Scaling Your Interior Design Practice  

Before you scale your interior design practice, create the vision of what you most want and get crystal clear on your WHY’s. Not simply one big why— all of them. Because let’s be honest, as consummate creatives, we don’t have only one. We’re driven by a whole handful, and they shift over time.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

00:55 – “Your “whys” evolve—get clear on all of them.”
03:10 – “Letting go of a team doesn’t mean giving up success.”
05:45 – “High overhead can quietly drain your income.”
10:50 – “My retail store experience (and what I learned).”
14:30 – “Bigger team ≠ bigger income. Less can be more.”

Whether it’s money, team, the dream of retail—or all of the above—do you really want more? Or are you after something else entirely? Something simpler. Something better aligned. Something that actually feels good.

This isn’t about scaling back for the sake of it. It’s about aligning your business with what matters most. I want you to know that you can get where you want to go with less—less effort, less stress, and more intentional ease.

It Starts With Your Why

This reflection was inspired by several conversations I’ve had with design firm principals across the country. But one, in particular, stuck with me. I was at a lovely soirée in Scottsdale—beautiful design, great cocktails—and I met a designer who told me she’d recently let go of her team of four. Just like that. She downsized, kept one team member, and now:

✔️ She’s happier

✔️ Her business runs more smoothly

✔️ She’s earning more

✔️ And she’s enjoying the work again.

It was a bold move. And yes, it might sound a little crazy at first—and it’s exactly why I wanted to open this conversation with you.

Let’s Talk Money—and Team

I hear from designers all the time who want to bring home $100K, $150K, $250K. Some aim for half a million. A few are targeting a personal seven-figure income. And I love those goals. I do. And here’s where it gets interesting…

I’ve coached principals with $5M in annual revenue—and they’re not taking home $250K because of their overhead, and their margins (or lack thereof). Meanwhile, others with under $1M-2M in revenue and boutique teams are actually keeping more.

Because it’s not about what you make. It’s about what you keep.

Successful scaling is when your revenues climb while keeping expenses in check. If your new team member is only working on projects that pay for their salary, that’s not a win. 

Here’s a myth I want to shatter: 

You do not need a big team to make a great living.

I know the appeal. A creative squad to brainstorm with. Delegation. Momentum. But a big team is a big investment—and a heavy management load.

I’ve spoken with designers running teams of 6 – 12 people—and barely bringing home $150K. Why? Because overhead is sky high. Between payroll, office rent, tech, and tools, some of these businesses are running $50K–$60K in expenses every single month. That’s over half a million a year just to break even.

When your overhead is that high, you say yes to projects out of financial pressure—not passion. You lose your ability to be selective. You can’t breathe.

That Scottsdale designer? She got honest with herself. She realized she didn’t love her business anymore—and she had the courage to redesign it. She wanted more time with her family, more joy in her day, less stress. And she made it happen.

Your Why Is Yours

Your “why” might be different. Maybe it’s about:

✔️ Financial freedom
✔️ Supporting your kids through college
✔️ Caring for aging parents
✔️ Traveling the world
✔️ Building a legacy

Whatever it is, let’s make sure the business you’re building is actually designed to support that.

Because the truth is, you don’t need a huge in-house team. Maybe what you need is a smart, strategic mix—some local support, some remote contractors. A lean, flexible system that expands and contracts with your workload.

You have the freedom to design your business your way.

In my own firm, I crossed seven figures with just one full-time assistant (who really should’ve been called an operations manager!) and an intern. My network—my trades, workrooms, reps, and vendors—was my team. And that was before the days of virtual assistants and remote platforms.

It’s never been easier to scale your support without inflating your overhead.

Office Space Isn’t the Goal

Another myth? That you need a giant studio to look legit. You don’t. I’ve seen designers thrive working from co-working spaces, home offices, even above the garage. What matters isn’t the space—it’s how you show up.

Let’s Talk About Retail

Now, retail. This one gets romanticized a lot. Designers often dream of having a shop full of beautifully curated finds. And I get it—I really do. I love to buy too..

But retail can be a beast.

You’ve got to love:

✔️ Styling
✔️ Sales
✔️ Inventory
✔️ Logistics
✔️ Managing staff
✔️ Nights and weekends

And most importantly—you’ve got to love waiting for the customer to come to you. That was the part I forgot.

I opened a retail store in what I thought was a promising spot in Roswell, Georgia. I believed in it. I had vision. But the foot traffic wasn’t there, and the overhead was crushing. I lasted three years before handing off the lease.

It wasn’t a failure—I met some incredible clients. But I could’ve gotten the same results with targeted marketing, without the massive investment.

So if retail is part of your dream, try:

✔️ A pop-up shop
✔️ An online boutique
✔️ Building a list and testing your sales before committing to a lease

Test before you leap.

Key Takeaways

Think deeply about what you want—and ask yourself why.

Do you want to take home $150K, $250K? Half a million? More?

✔️ Is it to fund a lifestyle you love?
✔️ To travel, retire early, build wealth?
✔️ To care for your family, support your parents, educate your kids?

And is the business you’re building actually aligned with that?

The same goes for your team. Do you really want more team? Or do you want more results, more time, more ease?

Because often, bigger isn’t better. It’s just heavier. More people to manage, more to train, more moving parts. More complexity, less freedom.

Sometimes less truly is more.

✔️ Fewer people
✔️ Fewer expenses
✔️ Fewer distractions
✔️ More income
✔️ More joy
✔️ More control

This is your invitation to pause, get honest, and recalibrate. What do you really want? And does your business reflect that?

Build a business that brings you closer to your goals—not one that gets in the way.

You’ve got this—because I’ve got you, always.
If you’re serious about growth and ready to take action, coaching will accelerate your success. It starts with a confidential Design Business Assessment—a complimentary session where we’ll take a close look at your design practice, where you are, and where you want to be. We’ll put together a plan to close the gap.

Schedule your Design Business Assessment here.