To start an interior decoration business, you need a clear style, a portfolio people can see, a registered business and a pricing model that pays you for all the work, not just the moodboard. Talent gets you the first project. Systems for quoting, ordering and managing contractors are what turn it into a business.
This guide covers how to get started in the US, UK or Nigeria, including licensing differences between decorators and designers, a startup-cost table, pricing maths and how to win clients through referrals.
Key takeaways
- Decide your niche: residential rooms, short-let apartments, offices, restaurants or staging homes for sale.
- Build a portfolio from small real projects before you chase big ones.
- Charge for design time and for project management. Many decorators lose money on the second.
- In some US states, only licensed or registered professionals can use the title "interior designer." Check before you name your business.
Interior decorator or interior designer?
The two overlap, but they aren’t the same:
- Decorators focus on finishes, color, furniture, lighting, textiles and styling.
- Designers may also plan layouts, move walls, specify fixtures and work with architects and building codes.
This matters for licensing. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that rules vary by state: in some states only licensed designers may do interior design work, in others only licensed designers may use the title “interior designer,” and in others both licensed and unlicensed people may do the work and use the title (BLS). If you plan to call yourself a designer, check your state’s rules first. In the UK and Nigeria, check current rules with the relevant professional body before using a protected-sounding title, and remember that building regulations apply to any structural or electrical work.
What the market looks like
Interior work is a field where a large share of people work for themselves, which is encouraging if you’re going independent.
- $67,190 US median annual wage for interior designers, May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
- 3% projected US job growth, 2025 to 2035 US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026
Growth of 3% is about average. That means you win by specializing and by being easy to work with, not by riding a boom.
How to start an interior decoration business, step by step
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Define your style and niche
"Warm minimalist living rooms for young families" or "short-let apartment styling in Lagos" is easier to market than "all interiors."
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Learn the gaps
Short courses in space planning, lighting, color and project management fill what you don't know. Formal qualifications help if you plan to work as a designer.
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Do real projects
Your home, a friend's apartment, a café that needs a refresh. Do them properly, at a reduced fee if needed.
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Photograph everything
Before, during and after, in good daylight. Your portfolio is your main sales tool.
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Register the business
LLC or sole proprietor in the US; sole trader or Ltd in the UK; CAC business name in Nigeria.
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Build your supplier list
Furniture makers, fabric shops, lighting suppliers, painters and carpenters. Negotiate trade discounts.
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Choose your pricing model
See the next section. Put it in a written contract.
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Set up your project system
A simple process for briefs, moodboards, approvals, purchase orders and site visits.
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Win referrals
Realtors, short-let hosts, property developers and contractors all send work if you make them look good.
How to price interior decoration: models and maths
There are four common models. Many decorators combine two.
| Model | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat design fee | One price per room or project | Clear scopes, nervous first-time clients | Endless revisions; cap them in the contract |
| Hourly | You bill time spent | Consultations, advisory work | Clients watch the clock; income feels unpredictable |
| Cost-plus | A markup on furniture and materials you buy | Projects where you source most items | Clients may compare prices online |
| Percentage of project | A share of the total budget | Large fit-outs | Hard to estimate early |
Worked example (illustrative numbers, use your local rates):
- Living room project. Design fee: 3 days of design × 400 a day = 1,200
- Furnishings and materials budget: 8,000, with a 15% procurement fee for sourcing, ordering and managing delivery: 8,000 × 0.15 = 1,200
- Site supervision: 4 visits × 150 = 600
- Your total income: 1,200 + 1,200 + 600 = 3,000
- Client’s total spend: 8,000 + 3,000 = 11,000
Without the procurement fee and site visits, you’d earn 1,200 for the same amount of work. That’s the most common mistake new decorators make.
How to protect your cash on every project
Decoration projects tie up money in orders, deliveries and contractor time. A few rules keep you solvent:
- Take a design deposit before you start. Many decorators ask for half the design fee up front and the rest at presentation.
- Never buy furniture with your own money. Ask clients to pay suppliers directly or pay you before you place each order.
- Get written sign-off at each stage: brief, concept, final selections and installation. It ends most “I didn’t agree to that” arguments.
- Build lead times into the plan. Custom furniture and imported lighting can take weeks. Tell clients early, in writing.
- Keep a change log. Every change to scope after sign-off gets a note and, where it adds work, a fee.
How much does it cost to start an interior decoration business?
| Cost item | Estimate | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Business registration | Under $300 (US); £100 Ltd (UK); CAC fee (Nigeria) | SBA, GOV.UK |
| Design software | $0–$60 per month | Planning estimate; free tiers exist |
| Sample library (fabrics, paint cards, finishes) | $100–$500 | Planning estimate; many suppliers give samples free to trade |
| Portfolio photography | $150–$600 | Planning estimate |
| Website and domain | $15–$40 per month | Planning estimate |
| Professional liability insurance | Get quotes | Varies by country and project size |
| Short courses | $0–$1,000 | Planning estimate |
How to find interior decoration clients
- Referral partners. Realtors staging homes, short-let hosts preparing listings and contractors finishing builds all need decorators. Offer a referral thank-you. Referral marketing is the main growth channel for many studios.
- Before-and-after content. Short videos of transformations get shared. Post consistently, and tag suppliers and partners.
- Local search. People search “interior decorator near me” or “interior designer in Lekki.” A Google Business Profile with project photos and reviews helps; see our local SEO work.
- A focused website. Show three to five strong projects, your process and pricing approach, and a way to book a consultation. Clear branding helps you look like the studio clients expect.
A decorator's portfolio is only as strong as its explanations. Before-and-after photos get attention, but clients book when they understand your process, your timeline and roughly what a project costs. I'd add a short story to each project: the brief, the constraint and the decision you made. That's what separates your studio from a mood board on Pinterest.
Myth vs fact
- MythYou need a degree to start an interior decoration business.
- FactDecorators are often self-taught or trained through short courses. Some US states regulate the title "interior designer," so check rules if you use it.
- MythThe design fee is where decorators make their money.
- FactSourcing, ordering, delivery and supervision take much of the time. Charge for them separately or through a procurement fee.
- MythYou need big projects to build a portfolio.
- FactSmall, well-photographed rooms show taste and finish just as well, and they're easier to win.
Before your first paid project
- Niche and style written in one sentence
- At least three projects photographed for your portfolio
- Business registered and bank account open
- Supplier and trades list with agreed trade discounts
- Contract covering scope, revisions, fees, procurement and payment stages
- Project tracker for approvals, orders and deliveries
- Google Business Profile and simple website live
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a degree to become an interior decorator?
No. Many decorators learn through short courses and real projects. If you plan to call yourself an interior designer in the US, check your state's rules, because some states restrict the title or the work to licensed or registered professionals.
How much can I earn from interior decoration?
It depends on your niche, pricing model and how many projects you can manage at once. Decorators who charge for design, procurement and site supervision earn far more per project than those who charge for design alone.
How do I get my first interior decoration clients?
Start with people who've seen your work: friends, family, colleagues. Then build referral partnerships with realtors, contractors and short-let hosts, and show before-and-after photos online.
Should I charge hourly or a flat fee?
Many decorators use a flat design fee for clear scopes and an hourly rate for consultations. Add a procurement fee or markup when you source and manage furniture and materials, and put revision limits in the contract.
What tools do I need to start?
A laptop, design or moodboard software, a measuring kit, a sample library and a good camera or phone. Most design tools have free versions you can start with.
Next step
Choose your niche and finish one small project this month, photographed properly from start to finish. When you’re ready to show your portfolio online, see website design at TechDella Studios, or get a growth audit to see how clients in your area search for decorators.
