Interior design work can run the gamut from designing high-end homes to corporate headquarters. While serving as an interior designer, you will need to focus on more than attractiveness and serviceability. Some knowledge of the basics of building and design can help you better understand structural considerations.
Find Your Niche
Your design work niche can be tied directly to your passion for people. You want your clients to be happy with their home or facility. However, you can also focus on where you want to do the most good. If you’re passionate about good health, you might want to focus on health care facilities, hospitals or long-term care homes. Knowledge of these facilities will need to include not only lighting, colors and fabrics that will be soothing but features that can be easily disinfected. When developing your niche, remember that communication is key. You will need to build a connection with your clients to determine the best products to meet their needs and budget.
Get Your Name Out There
As you build your niche, you will develop expertise in the industry you choose to focus on. While word of mouth is a great way to share your brand, you will need to advertise. An easy way to advertise both your brand and your expertise is to promote yourself as a source of information. Consider putting together a webinar or lecture on your niche and get approval from former clients to share images of your work. Your status as a trusted expert will boost your name and your brand. Consumers want to buy from companies they trust. Demonstrate your knowledge by giving some of it away.
Communication Is Key
Part of your work as an interior designer may be to serve as a coordinator between contractors. You may need to schedule the plumbers, electricians and carpenters who will work in the space. As you build rapport and connections with these professionals, you’ll develop a professional database of contractors that are ideal for certain projects. Take care to track these connections and keep these relationships strong.
Your career as an interior designer may start because you love beautiful homes and want to help others fall in love with their spaces. Over time, you can learn to also serve as an expert in the niche of your choice and to coordinate larger and more complex projects. Communication between clients and contractors is key to building a great reputation as an interior designer.
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