Starting and growing an interior decorating business is both exciting and challenging. While creativity and design skills are crucial, one of the biggest struggles decorators face is not about design at all—it’s about finding clients. You may have the talent to transform a plain room into a stunning space, but if no one knows about your work, your business will struggle.
So, the question that many aspiring and even established interior decorators ask is:
“How do interior decorators find clients?”
The truth is, there isn’t a single magic solution. Instead, decorators succeed by combining several strategies—referrals, networking, local marketing, and online visibility. In this guide, I’ll walk you through proven ways to attract clients for your interior decorating business, whether you’re just starting or looking to scale.
1. Start With Word-of-Mouth Referrals
Word-of-mouth is the oldest and still one of the most powerful ways to get new clients. When people are impressed with your work, they naturally talk about it, which leads to more opportunities.
When you’re just starting out, your very first “clients” might be your friends, relatives, or colleagues. You don’t necessarily have to offer free services, but you might begin by giving affordable packages or even just helping them choose paint colors, rearrange furniture, or accessorize their living rooms.
Here’s how to make the most of word-of-mouth:
Make your home a showcase: If your own home is stylishly decorated, every guest who visits will see what you’re capable of. This can spark interest and conversations.
Share tips during conversations: For example, if a friend complains about a dull living room, you might suggest affordable changes like using layered lighting or introducing textures. That simple advice could lead them to hire you.
Deliver beyond expectations: When you help someone, give them such an impressive result that they can’t resist showing it off. Their visitors will ask, “Who did this?”—and that’s how the referral chain begins.
Word-of-mouth is free marketing, but it requires consistency, professionalism, and results.
2. Create Low-Cost Flyers and Business Cards
Even in the digital age, physical marketing still works. Simple flyers, posters, and business cards can introduce you to potential clients in your community.
Where to distribute them:
Local home improvement and paint stores (in exchange, you can recommend their products to clients).
Coffee shops, salons, or restaurants where your target clients are likely to hang out.
Real estate offices—agents often need decorators to help stage homes for sale.
Make sure your flyer or card is visually appealing and communicates what you do in a few words. Include your contact info, website, or social media handle. Even a small stack of business cards can open doors when you meet people by chance.
3. Build a Strong Online Presence
Today, the internet is your biggest tool for finding clients—even if you’re just starting.
Here’s how you can leverage online platforms:
Social Media Marketing:
Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook are perfect for interior decorators because they’re visual platforms. Share before-and-after transformations, mood boards, design tips, and client testimonials. Use hashtags like #InteriorDesign, #HomeDecor, or location-based tags like #LagosInteriors or #NYCInteriorDesigner to attract local clients.Create a Website or Blog:
A website is your digital showroom. Include your portfolio, services, testimonials, and contact form. Adding a blog with decorating tips helps attract people searching online (SEO). For example, writing posts like “How to Choose the Perfect Sofa for a Small Living Room” can bring organic traffic to your site.Google Business Profile:
Registering your business on Google My Business helps local clients find you. When someone searches “interior decorator near me,” your name can show up.Online Advertising:
If you have a small budget, run targeted ads on Facebook or Instagram. Even $5–$10 a day can introduce you to hundreds of local homeowners.
4. Collaborate With Related Businesses
Interior decorators don’t work in isolation. Your potential clients are also working with other professionals or businesses. By partnering with them, you can gain steady referrals.
Who to collaborate with:
Real estate agents (they need homes staged).
Furniture stores (they can recommend you to customers buying new furniture).
Painters, carpenters, and contractors.
Event planners (sometimes clients redecorate before big events).
For example, if you partner with a local furniture showroom, they might let you display your portfolio in their store. In return, you can recommend their products to your clients.
5. Offer Affordable Starter Packages
When you’re new, you need to build trust and credibility. Offering entry-level packages at affordable rates can help.
For example:
A one-hour design consultation for a flat fee.
A “room refresh” package where you rearrange existing furniture and add a few budget accessories.
An online consultation service for clients who just need advice.
These smaller jobs give you experience, confidence, and portfolio material while building relationships that can lead to bigger projects later.
6. Use Your Early Jobs as a Training Ground
The first projects you do—often for friends or family—are your “trial and error” stage. These experiences prepare you for larger, more demanding projects.
Why this stage matters:
You learn how to communicate with clients.
You discover challenges (delayed deliveries, mismatched colors, budget constraints) and learn how to handle them.
You refine your process, so when a big project comes along, you’re ready.
Instead of being discouraged by mistakes, treat them as lessons that strengthen your business foundation.
7. Build a Portfolio With Quality Photos
A portfolio is your greatest sales tool. It shows clients what you’re capable of. Even if you’re just starting, you can build one by:
Photographing projects you do for family and friends.
Decorating your own space and using it as part of your portfolio.
Creating mood boards or 3D renderings if you don’t have many real-life projects yet.
Tips for a great portfolio:
Invest in good photography (even a modern smartphone with natural light works).
Show before-and-after shots—they’re powerful.
Include a variety of spaces: bedrooms, living rooms, offices, etc.
Once you have enough images, put them together in both digital (website, Instagram) and print (album or brochure) formats.
8. Network, Network, Network
Many decorators underestimate the power of networking. Opportunities often come through people you meet.
Ways to network effectively:
Attend local home expos or design trade shows.
Join professional associations (such as ASID or other local design groups).
Go to community events and casually mention what you do.
Offer free workshops or mini-seminars on decorating tips at community centers.
The more people you connect with, the more potential clients you’ll attract.
9. Leverage Testimonials and Reviews
Trust is everything in interior decorating. People want to hire someone reliable who can deliver results. Collect testimonials from past clients and showcase them on your website, flyers, and social media.
Also, encourage clients to leave reviews on Google or Facebook. Positive online reviews make a big difference when potential clients are researching decorators.
10. Keep Learning and Stay Visible
The interior design industry is always evolving. To stay competitive and attract clients, you need to:
Stay updated on design trends.
Learn new skills (e.g., digital rendering, sustainable design).
Share your expertise online to position yourself as an authority.
For example, you can create a free e-book like “10 Budget-Friendly Decorating Ideas” and offer it on your website. This builds your credibility and keeps people engaged with your brand.
11. Don’t Underestimate Patience and Persistence
Finding clients takes time. You may not get a flood of inquiries right away, but every small job and every connection you make is planting a seed for future growth.
The decorators who succeed are those who:
Stay consistent with marketing.
Keep showing up online.
Deliver excellent work no matter the project size.
Over time, your reputation grows—and so does your client base.
Final Thoughts
Finding clients as an interior decorator is a journey. There isn’t a single “magic bullet,” but rather a combination of strategies:
Start with word-of-mouth referrals.
Create low-cost flyers and business cards.
Build an online presence with social media and a website.
Collaborate with related businesses.
Offer affordable packages to attract first-time clients.
Use early jobs as practice and portfolio material.
Network and collect testimonials.
Keep learning, adapting, and staying visible.
Most importantly, treat every project—no matter how small—as an opportunity to showcase your skills. Delivering outstanding results will naturally lead to referrals and repeat business.
If you’re passionate about interior decorating and consistent in your efforts, clients will come. And once they do, your business has the potential to flourish beyond what you imagined.
Quite an eye opener for anyone who wishes to engage in the business of interior decorating. Cheers
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