and the success you want? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explore one of the most important, and often overlooked, factors in building a successful design business: mindset. Many designers work harder, put in longer hours, and constantly search for new strategies, yet still struggle with inconsistent cash flow,...

Are design fees really the best way for interior designers to get paid? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I continue the conversation around pricing and billing by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of fee-based design. Many designers assume design fees automatically solve the problems created by hourly billing. But the truth is that design fees only work when they a...

Should interior designers charge hourly, or is there a better way? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the longest-running debates in the design industry: hourly billing versus fee-based design. While hourly billing can work in certain situations, it also creates significant challenges for both designers and clients when it's not managed properly. From...

Are templates helping your interior design business… or hurting it? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explain why templates often create more problems than they solve for interior designers. Many designers rely on template contracts, letters of agreement, proposals, and deliverables because they want a faster, easier way to start projects. But the reality is that every pro...

Do you actually have the right insurance coverage for your interior design business? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m talking about one of the most overlooked but critical parts of running a successful design business: professional liability protection. Many designers assume their homeowner’s insurance covers their business, or they believe they’re “too small” to need e...

Are you constantly wondering if your design fee is really enough? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the biggest mindset and business challenges interior designers face: pricing their services confidently and profitably. Many designers struggle because they blur the line between design services and product purchasing. They rely on future furniture sales to...

What do you do when a client loves every option… but still won’t make a decision? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m breaking down how to manage clients who struggle with decision-making and why unresolved decisions can completely derail a design project. When clients delay decisions, it creates confusion, slows contractors down, impacts timelines, increases your unpaid h...

Wondering where your next client is coming from? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down what to do when your pipeline is empty, and how to get clients coming in consistently. Every designer experiences cycles in their business. There are times when you’re fully booked, and times when things feel quiet. But instead of panicking, this is your opportunity to reset, refo...

Why do so many designers struggle to get paid what they’re truly worth? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I dive into the real reason behind undercharging, overworking, and feeling stuck financially, and it’s not your pricing strategy. It’s your mindset. Before any system or structure can work, you have to address the beliefs you hold about money. Your “money story” shapes e...

What does it actually take to go from a struggling design business to a thriving, seven-figure company? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I share a real success story of one of our designer students who transformed her business from $250,000 to over $1.25 million in revenue. This isn’t about luck, talent, or magic, it’s about learning, implementing, and consistently taking a...

Why are boundaries so hard to set, and even harder to keep? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the biggest challenges designers face: creating and holding boundaries in their business without feeling guilty, uncomfortable, or afraid of losing the client. If you’ve ever said yes when you wanted to say no, answered texts late at night, worked weekends you di...

Why is asking for your full design fee so hard, even when you know you’re worth it? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the biggest challenges designers face: confidently asking for the money they deserve. You can have the systems, the process, and the perfect project… but when it comes time to say the number out loud, everything can fall apart. Fear, doubt...

What does it actually look like to lead a design project, without losing control, your confidence, or your sanity? In Part 2 of this leadership series, Terri Taylor and coach Valerie Priester dive deeper into what it truly means to step into leadership as an interior designer. This episode goes beyond mindset and into practical application—how you lead clients, manage projects, communicate your vi...

What does it really take to step into leadership as an interior designer? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, Terri Taylor is joined by Coach Valerie Priester to break down the foundational traits of strong leadership, and why they are essential for growing a successful design business. Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about mindset, confidence, and vision. From developing...

Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing five powerful tips to help you take control of your time, increase productivity, and finally create a schedule that supports both your business and your life. If you’ve been telling yourself “I just need more time,” this episode will shift your perspective. Time isn...

Presenting your design to a client is one of the most important moments in your interior design process. It’s where your vision becomes real, and where your client decides whether they’re excited to move forward. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I walk through the biggest mistakes designers make during design presentations and the powerful strategies that transform a presen...

Are you busy… but not profitable? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m addressing one of the biggest frustrations I hear from designers: “I’m slammed with work, but it’s not the work I want.” If your calendar is full of small jobs, your evenings are booked, and you still don’t feel financially stable, this episode is your wake-up call. I’m breaking down exactly why little “...

Struggling to say no, even when you know you should? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m back with IDBA Coach Marsha Sewdass for Part 2 of our conversation on healthy boundaries. This time, we’re digging into one of the hardest boundary skills of all: learning to say no, clearly, confidently, and without apology. From Saturday appointments to scope creep, contractor pushba...

Feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and on-call 24/7? You might not have a workload problem, you have a boundaries problem. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by IDBA Coach Marsha Sewdass for a heart-to-heart conversation on what healthy boundaries really look like in your design business. We’re talking about business hours, burnout, overgiving, and the pressure to be...

Think you’re protected because you meant to get the proposal signed? Think again. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m continuing the conversation on financial risk, and sharing a real story from my own design studio that proves exactly why systems and boundaries must be followed every single time. From unfunded proposals to “just helping the client out,” you’ll hear how ev...

Still taking 50% deposits on product orders? That’s a financial risk you can’t afford.  In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m sharing a real story of how one designer nearly lost her business because of outdated payment practices, and how to fix it with one simple boundary. You’ll learn why half-down payments no longer protect you, what your letter of agreement should say, a...

If you’re constantly doing “just one more thing” for free, it’s not about client service, it’s a boundary issue. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m breaking down how scope creep sneaks into your projects and steals your time, profits, and peace of mind. From color consults and last-minute requests to Wayfair screenshots and patio meetings, we’re calling it what it is: unp...

If you're discounting product to get the job, it's not a pricing problem, it’s a boundaries problem. In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I'm diving into the real reasons designers give away profits, time, and authority, and how to reclaim all three. Whether it’s sharing trade discounts, undercharging on product, or trying to “be nice,” I’ll show you why those st...