Your Legal Checklist for Running an Interior Design Business

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Your Legal Checklist for Running an Interior Design Business

You can have a gorgeous brand, a waitlist of dream clients, and a killer eye for detail… but if your business isn’t legally protected behind the scenes, one small mistake can become a big, expensive mess.

We’re not talking about the basics like “get a business license” or “write a contract” (you’ve probably already done that, we hope). This checklist is for the things that aren’t always discussed in design school or on Instagram but can make or break your business.

Think of it as the savvy designer’s legal gut check: part prevention, part peace of mind.

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Flat Fee vs. Hourly Billing: Which Model Works Best for Interior Designers?

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Flat Fee vs. Hourly Billing: Which Model Works Best for Interior Designers?

When it comes to pricing your services, one of the most common debates in the interior design world is whether to use a flat fee or hourly billing model. Both options have their advantages and potential drawbacks, and the right choice depends on your business style, client expectations, and the nature of your projects. As an interior designer, choosing the right pricing model is a big decision—it affects how you run your business, how you interact with clients, and, of course, your bottom line. Let’s break down both models so you can make an informed decision that works best for you and your clients.

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12 Key Ways to Master the Art of Virtual Client Presentations

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12 Key Ways to Master the Art of Virtual Client Presentations

More and more, interior designers are opting for virtual design presentations, not just for their efficiency but also for the technological tools they offer. Given the crucial role these presentations play in forging client relationships and setting the project's design course, you want to have them down to a science. Today, I’m here to break down how to refine your virtual presentation skills to perfection, ensuring every slide strengthens your connection with your clients and clearly communicates your vision.

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SEO for Interior Designers: Smart Tweaks to Actually Get Found Online

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SEO for Interior Designers: Smart Tweaks to Actually Get Found Online

Search engine optimization (SEO) might not be the most glamorous part of running your interior design business, but it's one of the most powerful tools for getting your work in front of the right audience online.

And no, you don’t need to dive headfirst into code or hire a full-time marketing team to start seeing results.

The truth is that just a few small, strategic SEO tweaks can increase your visibility, attract better-fit clients, and even elevate your credibility, without requiring a complete website overhaul.

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The Elite Edit: Updates & Happenings at Elite Design Assistants

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The Elite Edit: Updates & Happenings at Elite Design Assistants

We have some exciting news and updates happening here at Elite Design Assistants! Instead of sending multiple newsletters, I wanted to send you ONE called “The Elite Edit”! This newsletter will have a handful of exciting happenings going on in the industry and with Elite Design Assistants.

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When (and How) to Invest in Your Interior Business: Smart Spending That Pays Off

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When (and How) to Invest in Your Interior Business: Smart Spending That Pays Off

You’ve heard the advice a hundred times: hire help, get organized, build your brand. But what does that actually look like in the day-to-day reality of running an interior design firm, juggling sourcing delays, client indecision, inbox overload, and desperately trying to preserve time for creativity?

The truth is: most investment advice out there is too broad to be useful for designers deep in the weeds. So instead of vague suggestions, let’s talk about clear, practical, and often-overlooked ways to invest in your business—moves that pay off in real ways: better margins, more ideal clients, smoother projects, and a business that supports your life (not the other way around).

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The Skilled Trades Shortage: How Interior Designers Can Find and Retain Quality Contractors

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The Skilled Trades Shortage: How Interior Designers Can Find and Retain Quality Contractors

If you've ever struggled to find a reliable contractor or waited weeks (or months) for skilled tradespeople to be available, you're not alone. The shortage of skilled labor in the interior design and construction industries is real—and it's affecting projects at every level.

Whether you specialize in full-scale renovations, kitchen and bath remodels, or custom-built furniture, the challenge is the same: quality trades are harder to find, and keeping them on your projects takes strategy. So how do we, as interior designers, adapt to this new reality? Let’s break it down.

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What Your Client Welcome Packet Really Needs

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What Your Client Welcome Packet Really Needs

Most designers have a client welcome packet. A few pretty pages, a thank you note, a brief process overview... and that's it.

Not exactly the first impression that screams “you’re in the hands of a polished professional who’s about to make your dream home a reality.”

If you want your welcome packet to actually set the tone for an incredible client experience — one where clients trust you, respect your process, and are excited to work with you — you need a lot more than just a pretty PDF.

Here’s what your client welcome packet really needs:

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Interior Design Scams No One Talks About

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Interior Design Scams No One Talks About

Interior design can look so glamorous from the outside — all champagne reveals, glossy magazine spreads, and perfectly styled installs.

But anyone who's been in the business for more than five minutes knows there's a real underbelly most people don’t talk about.

There are real risks out there, from vendor fraud to nightmare client disputes to shady contracts, and if you don’t know what to watch for, you can lose a lot more than just your patience.

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How to Proactively Address and Handle the Most Common Interior Design Client Complaints

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How to Proactively Address and Handle the Most Common Interior Design Client Complaints

Every interior designer has been there—you’re deep into a project, feeling good about the progress, and then BAM—a frustrated email lands in your inbox, or a not-so-pleasant phone call comes through. Maybe the client feels out of the loop, has sticker shock, or suddenly wants to change everything. These moments can be stressful, but they’re also preventable—or at the very least, manageable with grace and professionalism.

Over the years, we’ve gathered insights from working interior designers about the most common client pain points and complaints. After hearing the same frustrations repeatedly and seeing common patterns emerge, we realized that most designers—at some point—will experience these, and that’s why we wanted to share them with you to help you avoid unnecessary headaches!

So, whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro looking for smoother projects, here’s how to get ahead of these common complaints before they happen—or handle them better if they already have appeared.

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Tools Interior Designers Didn’t Know They Needed (And Shouldn’t Live Without)

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Tools Interior Designers Didn’t Know They Needed (And Shouldn’t Live Without)

Running an interior design business isn’t just about picking fabrics and selecting paint colors — it’s about juggling client expectations, project deadlines, vendors, budgets, installs, and about a thousand moving parts at once.

Sure, you already know the "big name" tools like Pinterest, AutoCAD, and SketchUp.

But today, we’re diving into the tools that make a real difference behind the scenes — the ones that help you design faster, manage projects better, create a smoother client experience, and ultimately grow a stronger business.

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What Does It Really Mean to "Educate" Your Clients?

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What Does It Really Mean to "Educate" Your Clients?

When you hear the phrase "educate your clients," does it conjure images of standing at a chalkboard, diagramming the difference between a loveseat and a settee? Or maybe, you picture a client nodding eagerly as you cover the finer points of fabric durability? (Spoiler: it’s neither of these.) Educating your clients isn’t about lecturing; it’s about giving them the confidence to make decisions and the clarity to trust yours. 

Here’s the thing: interior design can feel overwhelming for those new to it. Most clients walk in with a Pinterest board full of dreams and a vocabulary that maxes out at “modern farmhouse.” They want the magic but aren’t always sure how it’s made. That’s where you come in—not to play professor, but to guide them through the process with a little patience, a lot of insight, and just enough humor to keep it from feeling like a chore.

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The Hidden Costs of Running an Interior Design Business (And How to Avoid Them)

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The Hidden Costs of Running an Interior Design Business (And How to Avoid Them)

Nobody talks about this at design school: Running your own interior design business means you're not just a creative — you're a CEO, a negotiator, a project manager, and sometimes, a full-blown firefighter.

And while signing new clients and sourcing jaw-dropping pieces feels amazing, there’s a whole side of this business that’s easy to miss — the quiet, sneaky costs that creep up and chip away at your bottom line if you're not watching.

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How to Ask for Testimonials and Referrals (Without It Feeling Pushy)

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How to Ask for Testimonials and Referrals (Without It Feeling Pushy)

Getting referrals from happy clients should feel as natural as them bragging about their new kitchen island. Instead, it often feels like asking someone to write a love letter for you: weird, a little vulnerable, and kind of pushy if you get the timing wrong. But don’t worry—we’ve got some tips to make the whole process feel effortless and just smoother.

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Why Intellectual Property Law Matters for Interior Designers

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Why Intellectual Property Law Matters for Interior Designers

In an effort to better understand the biggest challenges interior designers face, I spend time in several interior design Facebook groups, and one issue that keeps coming up is intellectual property (IP) violations. So, let’s break down what IP law actually is and why it matters to interior designers.

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An Interior Designer's Guide to Updating Your Website to Attract Clients—2025 Edition

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An Interior Designer's Guide to Updating Your Website to Attract Clients—2025 Edition

Your website is so much more than just a portfolio. It’s your most powerful sales tool. When optimized correctly, it works around the clock to attract ideal clients, filter out the wrong ones, and book discovery calls—allowing you to focus on your craft. But here’s the truth: many designers never learn how to build a website that’s strategically optimized to convert visitors into leads or clients. Worse, they often struggle to even get visitors in the first place. Don’t worry, though; it’s never too late to turn things around!

With just a few simple (yet impactful) changes, your website can start working harder for you. Let’s walk through several actionable strategies to transform your site into a lead-generation machine—no tech degree required.

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What Interior Designers Should Delegate First (and When)

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What Interior Designers Should Delegate First (and When)

Let’s talk about something we often overlook as designers: delegation.

When you're just starting out, it’s easy to think you need to do it all — every email, every mood board, every product order, every invoice. We often wear all the hats, believing it proves we can handle running a business. But at some point, we all realize that juggling every task isn’t sustainable. The key to growth lies in learning what to delegate and when.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or simply curious about outsourcing but unsure where to start — this post is for you. We’re breaking down what to delegate first based on where you are in your business and design journey.

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Protecting Furniture Designs: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright and International Design Registrations (an ID Law Shop Article)

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Protecting Furniture Designs: Patents, Trademarks, Copyright and International Design Registrations (an ID Law Shop Article)

Furniture design is a historically and culturally rich multi-disciplinary field that blends art, engineering, marketing, and manufacturing principles to craft the objects that shape our living and working spaces.

Fortunately, the importance of protecting the intellectual property rights of the designers, inventors, artisans and engineers responsible for creating furniture designs, is largely recognized by most countries.

In this article, we'll delve into the intellectual property laws that serve as tools for protecting the unique and distinctive elements of furniture design.

From the functional aspects of patented features to the artistic expression guarded by copyright, and the brand identity encapsulated in trademarks, we'll cover the details of each approach. We'll also touch upon international design registrations, shedding light on how businesses can secure comprehensive protection for their furniture designs in the global marketplace.

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The Best Promotional Products for Interior Designers (Updated for 2025)

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The Best Promotional Products for Interior Designers (Updated for 2025)

As an interior designer, your brand is all about aesthetics, functionality, and creating a seamless experience. So why should your promotional items be any different? Whether you're gearing up for a trade show, looking for the perfect client gift, or just want to keep your brand in front of potential clients, the right promo products can make all the difference.

But let's be real—not all promotional items are created equal. You don’t want cheap throwaways that end up in the trash. You want elevated, thoughtful, and on-brand products that reflect your expertise and leave a lasting impression.

Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up the best promotional items for interior designers in 2025—and even better, Elite Design Assistants can help you source and order them hassle-free!

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Top 5 Questions Interior Designers Are Asking

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Top 5 Questions Interior Designers Are Asking

As we move deeper into 2025, interior designers are facing a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. From product and contractor shortages to staying on top of growing to-do lists, designers are always on the lookout to find innovative solutions. Whether you're balancing efficiency, maintaining your creative energy, or handling a constantly shifting market, it’s all about finding ways to work smarter—not harder. If you’re feeling this too, you're not alone!

Here are the top 5 questions we hear most often from designers—and some thoughtful answers to help you navigate today’s challenges and opportunities.

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