Interior Designer Entrepreneur - Design Your Space, Design Your Life
Interior Design Career: What It Really Takes, What You Can Earn & How to Build a Business in Design
$40K - $150K+ varies widely
2/25/25
Brian Leighton has been doing it for over a decade — and in this episode he gives us the straight, unfiltered truth about what it really takes to build a career in interior design.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE
What an interior designer actually does day to day - and why it's nothing like the TV version
How Brian translates a client's Pinterest board into a real, livable space
What it takes to manage vendors, contractors, timelines, and budgets simultaneously
Why communication and trust matter more than taste in this business
How to build your own interior design business from scratch
What the earning potential looks like at every stage of a design career
The skills nobody tells you you'll need — and the ones that actually determine success
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WHAT INTERIOR DESIGNERS EARN
Interior design income varies widely depending on whether you work in-house, at a firm, or run your own business — and how you structure your fees once you do.
Entry-level and junior designers — $40,000 to $60,000 Most design careers begin at a firm or studio, assisting senior designers, learning vendor relationships, and building the project management skills that formal education doesn't fully teach. The pay is modest but the education is invaluable — this is where you learn what running a project actually looks like from the inside.
Mid-level designers — $65,000 to $90,000 Designers leading their own projects, building client relationships, and developing a recognizable aesthetic. At this stage reputation begins to compound — good work generates referrals and referrals generate better projects.
Senior designers and firm principals — $90,000 to $150,000+ Experienced designers running studios, managing teams, and working on higher-budget residential or commercial projects. Income at this level reflects both design expertise and business acumen — the ability to sell, manage, and deliver at the same time.
Independent designers with their own business — highly variable This is where the ceiling opens up. Independent designers who build strong referral networks, develop a signature style, and move into luxury residential or commercial work can earn $150,000 to $500,000 or more. The income is directly tied to project volume, fee structure, and the designer's ability to run a business as well as they run a project.
How designers get paid matters as much as how much they earn. The most common structures are an hourly fee, a flat project fee, a percentage of the total project budget, or a combination of a design fee plus a markup on products and furnishings purchased for the client. Brian discusses which model works best at which stage of a career — and the mistakes designers make when they underprice their work early on.
FAQs
Q: What does an interior designer do? A: An interior designer transforms spaces by combining aesthetic vision with practical expertise — space planning, material selection, vendor management, contractor coordination, and budget oversight. The job is as much about project management and client communication as it is about design.
Q: How much does an interior designer make? A: Entry-level designers typically earn $40,000–$60,000 working at firms. Mid-level designers earn $65,000–$90,000. Senior designers and firm principals earn $90,000–$150,000 or more. Independent designers with established businesses and luxury clients can earn $150,000–$500,000+ depending on project volume and fee structure.
Q: Do you need a degree to become an interior designer? A: A degree in interior design or a related field provides valuable training in space planning, design principles, and technical skills. However many successful designers have built strong careers through a combination of self-education, apprenticeship, and hands-on experience. What matters most at the client level is portfolio, communication, and referrals.
Q: How do interior designers charge for their services? A: The most common fee structures are hourly rates, flat project fees, a percentage of the total project budget, or a design fee combined with a markup on products and furnishings. Each model has trade-offs and the right choice depends on the project type, the client relationship, and the designer's stage of business.
Q: How do interior designers find clients? A: Word of mouth and personal referrals drive the overwhelming majority of interior design business — especially in the early years. A strong Instagram presence, professional project photography, relationships with real estate agents and contractors, and a well-maintained website are the other key sources. Most designers who build thriving practices describe their network as their most valuable business asset.
Q: What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator? A: An interior designer typically has formal training and handles structural and spatial elements of a space — floor plans, lighting design, and architectural details. An interior decorator focuses on the aesthetic layer — furniture, color, textiles, and accessories — without altering the structure of a space. The terms are often used interchangeably but the distinction matters in markets where interior design is a licensed profession.
Q: Is interior design a good career? A: For people who combine creative ability with strong organizational and interpersonal skills — yes, absolutely. The work is varied, deeply personal, and genuinely satisfying when done well. The income potential is strong at the senior and independent levels. The path requires patience in the early years and a willingness to develop business skills alongside design skills.
Q: What skills do you actually need to succeed in interior design? A: Beyond design talent — communication, project management, budget tracking, vendor negotiation, and the emotional intelligence to manage clients through one of the most stressful and personal processes they will ever undertake. Brian is direct about this — the designers who last are the ones who master the people side of the business, not just the creative side.
Q: How long does it take to build a successful interior design business? A: Most independent designers take three to five years to reach consistent profitability. The businesses that grow fastest are those that nail a niche, invest in professional photography early, price correctly from the start, and treat every client as a referral source for the next ten.
Q: Can you start an interior design business with no experience? A: Starting with no formal experience is possible but difficult. The most practical path is to work under an established designer first — learning vendor relationships, project management, and client communication before striking out independently. The skills that make a design business sustainable are learned on the job, not in school.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Interior design is one of those careers that looks effortless from the outside and is endlessly complex on the inside. Brian Leighton has spent over a decade navigating the gap between a client's dream and a finished room — and the lesson he comes back to again and again is that the design is the easy part. The trust, the communication, the project management, and the business discipline are what actually determine whether a designer builds a career or burns out. For people who love both creativity and complexity — there are very few careers more rewarding.