The Best Ways to Scale Your Interior Design Business

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In the business world, what got you to one stage probably won’t get you to the next. It’s true that changing your structure or way of working, investing, and creating a work team can feel like a lot, especially if you have been working on your own for a while. But it’s a reality that you have to face in order to scale your business and take it to the next level. When you've gained enough traction to expand your team or move to a larger office, that's great news. But how can you start increasing your revenue without significantly increasing costs or effort?

Is it Time to Scale my Interior Design Business?

First, it is important to make moves at the right time. Enlist the help of a financial planner to crunch the numbers and conduct a study of the current market as well as the performance of your business so far. This will help you determine what, if any, changes are in order. A couple of indicators that it may be time to reevaluate things, too, are if you're getting more client requests than you have time to handle or are overwhelmed with administrative tasks. Basically, if you feel maxed out and like you’ve hit a revenue ceiling, take heart. It gets better.

Review Your Business Plan

Scaling can look different for different business models or directions. Write down the aims and values of your company, niche, and target client profile. Write your business goals and get help in mapping out strategic 1, 3, and 5-year plans, even if you later decide to make adjustments. Budget for slow seasons, such as the winter holidays, and be intentional about your investments. Having all of this established will position you to spot the best opportunities.

Renovate Your Service Offering

Evaluate whether any of your current service offerings should be repackaged or repriced. See what complementary services you could add and upsell, creating multiple revenue streams. And, perhaps best of all, establish additional passive income streams that will add to your revenue on an ongoing basis with minimal upfront investment. Some examples are promoting brands on your blog, earning through product affiliate sales, using platforms like Sidedoor or Like To Know It, becoming a brand ambassador, or selling digital products like an ebook or pre-made mood boards.

Be picky about your projects

Since you have already determined what your ideal projects and clients look like, don't waste time on projects that don't fit. Each project involves a certain amount of resources, and there will be projects that will strengthen your portfolio and reinforce your brand better than others. If you filter the requests you receive accordingly, it's another way to get the most out of your efforts.

Put Technology Tools to Work

To level up you will need to improve your digital marketing strategy. It's time to work with online marketing automation and CRMs, and perhaps improve the quality of your social media content. Don't skimp on tools that save you time, and help you organize, improve, and automate processes. There are many project management programs out there designed specifically for interior design studios that could make a real difference in your productivity.

Streamline Your Processes

Your company should have a manual with standard operating procedures outlining the order of tasks and responsibilities for each stage of a project, as well as administrative maintenance and growth initiatives. Analyze and write down what has worked so far, and keep your manual updated with any new insights. This will allow you to stay on top of your company's management, not let leads or other opportunities slip through the cracks, and also keep your team on the same page as part of your ongoing communication with them.

Train and Delegate

Design and administration are equally important to the success of your business, but there will be times when your need for the support of one skill set is greater than the other. Take inventory of the skills that aren’t your strong points and see if they fall into a similar category in order to hire one person to take them on. Start there and expand your team gradually, depending on your company’s needs at each juncture.

Properly training new hires and working side by side with them, especially in the beginning, will save you time in the long run. Keep in mind that the onboarding process can take a few months, so be prepared to invest that time and your salary amount, even before their work really starts to reflect in the company's profits. If you’re not ready to take on a new team member full-time, consider working with a virtual assistant who is able to help you with a wide range of tasks.

As you can see, scaling your business has everything to do with optimizing its various facets. It's about staying open to doing things more efficiently and taking advantage of revenue-generating opportunities while your day-to-day efforts are right where they need to be.

xx, Danae

Beat the Heat with these Healthy Summer Treats!

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Under the long-awaited summer sun, we all need refreshments to get us through the hot days. If you want to keep yourself cool and satisfy your sweet tooth, all while staying healthy, check out these healthy summer treat recipes!

Fruit Popsicles

They are one of the stars of the summer because of their simplicity, refreshing effect, and the ability to be creative with them! Start with a popsicle mold and pour in your own mix, with a touch of the sweetener of your choice, to freeze between 4-8 hours. You can make a sorbet variety with mixed berries or watermelon and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Or try mixing Greek yogurt with fruits like blueberries or bananas for a creamier version.

Peanut Butter Banana Cups

You’ll need ¾ cup chocolate chips, 1 medium banana, ¼ all natural peanut butter, 1 tbsp melted coconut oil, plus baking cups. First, melt the chocolate. Separately, combine the melted coconut oil with the peanut butter. Pour 1 tsp of melted chocolate on the bottom of the baking cups, then 1 banana slice, 1 tsp of the peanut butter mixture, and lastly, ½ tsp of melted chocolate in the center. Freeze for about 1 hour and they’ll be ready to go.

Milkshakes

Sugar-packed milkshakes at the drive-thru are another story, but you can make many delicious and healthy smoothie recipes yourself. Start with a base of 2 plain single-serving yogurts, 2 cups of ice and add the blend of your choice. Try peach-mango, cocoa-banana, banana-papaya or strawberry-coconut. Blend, and it’s ready to serve (approx. 4 servings)!

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

For a richer option, try this recipe, which doesn’t taste like avocado, by the way! Blend until smooth: 2 ripe avocados, 1/4 cup regular cocoa powder, 1/4 cup Dutch cocoa, 3-4 tablespoons milk of your choice, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1/8 teaspoon salt and a sweetener of your choice to taste. You can serve it immediately (approx. 4 servings), chill it in the fridge first, or even make fudgesicles with it!

Fruit Skewers

Cut up bite-size square chunks of different fruits about half an inch thick to create a variety skewer. Some great options are fruits like cantaloupe, pineapple, peach, mango and strawberries. Stack the squares, alternating the fruits, and add them to the wooden skewers. You can garnish with a light drizzle of chocolate, honey or finely grated coconut.

Salted Chocolate-Dipped Mandarin Slices

All you need is 5 mandarin oranges, ½ cup chocolate chips and a pinch of sea or coarse salt. Melt the chocolate chips, dip each orange slice halfway or more into the melted chocolate and set them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt, refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened and enjoy!

Have fun with these recipes and experiment with your own combinations!

xx, Danae

How to Use 'Like To Know It' and Build a Design Template for Passive Income

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As you look to expand the financial reach of your interior design business, you'll likely be drawn to finding new passive income opportunities. It’s just smart to invest a little bit of time into building sources of revenue that will work for you time and time again.

What is Like To Know It?

Meet Like To Know It or LTK (formerly known as RewardStyle), founded by fashion blogger Amber Venz Box. It’s an app used by brands, content creators or influencers, and consumers. So it works much like social media platforms, where users can browse, search, “like” and save posts, follow creators, and shop links. LTK offers over 5 thousands retailers, including item categories like beauty, fashion, and home goods.

Like To Know It invites interior designers, architects, and other professionals to bring their style expertise to the platform and reap the benefits. As a content creator, you can post shoppable photos and videos and receive a commission.

What kind of content can I create on LTK?

First, start with an idea for a curated product collection. Here are some examples for inspiration!

  • whole room composition based on a style and color palette

  • a gallery wall of art

  • objects for shelf styling

  • favorite new items from a brand

  • statement pieces

  • organization solutions

  • home office essentials

  • a selection of season decor

  • outdoor furniture options

  • gift guides

  • throw pillow combinations

  • must-haves for entertaining

  • other lifestyle items in line with your business

How do you build a design template for Like To Know It?

Sourcing from one or multiple brands, put together a digital collage of the products you choose in an attractive editorial style, and post. In order to make their collages, many creators use tools like Canva, which is very user-friendly. And once you’ve got a few designs in your inventory, you can use them as templates for future posts, which will save you time. Here are the basic steps for creating a collage design:

  1. Take screenshots of the products you want to include in the collection. Make sure you’re getting a high quality image.

  2. Open a blank canvas. You can start with Canva’s template for a square Instagram post, or size to 1080 x 1350 pixels to upload to LTK.

  3. Add the product images to the canvas. Use the upload button or simply drag the image files.

  4. Remove the image backgrounds. Use the built-in background removal tool on Canva if you have a Pro account, or otherwise a free online tool like Adobe’s and upload the photos to Canva afterward.

  5. Arrange the products. Use your design instincts to arrange the products in a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing way around the canvas, whether symmetrical or in a zig-zag fashion. Similar products should be scaled to the same size. This step is very important to achieve an eye-catching result.

  6. Add final details. Using your business’s fonts and colors throughout. You can add the title of the collage to the canvas, as well as some simple graphic accents to complement the design. For LTK posts, add your logo and LTK handle. Keep it very clean, simple, and unified. Finally, download the file to your computer to then upload to the app.

Next time you have a concept that could use the same layout, revisit your designs in Canva, make a copy of the most similar layout, rename the new design, and simply drop your new images into the old ones. They should seamlessly take their place. Make any necessary tweaks to the sizing or spacing, change the title if there is one, and you’ve got your new collage!

How will my content reach shoppers?

Using LTK’s web and mobile tools, you can create, share, and track content from the same place. The Like To Know It app itself sees over 300K shoppers each month. But the impact really comes with sharing your creations with the affiliate links elsewhere, including platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest. From there, you can begin to grow an audience of high-intent shoppers and multiply your earnings.

Brands rely on your ability to sell a vibe or lifestyle to consumers through beautiful yet accessible content. And with the wide variety of brands LTK offers, you can stay true to the essence of your signature style or niche for a truly personalized collaborative partnership.

How can I get started on LTK?

So is there a catch? Just that you’ll need to complete the application process and be approved in order to start posting. While LTK doesn’t list specific criteria in order to join, here are some tips. To be an ideal content creator candidate on LTK, you must have an active public profile with an engaged following on Instagram or YouTube, or otherwise a blog. Ideally, you’ll have more than one of these, but Instagram may be the most important. They’re looking for high quality relevant content with a significant following and engagement. If your Instagram profile is a weak point for you, take some time to improve it before applying to LTK. The good news is, if you don’t get approved the first time, you can reapply again in the future.

xx, Danae

Lead Generation Ideas: Build Your Audience and Gain Potential Clients

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We've all been there. You go to download a freebie and a window pops up asking for your name and email address in order to get the download link. That freebie is called a lead magnet, and it’s a way to encourage people who are already interested in content related to your interior design business to volunteer their information and consent to receiving marketing-infused content from you. And that's the beginning of your opportunity to build awareness and trust, and pre-qualifies or primes them for a great experience working with you.

First Things First

Before anything else, according to the concept of the digital marketing funnel, you will need to get the word out about your business and drive traffic to your website. You can achieve this through social media content, search engine optimization and paid advertising. It’s all about attracting the type of client you want to work with.

How Do Lead Magnets Work?

Once on your website, if you don't ask for your potential clients' contact information, you may lose them forever. This could be a pop-up, in the footer of your website, or at the end of a blog post. You can also promote them on your social media accounts. Show them an eye-catching image and title of the content you’re offering. In exchange for something they find really valuable, they’ll be willing to give you their email address. And generally, they should automatically receive an email with a download link, for example to a shared Google Drive or Dropbox link. You can set this up using a tool like MailChimp, AWeber, or ConvertKit. And once you have a mailing list, you can send new content to already-existing leads to remind them about you - as well as just offering useful content!

What Should Lead Magnets Include?

Use Canva or PowerPoint to create a PDF file format. Use your brand’s logo, fonts, and colors throughout. Focus on just one topic, and it should be easily digestible with images and include headers and bullet points wherever it makes sense to.

When your potential client opens the file, they should immediately recognize it to be what they were looking for, or else they will feel tricked. But it’s important to introduce your company as the voice of authority behind the content they’re about to consume. Include a photo of your team and a brief blurb about your company. Be intentional about the tone you use, appeal to their emotions, and emphasize the pain point they’re looking to solve. The content you give away should be useful in its own right, but it must always also include a call to action (Book a consultation!), to encourage them to take the next step and seek your help.

What Are Some Lead Magnet Ideas?

Consider your niche and your ideal client. Homeowners looking to renovate and entrepreneurs opening a new coffee shop are going to be interested in different types of content. What questions and needs might come up for them?

Lead magnet ideas include:

  • style tips (How to Create a Color Palette for Your Home)

  • mini guides (How to Budget for your Home Design Project)

  • listicles (Top 5 Most Impactful Design Upgrades You Can Make)

  • checklists (Home Staging Checklist to Sell Your Home)

  • case studies (How Interior Design Increases Property Value)

  • design quizzes (What’s Your Personal Style?)

  • newsletters (your company's content is delivered regularly to their inbox)

Other Ways to Generate Leads?

While developing lead magnets, you can also generate leads through networking and building collaborative relationships with other industry professionals who are not your direct competitors. You can also make yourself known on online platforms like Houzz, where clients can find you when they search for the service they're looking for. And when you complete a successful project with a client, be sure to always ask them for a testimonial and for them to recommend you to their family and friends if they are happy with the result.

Creating quality lead magnets and getting the flow going can be time-consuming, especially in the beginning. But you can save time by creating templates for future magnets, so it will be faster. And you'll see how upping your lead magnet game is essential to your marketing success and well worth the investment.

xx, Danae

Are You Sleeping Well? Best Sleep Apps and How They Can Help You

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According to the American Sleep Association, about ⅓ of Americans struggle with insomnia or other sleep-related problems. They explain that sleep is not a passive part of our lives, but a very dynamic period for our nervous system, and adults over the age of 25 need between 7 and 9 hours per night to function properly. If you find it hard to quiet your thoughts or relax at night, you can benefit greatly from the help of a sleep app. Here are some of the best ones out there right now.

Best Free App

Insight Timer (Insight Network Inc)

An extensive free library of nature sounds, relaxing music, and meditations that you can filter by category and duration. Start with a curated selection by answering a few questions about your beliefs and preferences.

  • Free with optional in-app purchases.

  • Available for Android and iOS.

Best Meditation App

Headspace

Known for its guided meditation tracks and mindfulness exercises geared to all moods and topics, Headspace has expanded its menu to sleep stories called "sleep casts" and calming music.

  • Try the free 7-day trial, then $69.99/year or $12.99/month.

  • Available for Android and iOS.

Best Sleep Tracker

Sleep Cycle (Sleep Cycle AB)

Optimize your downtime by using this app which operates with its “smart alarm clock.” It tracks and analyzes your sleep throughout the night to wake you up during your light sleep phase, helping you rest better and feel less groggy in the morning.

  • Try the free 7-day trial, then $39.99/year or $9.99/month.

  • Available for Android and iOS.

Best White Noise App

Atmosphere: Relaxing Sounds (Peak Pocket Studios)

This app provides soothing sounds from diverse atmospheres (forest, beach, etc.), binaural beats, healing frequencies, and white, brown, and pink noises. You can also save custom sounds.

  • Free with optional in-app purchases.

  • Available for Android and iOS.

Expert Sleep Coach

Sleep Station

This is a web-based app that is actually an online sleep support program designed by experts. They offer packages including sleep analysis, a sleep improvement plan, coaching, and ongoing support.

  • Starting at $149.

  • Available online.

Lucid Dreaming Tool

Awoken

If you're interested in making the most of the dream world, this app offers tools to help trigger lucid dreams, including a pin-protected dream journal, reality check reminders, dream pattern reports, and more.

  • Free with optional in-app purchases.

  • Available for Android.

Best Overall App

Better Sleep (Ipnos Software)

Formerly known as Relax Melodies, this comprehensive sleep app offers all kinds of seamless sleep-inducing sounds, bedtime stories, and breathing exercises, in addition to sleep tracking features.

  • Try the free 7-day trial, then $59.99/year or $9.99/month.

  • Available for Android and iOS.

One caveat: apps that offer a free trial usually automatically switch to an annual subscription after the week is up, unless you opt-out, so mark your calendar if you're not convinced.

If you've never tried a sleep app, you may be in for a real game-changer. However, you can also find other sleep aids beyond these apps. Spotify Premium also has a great offering of audios and podcasts to help you sleep, and you can set it to automatically shut off when it ends or after a certain period of time. There are also countless free YouTube videos with white noise or meditations, though you should make sure you have the autoplay option turned off. If you're comforted by soft, repetitive sounds, there's a whole world of ASMR to discover. And while we're on the subject, remember to set your screen to automatically switch to soft, warm light at least an hour before you go to bed so that the blue light doesn't disrupt your circadian rhythms.

Most of the time, the root cause of sleep difficulties requires addressing the big picture, through lifestyle changes or one-on-one therapy sessions. But sleep apps, like the ones mentioned above, can be an excellent complement to help you relax your body and mind, and even offer insight into your sleep patterns to improve them.

Sweet dreams!

xx, Danae

Passive Investing in Real Estate Syndications

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It’s time to start converting your income to PASSIVE INCOME

In a world where time is the most valuable asset I think it’s time we start taking some of that time back! Those of us that have been very fortunate to be successful in our businesses know that it typically comes with a price and that price is time. In our current climate, we’ve found ourselves busier than ever and often wonder how much longer we can continue at this pace. I’ve spent the last several years listening to my clients and listening to myself and so NOW I am starting an initiative to educate women on how we can start taking back some of our time.

With my background in real estate, the financial industry and interior design it made complete sense to me that passively investing in real estate would be something that I could educate others on. After a few years of research and constantly finding real estate gurus talking about creating passive income by purchasing short-term rentals and other real estate I realized I did not want to become a landlord. I wanted to find a way where my money could work hard for me, where I didn’t have to do any of the work. That is where I discovered real estate syndications.

Real estate syndications are companies that purchase real estate and fund it with money from a pool of investors. As an investor not only do you make a return on the investment either in the form of cash-on-cash return that comes monthly or quarterly, but on the profit from the sale of the property or both. It’s possible you can make monthly income plus profit from the sale. AND as an investor you become a part owner in the property which means you can deduct the depreciation on your taxes! So let me explain that again:

You and a pool of investors go together to purchase a property from a syndication. The syndication does everything and you sit back and wait for your returns. You can make money on the property in the form of cash on a regular basis or at the sale of the property or both. You can deduct the depreciation off your taxes – if you are familiar with this concept than you already know it’s possible to profit from real estate while showing a loss due to depreciation.

My mission is to help women take control of their finances and their lives. You’ve worked hard, you deserve to be able to find a way to make your money work hard for you and I’ve got the tools to help you!

We are developing a course, a Facebook group and monthly calls where we’ll hear from industry leaders regarding investment opportunities from women run syndications. It is a proven fact that women are better investors because they are more conservative and patient, so they end up making more money than men in investing.

If you are interested in learning more about our opportunities, please reply to this email.

Let’s make more money by working less! Are you in?

xx, Danae

Save Big on These Summer Fashion Items on the Final Amazon Prime Day!

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Soak up these deals before they’re gone! Today is the final Prime Day of the year!

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Indema and MyDoma: Top Project Management Software Programs for Interior Designers

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Two of the most popular project management software programs reached out to me and asked if I’d send you updated information on their programs. They are listening to YOU! And since I want you to be in the know below are the updates!

Indema and MyDoma want to offer the best service possible and are proactively getting word out about their platforms, changes, what’s new, what’s coming soon, etc.

Indema

Indema states that they are the only tool your interior design firm needs. This cloud-based platform offers task management, time trackers and project reports to stay on top of your business performance. On the other hand, Indema covers your needs for contact management and contracts. Use the project or task templates and create vision boards with their clipper tool, keeping products organized and easily shareable with clients and vendors. Not only can you automate emails and billing for greater efficiency, but also social media posts, which is a feature that many other platforms do not include. However, similar to some others, Indema is designed to sync with QuickBooks for your accounting needs.

Pricing:

  • Single $35/month or $385 annually

  • Group $55/month or $550 annually

  • Hub $75/month or $675 annually

Try it: Free 15-day trial. www.indema.co

New Features: (as of April 27, 2022)

  • Email automation! You can now send out e-mail automation campaigns to leads and clients.

  • New product review facelift where you can now show detailed information on the image popup, and choose what to show the client. Project-specific.

  • You can now group items in estimates and invoices and show grouped item to clients.

  • Added new certified partner program. (indema.co/partnership)

  • In at Indema - A brand new community for designers. Coming End of May! Apply by going to indema.co/whose-in

  • Added combine option on time-log invoices.

New Improvements Initiated:

  • New support portal: $ Support.indema.co$ with updated articles.

  • Updated billing page to show all billing and add-ons, as well as billing details in one page.

  • Updated the sign-up flow (for new folks!), where its a single page sign-up process.

  • You can now delete uploaded images from the visionboard.

  • We've completely re-vamped our settings section to add notes, adjust some settings, and added more notification options for you.

  • Added "QTY" column to products section

  • Added "Spec #" column to products section.

  • Improved performance by paginating products section so that it loads quicker.

  • Made an adjustment to time-log invoices where it will no longer auto-bulk time logs into one. You can still do this by combining them and showing combined version to the client.

 Upcoming + Status:

  • Adding new columns to the product section so you can manage the product even more. (Adding tracking, expediting, CFA approval date, PO sent date which will auto-generate, RFQ sent date which will also auto-populate, Ordered date, Quote received date, Lead time with a dropdown and pre-made date range of RTS, 1-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 6-12 weeks, and 12+ weeks, Status where you can create custom status for items, approved/declined which will auto-populate if client approved/declined and also be manual in case client verbally approved, and lastly a flag column where you can flag an item for follow up.

  • A new set of 12 filtering options for the above to where you can show all products that don't have a quote date, or show products that are ordered, etc.

Currently Working On:

  • XERO integration (No ETA, as we are running into conflicts with QBO)

  • New File manager and project files User Interface. (NO ETA)

  • inbound and outbound email capabilities with automation. (DELAYED TO JUNE)

  • Specifications Module (DELAYED TO MAY)

  • Integrately connection. API to connect other apps. (NO ETA)

Noteworthy:

  • We have fully retired the "Payroll" section that generated pay statements.

Until the next update, TaTa and hope you all stay safe, healthy and enjoy your week!!

Indema is transparent and keeps everyone up to date on what’s working, bugs that are being fixed and what’s coming soon. You can see more here. https://feedback.indema.co/

MyDoma

MyDoma is a great organizational tool for your interior design projects. Many designers love the systems and processes and creating automations so that your business runs more smoothly, and MyDoma helps with this. The MyDoma platform helps with the onboarding process, a place to keep project info (e.g. space info, before images, measurements, inspiration images), and a place to collaborate with your clients. By using MyDoma, you are creating an online design studio/project binder to collaborate with your clients. You can have new clients sign contracts, fill out an onboarding questionnaire, and send initial payment all within the program. It’s a great option if you do e-design or offer smaller design packages.

This software is limited if you run a full-service interior design firm. For accounting, you can integrate MyDoma with QuickBooks, among other tools, but that means double entry for products and adding QuickBooks monthly fees to your total cost.

Pricing:

  • Solo $59/month or $599 annually

  • Team $79/month or $799 annually

  • Agency $129/month $1299 annually

Try it: Free 15-day trial. www.mydomastudio.com

New Features: (as of May 18, 2022)

MyDoma NEXT

It’s no secret that the interior design business landscape has changed.

Client expectations and demands have grown and clients want information at their fingertips. Many designers struggle with keeping up and, as a result, remain in a very reactive place versus a proactive one. However, being reactive all the time is the fastest way to burn out.

Due to these growing demands, technology is no longer a nice-to-have… it’s a must-have. The old way of doing business with a pen and pencil or with clunky Excel spreadsheets, that you need to manually update, won’t cut it. Your clients want a platform they can access to get the information they want when they want it.

We’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of designers over the years and we rebuilt our beloved MyDoma Studio platform to meet the demands of the market. We’ve improved core features to fundamentally change how you work today but also into the future.

And, that is what we’re launching today… MyDoma NEXT.

While this first set of features is only the beginning, we think you’re going to find MyDoma NEXT to be intuitive and beautifully aligned to your business. It’s a fresh and modern user experience but it’s also familiar. Existing users will recognize the core features but will appreciate how they come together in a much more harmonious way.

With all that said, we’d love to introduce you to MyDoma NEXT and highlight some of the new and improved features that we think you’ll adore.

With MyDoma NEXT, you’ll get a full suite of time-saving tools so you can perfect your process and spend less time managing and more time designing.

Here is just a shortlist of the activities that you can manage inside of your projects:


  • Appointments

  • Files and media

  • Notes

  • Contract sign-offs

  • Proposals

  • Budgets

  • Questionnaires

  • And more…


The nice thing about MyDoma NEXT is that there are so many more customization options for your projects. Not only can you change the color scheme (hello, fresh look and feel!) but you can also turn on or off project features to reduce visual clutter and only show what you need.

Speaking of customizations, you can also create custom statuses that best reflect your workflow and visually move clients through the design process.

We also heard you say that you needed to save even more time on the administrative side of your business so we created project templates. With MyDoma NEXT you can replicate projects with templates to create new projects that reflect your workflow in seconds.

Learn more about our project management features.

xx, Danae

The Deals Keep On Coming With PRIME DAY 2022! #OfficeGoals

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It's Prime Day - July 12-13! Join in the Savings by Checking Out These Great Kitchen Deals!

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Don’t miss out on these kitchen must-have deals.
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It's Time to Take a Break: Mini Mental Vacation & Relaxation Techniques

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With the prospect of summer vacation on the horizon, it feels harder than usual to settle into your office chair and get on with your daily routine. But we sometimes forget that vacation is not just having days with nothing to do or swapping one type of stress for another. Real vacations are mental. And they are possible and recommendable in our everyday life, so you don’t have to wait for your vacation days. You can enjoy many of the same relaxing benefits from a mini mental vacation no matter where you are. Here’s how.

Set a sacred time to unwind

Schedule some time, even if it’s just 5 minutes, to really set aside your problems and activities. Silence your phone. Nothing can burst your bubble during this time. It’s a non-negotiable getaway, all yours.

Live in the present

Many of us live worrying about the future and lamenting the past. There is peace to be found in connecting with the present moment by doing grounding or breathing exercises. Here is a simple one to try.

  • Sit as comfortably as you can.

  • Bring your attention to your breathing and begin to inhale softly and deeply. Pause and then exhale very slowly through your nose. Let your stomach deflate and release the tension from your chest and back. Repeat at least 10 times.

  • It’s normal if your mind gets distracted, so when you notice this, bring your attention back to your breathing.

  • Some people like to add a positive affirmation or mantra to repeat in their mind with each breath.

Meditate

For those of us who aren’t used to meditating, it can feel more daunting than freeing. But now, with a quick search, there are countless guided meditations available on streaming platforms and apps for all moods, tastes, and schedules, making the practice so much more accessible and effortless to all.

Don’t compare

It can be hard not to sigh when we see our friends or contacts posting selfies with turquoise beach backgrounds and drinks in their hands. Aside from the fact that social media often doesn't reflect the actual experience behind it, comparing yourself will only serve to make you bitter. Instead, send them good vibes and reconnect with your own present.

Make a gratitude list

More than likely, you already have a number of beautiful circumstances around you that you can bring to mind with gratitude. Write them down and take time to appreciate and bask in the sensation of each one.

Let yourself daydream

Beyond the here and now, take some time to envision a place you would love to be, and draw every detail you can in your imagination: the colors, the smell, the breeze, everything. Or you may even want to explore destinations online for a real future trip. It can even be intriguing to check out faraway places around the world on Google Street View.

Try new things

Breaking routine is stimulating to the brain and awakens our sense of discovery. You can achieve this by taking a different route to or from work, trying a new food or restaurant, or talking to someone new. Take a look at your routine and see what you can mix up.

Call a friend

While many of us are used to texts and emails that string together interrupted conversations throughout the day, a solid chat session with a good friend can transport you to their world, your shared musings, and upcoming plans.

Connect with nature

As part of the natural world, it can be very calming and healing to get in touch with nature. If you can’t go to the beach or a campground right now, take a walk in the nearest park and sit under a tree to listen to the leaves and birds or near a fountain to listen to the trickling water.

We all have different ways we like to disconnect from our stressful routines, but remember that a mental vacation is more than a temporary distraction. It's reclaiming time to actively connect with yourself and take care of yourself, and it's worth it.

xx, Danae

Elite Design Assistants: Did You Know We Offer THESE Services?

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ELITE DESIGN ASSISTANTS

DID YOU KNOW WE OFFER THESE SERVICES?

Kitchen & Bath Design Assistant Services

Everyone knows that Kitchen & Bath design is a specialty service that not all designers OR design assistants love to offer. While kitchen and bath seems obvious to those who offer whole home renovations, remodels and new builds, there are other interiors designers whose niche is something entirely different. For those in Kitchen and Bath, it’s helpful to work with a virtual design assistant who has an interior design degree, extensive knowledge of residential building and construction including trim carpentry as well as the talent to not only create a beautiful space but one that is functional. If you are in need of a virtual design assistant with specific kitchen and bath experience, please let us know and we’ll connect you with someone soon!

3D Models

Are you an interior designer that orders a lot of custom furniture? If so, we have 3D Model experts on our team to create the 3D models of custom furniture pieces to put in renders. This is a great way for your clients to see what the custom furniture pieces will look like in their space.

Short Term Rentals

Investing in real estate has become a popular way to increase income and make a better return on your investment than having your hard-earned money sitting in a saving account. All of those investors are seeking out the expertise of interior designers to add value to their short-term rentals. If you are an interior designer that has a niche in this space and you need help, we’ve got VDAs with experience in this nice as well! Whether it’s Airbnb’s, hotels or other short-term rentals we can help you out. Plus, if you are interested in investing in the real estate industry, we have a Brand NEW service coming … we are going to teach you how to make money by investing in real state while not having to do any of the work. If you are interested, please email me at danae@elitedesignassitants.com and watch for our new posts on Passive Investing in real estate syndications and a bit more info below.

Vacation Homes

Vacation homes are an excellent niche especially if you live in an area where everyone is vacationing. People tend to design their vacation homes a bit differently than their permanent residence and we’ve got VDAs that love this space, too.

Outdoor Spaces

If there has ever been a time in our lives where people are bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out it would be now. With outdoor living spaces, outdoor kitchens, pools and more, if you need help from a design assistant trained in this space let us know.

Kid-friendly Designs

If you are used to decorating kid-friendly spaces, it’s always great to work with a design assistant with experience in that area.

AND … Coming soon - Passive Investing in Real Estate Syndications.

Watch for an email and blog post related to this NEW service. As savvy interior designers are looking for more ways to create passive income and make their money work harder for them, we will be offering courses, an investors club and investment opportunities in real estate. As real estate and interior design goes hand-in-hand this just makes sense. Some interior designers are already designing investment properties such as short term rentals and others are offering value add services to real estate investment trusts so you may know a bit about real estate investing. However, we are going to reach true passive investing which means your money works hard for you while you don’t lift a finger!

Please reach out via email to Elite Design Assistants to inquire more information on any of these services we offer!

danae@elitedesignassitants.com

xx, Danae

Brand New Template Bundles on Our Website!

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We are always trying to offer our clients what they want and things that are super helpful to their businesses and lives. We now have a CAD Template Bundle and a Project Management Bundle.

The CAD Template Bundle includes everything you need to create professional CAD drawings and documents for your interior design project. It includes:

  • Design Set Template

  • XREF Titleblock Template

  • Plot Styles

  • Design Layers and Lineweights

  • Paper Space Blocks and Symbols

  • Furniture Plan Title Blocks

  • Model Space Paper Size Outlines

For more information, please check out our site at www.elitedesignassistants/shop#tools-and-templates

The Project Management Bundle will take your interior business to the next level. It includes:

  • Budget Spreadsheet Template

  • Cost Spreadsheet Template

  • Installation Schedule Template

  • Project Management Template

  • Material and Finish Schedule Template

  • Project List Template

  • Room Product Checklist

In this bundle, you can either purchase things separately OR save money by purchasing the bundle. For more information, please check out our site at www.elitedesignassistants/shop#tools-and-templates

Of course, if you need CAD or project management services, please feel free to reach out! We are working hard to make your life easier so you can continue to grow and create the business of your dreams!

xx, Danae

Latest Trends in Summer Fashion

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The long-awaited summer season is upon us and that means the rise of new (and nostalgic) summer 2022 trends that were already previewed on the runways and are now starting to be spotted everywhere, from fashion Instagram accounts to city sidewalks and your favorite stores.

Taking note of what we have been seeing emerging from fashion references over the last weeks, we know that many of the spring trends will carry over into the summer season, such as bright colors (especially pink, orange and green), bold prints (psychedelic or zebra) or a throwback to the "Y2K aesthetic".

HOOKED ON CROCHET

In the same vein, boho styles are back at the forefront, including loose crochet garments like tanks and bell bottoms, which can be paired with a bikini set underneath for a beach or festival look. If the knit pattern is too wide for the occasion, you can also try a light slip dress under a crochet dress.

GO TO GREAT LENGTHS WITH SHORTS

It's no wonder that one of the stars of the season is shorts in their many forms. This summer, we're ditching the micro hot pants in favor of comfortable, adventure-friendly Bermuda shorts. “Paper bag" shorts are sticking around this year, and the catwalks (Michael Kors, Chanel) have dared to bring back the capri pants, another tribute to the turn of the millennium.

SUIT YOURSELF

To the relief of office-goers everywhere, you can now find a wider selection of lighter weight suit sets with short-sleeved or sleeveless tops and short bottoms. Double-down on trends by choosing a brightly colored or color-blocked suit ensemble. More good news? This is a versatile look that is easy to dress up or down.

CUT OUT FOR IT

One-shoulder tops and asymmetrical cuts and hemlines are taking over and adding interest to the 2022 summer wardrobe. Cheeky cut-outs in dresses and jumpsuits are also here to lighten the mood.

STEP BY STEP

Lowering our gaze to the footwear of the season, strappy sandals (with or without heels) are coming in strong. They can be found in the same trendy bright colors we’re seeing in clothing, or in the gladiator-style model that has graced us since ancient Greece. Meanwhile, we’re experiencing the resurgence of a footwear style with roots in Ancient Rome: mules. Throwback much? But in 2022, we have mules with heels of all heights, pointed or round toe, and covered or open toe. And very fitting to their name, the debut of a hybrid: the sneaker-mule.

BEYOND APPEARANCES

Fashion goes much deeper than clothes, and these messages make a difference. In recent months, Rihanna has blown us away with her maternity looks by highlighting the changes that her body has been undergoing instead of hiding them. She is one shining example of the greater body-positive movement that, hopefully, is here to stay.

Will you try any of these latest summer trends?

xx, Danae

Is it Time for a Rebrand?

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Rebranding is a marketing strategy that involves partially or totally modifying the set of elements that identify a business or brand, in order to improve or expand its positioning in the market. This could include anything from your logo to the fonts and color palette you use, and much more. Just as interior designers get to know their clients and gather information about their values and tastes in order to reflect who they are in their designs, your brand should reflect the spirit of your company, and your clients should see themselves reflected in it as well.

It’s a process that the biggest names have gone through, and many times over. Household names like Google, Nike, Apple and a host of others have rebranded over the years, but they have managed to retain certain elements to remain familiar and trustworthy to consumers, while communicating an expansion or new values.

So, is it time to rebrand your interior design firm? Think about what has changed in your company, whether your niche or target customer has shifted, and what you’ve done so far to illustrate those changes to the public. Here are some reasons to consider rebranding.

The industry is evolving - One of the most common reasons for rebranding is simply to keep with the times. Interior design is an industry in which it is particularly important to demonstrate up-to-date design knowledge and an awareness of new client needs. However, don’t just jump on a trend bandwagon and blend in with the rest. Standing out is one of the goals!

Your company is evolving - Perhaps you have decided to cater to a new or different customer and want to attract that profile with a relevant corporate image. When announcing news about your company, such as the launch of a new service, it’s time to review if your corporate image still represents the essence of your company or if it requires some adaptations to reflect the changes you are implementing.

A lack of clarity or consistency - Your logo, mission statement and overall style need to be congruent and harmonious. Aspects of the graphic design should also be versatile enough to be functional across platforms. You should work with a brand book with specific fonts, logo formats and colors as a reference to project a unified image. If you aren’t yet, you may be able to pare down and consolidate the styles and elements you’re already working with and see if that’s enough of an improvement.

As we’ve seen so far, rebranding may include a makeover of your corporate logo or colors. In some cases, it can mean changing the very name of your company. But it’s important not to neglect other elements you communicate, such as how you describe the company and present your team on your website. You may even need to reevaluate your usual processes, such as your intake questionnaire and briefing format, to make it all fit together and work. In short, rebranding is like renovating a house. We can simply redesign the logo or change the visual, emotional and functional aspects of the brand at a much deeper level.

However, rebranding is not always the solution. It’s a significant investment that can’t be taken lightly. In addition to brand consultancy services, you will need to update your website, stationery, business cards, or even company vehicles if you have them. Everywhere your brand appears. This transition can be done somewhat gradually if necessary, but it’s best to keep this period as short as possible. If you have a well-established brand, it’s a good idea to do thorough audience research before discarding the current one. Sometimes a few simple changes with a bit of guidance or “restyling” are enough to get your current brand aligned.

If you think that your interior design business could benefit from a rebrand, set up a meeting with a branding expert. Create a moodboard together that expresses the feel of your design firm. They should help you by studying your case and carrying out a market study to make the change meaningful and strategic, not just a makeover for the sake of it. You can even consider asking your followers on social media to vote on their favorite new logo options by creating a poll on your Instagram stories, for example. It’s a way to get real feedback before taking the leap, as well as boost customer engagement.

Once you do define your new corporate image, take the opportunity to announce it loud and proud to your audience with a marketing campaign, sharing and celebrating this new chapter in the story of your business and a new appeal to your clients.

xx, Danae

Do You Need a Bookkeeper or CFO?

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We get several bookkeeping requests from clients and it’s important to know whether or not you need a bookkeeper or a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) or both.

A Bookkeeper will typically do the following:

  • Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable Services

  • Payroll

  • Monthly income and expense tracking

  • Categorizing all transactions appropriately and consistently​

  • Monthly Reconciliations

  • Monthly Financial Statements

​There are helping you with your day-to-day finances for your business.

A CFO on the other hand is helping you with business assessment, profit & cash flow targets, help you create action plans, and help you outline a long-term plan that will be beneficial to the continued success of your business.

We offer both services and if you are interested, they are detailed below.

What We Do As CFO

We have a 5-step process to provide a clear roadmap to improve YOUR profitability and cash flow. The steps are as follows:

  1. Business assessment: We will analyze your business and financials and show you exactly what’s holding you back from making more profit and cash flow. We will provide you with instructions regarding the information that we may require to complete the work of this engagement.

  2. Profit & cash flow target: We’ll get to work getting to know you and the goals you have for your business. We'll then set ‘profit and cash flow goals and put together a plan designed to improve the profitability and cash flow of your business.

  3. Create a scoreboard: Each month we’ll give you a simple one-page “scoreboard” report that will clearly show you what’s going right and what’s going wrong.

  4. Help you determine an action plan: You and your CFO will get on a video call each month and we’ll provide you with a shortlist of the MOST important “next steps” that need to happen within the next 30-days.

  5. Help you outline a long-term plan: At the same time, we’ll work to help you increase the long-term value of your business so that you have a well-oiled machine that can run without you by your leadership team.

What We Won’t Do

For your success, it is important that you understand the scope and limitations of our services. It is also important that we do not overstep into areas that are appropriately your domain, responsibility, and authority. We do not provide legal, accounting, bookkeeping (unless you purchase this as an add-on service through Elite), auditing, data verification, management, facilitation, fraud detection, HR, insurance, or other such services. We do not publish or announce your plans to your team. We do not execute your action plans.

What We Need From You


You will designate an individual who possesses suitable skill, knowledge, or experience to oversee your bookkeeping activities and coordinate with the services we provide. In addition, you will evaluate the adequacy and results of the services performed by that designated individual and accept responsibility for such services. You will provide relevant information about your business on a timely and periodic basis. You will take our advice and make your own decisions about what to do with that advice.

What we do as a Full-Service Bookkeeper
(this is available as an add on to our CFO Service)

In order to provide accurate CFO services, you will need to have full-service bookkeeping done. May require additional software subscriptions. Services included are as follows:

  • Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable Services

  • Payroll

  • Monthly income and expense tracking

  • Categorizing all transactions appropriately and consistently​

  • Monthly Reconciliations

  • Monthly Financial Statements

  • ​Unlimited email and text support​

If you are interested in either or both services, please feel free to reply to this email to learn more!

xx, Danae

New Graphic T-Shirts Available & In Stock on our Website!

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Check out the newest additions to our online shop!

See something you like?

Business Coach… or Business Consult (An Elite Level Up Business Consult)?

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As you are aware, interior designers are in many different stages of their businesses. Some of you are brand new to the industry, while others are seasoned professionals. Some of you are solo-prenuers, while others run a larger firm with staff. There are multiple things to consider when deciding whether you need a business coach or a business consult.

In terms of business coaches, there are amazing options for interior designers out there! Working with a business coach is an investment in both you and your business. It is a way to take your business to the next level. Typically, a business coach will collaborate with you to design a concise, long-term plan for your continued business growth and success. Every coaching program is different, but a common theme is to have regularly scheduled meetings for 6 weeks up to 6 or 12 months. Business coaches guide the change and expect timely results.  

Many business coaches have criteria that you must fit in order to work with them. They don’t just work with everyone and for good reason: they want to ensure their collaboration with you is successful. Interior designers seeking a business coach can expect a financial investment, and an investment of time. When you schedule time for coaching calls, implementations, etc., it’s possible your current client projects will need to be deferred to another designer on your team, or design assistant to ensure you have the free time needed to complete coaching initiatives.

You want to make sure the business coach you chose will work with interior designers in your current situation and that you qualify to work with that particular coach. For example, I know some business coaches will NOT work with anyone brand new in the industry, anyone who is just working interior design as a hobby/side hustle or anyone who doesn’t meet a certain annual revenue threshold. Again, you want your business coach to be someone who is coaching interior designers in your similar situation whether you are brand new, a seasoned designer, or somewhere in between.

However, maybe a coach isn’t for you and what you really need is a business consult. As we have all seen at some point, some of our interior design clients really just need a quick consultation. If you offer consultations with DIY clients, you know what I mean.

So, who needs a simple yet highly effective business consultation such as an Elite Level Up Business Consult? Perhaps you! Maybe you are not in a position to afford a business coach, OR you have almost everything figured out but you just need to pick someone’s brain regarding an aspect of your business, OR you are just researching getting into the interior design industry… the list goes on and on.

Here is an example of a designer we recently worked with during a Level Up Business Consult: They had their ideas, knew what their goals were, but didn't know the steps to get there. In came Elite with the assist! This client knew their current pricing system wasn't going to work for a new project they just took on. Their current pricing system needed an update, but they didn’t know how to update it. We’ve all been there, there is so much to consider such as interior vs exterior materials selections, sq. ft. pricing vs hourly pricing, do we raise rates for a long-time client or not. We discussed at length the pros and cons of each scenario, becoming a sounding board of knowledge. The consultation, which lasted about 90 minutes, ended only when we had worked out a firm way for this designer to move their business forward. We know firsthand that the business of interior design is only part creativity. For that simple reason, we took notes during the consultation and recapped the discussion via email, listing in black and white the numbers needed to make the business successful for this new project, and for the ones that follow.

While this consult was regarding pricing schedules, we are happy to discuss building a team, managing orders, establishing trade accounts, marketing and so much more. Our business consultation service is for interior designers or decorators, who have systems in place for existing clients, a relatively steady stream of projects, and is a solo-prenuer or manages a small, local studio. Typically, this designer knows the tools needed to run a successful business, but maybe doesn’t have the revenue stream or time to invest in a coach.  

Let’s break it down for you:

Novice Designers (0-5 yrs in business)  <---  A business consult can be the best way to start getting some of your questions answered. We will always refer you to a business coach if we find your situation is more suited for that path.

  • fresh out of college or is a decorator

  • doesn't yet know their worth (charges $50/hr)

  • may be exploring which design career is right for them

  • clients/projects are obtained by advertising and are not steady yet

Career Designers (5-15 yrs in business)  <---  A business consult is definitely a great option for you. We can guide you in the proper direction in a manner, which is both affordable and respects your time. We will always refer you to a business coach if we find your situation is more suited for that path.

  • you are licensed & insured (if required in your state)

  • have trade accounts/ reps/ sub-contractors at the ready

  • is a designer by trade and made a career of it

  • known in community; steady stream of projects

Seasoned Designers (15+ yrs in business) <---  This is, more than likely, a designer who could utilize a business coach. However, if you would like to take advantage of our team’s expertise, we are happy to offer you an hourly consultation rate.

  • have a team of employees or contractors

  • has an income stream of revenue which is profit

  • possibly has clients on a wait list

  • has systems in place but needs to hone in on processes, increase profit, or update business practices

When you decide that an Elite Level Up Business Consult is just what you need, we offer help answering questions which need explanation in a step-by-step format, advice for those who know what they need, but not how to get there and a way for you to gain feedback, knowledge, and advice from colleagues in the industry.

Interested in our Elite Level Up Business Consultation service? Reply to this email to start a conversation regarding pricing and scheduling. We look forward to being a silent partner in helping you create the business of your dreams!

xx, Danae

3D Printing in Interior Design

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Technology is crazy and always evolving. 3D printing has been around for a long time but as it grows in popularity it’s worth knowing about how interior designers are leveraging 3D printers.

Just in case you don’t know what 3D printing is, it’s where a printer creates three-dimensional objects layer-by-layer using a computer created design. They are used to create things like tools, jewelry, phone cases, figurines, toys, home décor and so much more.

You can create a design and have it printed which gives so much creative control over the object. There are several companies out there creating 3D printed objects for interior design.

Imagine if you worked on historical homes or buildings with intricate architectural elements that needed to be repaired or replaced. A design of something such as detailed molding or façade can be created and then printed using 3D printing saving time and money.

Unique décor pieces such as pendants, sculptural tables, and detailed wall panels can be created using 3D printers. Other popular 3D printed objects are planters, bookshelves, room dividers, tiles, wooden blocks, bowls, trays, and baskets. There are endless possibilities at this point.

There are several home décor 3D printer companies in the US such as Casa Z out of Texas, EDG in New York, Forust in California, and Emerging Objects also in California.

Each of these companies offers unique 3D objects in terms of finishes, home décor, and design. You can find a few smaller businesses on Etsy as well as purchase 3D printer plans for your own 3D printer.

3D printing offers so many creative and unique options for interior designers, furniture designers, architects, builders, and others in the real estate and design industry.

3D printing will continue to change the interior design industry especially now companies such as ICON are building homes using 3D printing. If you are looking for a new niche in the industry 3D printing may just be something that interests you. Whether you already practice sustainable design, are interested in sustainable design, or just want to get into interior design for 3D printed homes, it’s worth looking into now while the industry is young and gaining traction.

xx, Danae

Spring Cleaning Tips

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There are few springtime traditions more satisfying than the annual deep cleaning, which signifies a fresh start, practically and even psychologically. However, for many people, bliss only comes once the job is done. Cleaning the house from top to bottom is never easy, but the project can be much more manageable with this checklist that gives you an overview of everything you need to know.

Plan and Prepare

The first step is to check your calendar and schedule spring cleaning tasks. Hoping to get it all done within a couple of days won’t do you any good. Divide the tasks into realistic time slots over several weeks, and you’ll get through it stress-free. And before you get started, take inventory of your cleaning supplies, such as brushes, cloths, and sprays. Pick up any additional cleaning products or tools that will help you work more efficiently, and why not consider using some natural products such as lemon juice to degrease or vinegar to remove limescale buildup.

Kitchen and Bath

It’s a good idea to start with the rooms that require the most effort. In areas that have countless nooks and crannies and are constantly exposed to moisture, it’s important to dedicate extra attention to detail. In the kitchen, start with the walls, the outside of the cabinets, and the countertop, then empty each cabinet to clean it and before replacing everything. In the bathroom, start with the tiles, remove all traces of limescale and continue with the bathroom fixtures. Whenever you clean storage furniture, take the opportunity to throw away any old products or cosmetics that have expired or that you no longer use.

Room by Room

To break the job into manageable chunks, continue taking it room by room. Start by dusting ceilings, corners, and hard-to-reach surfaces. A mop with a damp cloth may do the trick. On surfaces with delicate paints or finishes, be sure not to use chemicals not intended for them, and don't scrub too hard. Again, take advantage of this project to clean interiors or storage furniture. Consider which items no longer serve you, Marie Kondo style, and donate or throw them away.

Winter Wardrobe and Bedding

As temperatures begin to rise, you may want to replace your bedding with lighter-weight linens, as well as your day-to-day wardrobe. For fabrics that tolerate high temperatures well, run a hot water cycle to kill bacteria before letting these garments dry completely and storing them until next fall or winter. Make it easy on your future self by organizing everything in labeled containers, ready for the next change of season.

Textiles

A chore that many people don’t get around to regularly is cleaning the textiles of the home. This includes curtains, sofa and cushion covers, throw blankets, and rugs. Check washing instructions for each item, but much of this can be washed in your washing machine at home and hung damp to dry in order to avoid wrinkling. Rugs may need to be taken to a pro if the tag states “dry clean only.” Spring is also the perfect time to change out some of your textiles for lighter materials and brighter colors, so seasonal decor can form part of your spring cleaning ritual.

Garage and Outdoor Areas

As an often neglected space, your garage might need a little TLC, and if you're lucky enough to have an outdoor space, such as a porch or yard, it's the ideal time to make the most of it. If you have a garden, go the extra mile. Make sure your organization systems are up to date with your belongings so that these areas are not simply written off as overflow dumps. Store winter sports equipment. Get rid of items you've been hanging onto forever because they "might come in handy someday." You might even find that you end up with enough space to add a new or improved chill-out nook in time for the good weather!

Windows and Floors

It’s time to get the windows looking crystal clear. And don't stop at the glass. Get into the cracks of the window frames. Aluminum or PVC ones will be as good as new just by scrubbing them with a cloth and soapy water. For the glass itself, it’s best to choose a specific product and a lint-free cloth. As you reach the end of your spring cleaning journey, it’s a good time to finally tackle the floors, where any residual dust from the process will have settled. Then all you have left is to clean the floors and you will have passed the test. Vacuum, as usual, paying special attention to baseboards and difficult corners, and then scrub the floor properly with a specific product for its material (wood, ceramic, vinyl, etc.).

As you go through the spring-cleaning process, you may find that there are some of these tasks that you want to start doing several times throughout the year to lighten the workload each time. Cross these tasks off as you complete them, and you'll be well on your way to refreshing your home and making it a healthier and more comfortable haven.

xx, Danae