Start an Interior Decorating Business

Using the personality and desires of the clients, interior decorators provide them with living rooms, bedrooms, and offices that suit their needs.   

How to start.  Take a class in interior design.  Shadow an interior decorator by working as their apprentice or assistant.  Watch how they work and the methods they employ to choose the best features for the project at hand.  When you feel confident that you have the knowledge to proceed, try business on your own.  If your state requires certification to call yourself an interior decorator, gather all of the necessary information and apply. 

Starting costs.  Interior decorators travel with some essential tools:  fabric swatches, color books, measuring tools, and catalogs.  These are visual aids for the decorator to use to come up with a look for the client.  Clients also get to sample the material to see if they like it. 

The home office is where an interior decorator puts together the notes they have taken and the measurements and turns them into a preliminary sketches.  You’ll need a computer, fax machine, telephone, and design software.  Along with advertising, be prepared to spend around $3,000 to $5,000. 

Marketing.  Put ads in the newspaper and the Yellow Pages to get noticed.  Interior decorators don’t just work for individuals; they have corporate clients and builders on their list of customers.  Advertising in business and decorating magazines will gain the attention of companies and affluent people who read them.