Simple Interior Concepts

Must-Have Tools Required to Run a Successful Interior Design Business Outfit

Professional interior designers, beginner designers, and students of interior design require some basic tools to work efficiently and successfully, and while the needs of the veterans in the industry may differ from what an interior student may require, there are still some basic tools that both the experts, the novices and others who fall in-between need to have in their arsenal of business implements.

So, what exactly does an interior designer use as tools of the trade, and which of them are more useful to all, than others?

A career as an interior designer goes beyond being creative, having the skills to design interiors and anything related, having a great taste, and sharp eyes for detail. In a wider view, there is the business side to it. This involves everything from managing, planning, and organising, to allocating duties, and creating work and time schedules, which is generally about managing projects.

And yet, there are other tasks like materials procurement, project management, site supervision, and market analysis. Generally speaking, this is the hard part of interior design.

So, if you run an interior design outfit, how do you implement’ all these tasks successfully and in a profitable manner, especially if you work on your own or with just a couple of assistants?

This handbook “Important Business Tools for Professional Interior Designers” tells you about interior design essentials and how to work faster and smarter for a better advantage over your competitors. In this book, you will discover some of the most vital tools and implements you may need as a professional in the industry.

From the utilisation of business templates and contract documentation to digital cameras, charts, and swatches, find out what makes some designers mode of operations superior to that of their professional counterparts.

If you presently run an interior design firm, are just starting out, or, if you are a student of interior design, equip yourself with the must-have interior design-specific tools that will help you run your business hassle-free and in an organised and professional manner. With the right collection, you will find that executing projects successfully will earn you satisfied customers.

Remember, the profitability and sustainability of your business brand are key.

Further reading:

Important Business Tools for Professional Interior Designers

Important Clauses to Add to An Interior Design Contract Agreement

How Do Interior Designers Bill their Clients for Design Services?

What Is the Difference Between Interior Design and Interior Architecture?

Niche-Specific Interior Design Career Opportunities

Interior Design Project Manager: Services. Challenges. Issues. Solutions.

Do you know that as an interior designer, you can work as an interior design project manager? If you are less inclined to the creative aspect of interior design but still wish to be a part of the industry, have you ever considered project management services?

If you feel clients do not need the services of an interior design project manager to manage their projects, then you are mistaken. Many clients, especially the corporate ones, don’t have the time to oversee their complex or not-so-complex design projects and although some may leave it totally in the hands of the interior designer that created the concept and did the design works (and hope for the best); when it comes to managing a complex project, it is best to employ the services of an independent management team.

Not all interior design projects require project management services. For instance, smaller projects like interior upgrades – kitchens, bathrooms, storage solutions, minor renovations, etc..., may not require the services of an independent project manager, but larger and more-complex building and interior construction tasks do. Such complex tasks that are majorly commercial projects include (but is not limited to) the following:

Real estate and property developers – Major stakeholders in the building industry who acquire land for residential or commercial development, plan and manage the construction process, and the selling or leasing of properties to end-buyers.

Architects and engineers – While an architect focuses more on the art and design of a building, an engineer focuses more on the technical and structural aspect of construction.

Construction industry – In the interior design category of the construction sector, interior construction, renovations, alterations, restorations and building repairs are some of the areas that require project management services.

Clients with large or complex interior design projects – These are mainly commercial design projects. Examples include designs of restaurants, bars, shopping malls, hotels, motels, etc...

Building contractors – They are general contractors mainly responsible for erecting a structure/building project within a budget and on time. Building contractors can be involved in anything from remodelling a residential building to building a new structure from scratch.

Project Management Requires a Variety of Skills

Project management is not necessarily an easy and straightforward task though. It requires a variety of skills which only a professional can offer. But the good thing is that if you are a professional interior designer, it is more than likely that you have these skills because you are already familiar with the ‘terrain’ of the profession which includes responsibilities like defining the scope of works, planning, budgeting, organizing, accounting, team management, procurements, workers safety which includes their health, and welfare requirements.

An interior design project manager must not only satisfy all client needs, he or she must also create a comfortable and conducive environment for those who will occupy the interior space after all works are completed.

So, what are the major challenges and problems faced by an interior design project manager, how can such difficulties be avoided, and if they do, how do you solve them? This interior design handbook – “Interior Design Project Manager: Challenges, Solutions, and Golden Rules” will instruct you on how to overcome the challenges of interior design project management and how to avoid failures caused by unclear plans and objectives”.

Niche-Specific Interior Design Career Opportunities

So, you want to be an interior designer. That’s wonderful. Interior design is a great profession, it is exciting and enlightening, but it is also hard work. However, it can be a lucrative venture if you approach it in a strictly business-like manner, no matter the scale of your operations.

It is so delightful and satisfying when an interior concept you develop on paper is brought to reality. It is also fulfilling when you see the expression of delight and satisfaction on your clients face. But the interior design profession goes beyond home decorating, interior upgrades, renovations, and procurement of materials on behalf of clients.

There are a great number of top-earning niches in the interior design industry; call them sub-categories if you wish. Some of these niches are best described as specialized fields and each field has its own sub-niches too.

Many aspiring interior designers fail to recognise them. They fail to realise how profitable a niche or sub-niche might be for their interior design business. And for the Jill (or Jack)-of-all-trades, avoid getting enmeshed in every aspect of the profession by doing anything from general interior décor tasks and window treatments to choosing furniture, lights, and gutting an interior for remodelling purposes. When you lack focus and accept any interior design or decoration job that comes along, it may become a sure-fire way of working under stressful conditions and losing revenue.

In this book, “Niche-Specific Interior Design Business Ideas”, you will find many career and job opportunities you can choose from. So, forget the not-so-true fact that interior design is strictly limited to the interior spaces of buildings. There are many more viable and gainful ways interior designers can increase the profitability of their businesses.

Think of the dozens of things that come to play in residential and commercial interior design and find the one you think you’ll excel most in. Focus on a couple of related areas, or better still, on a standalone niche. Remember; some of the best job opportunities in the industry remain mostly for interior designers working in specialized interior design niches.

Related:

How to Draw Up An Interior Design Contract Agreement Document

Many interior designers are guilty of not drawing up and signing a contract agreement document with their clients' before a project begins. And some of us who have been in the interior design business for many years still overlook this very important aspect of client/employer relationship. Well after a few nasty issues, I’ve wizened up to the fact that ignoring this advice is “at your own peril”.

The interior design business is just as important as any other business but some designers seem to forget this because the profession is an exciting one and are therefore prone to work on tasks with an I-enjoy-doing-this mind-set. But this is wrong because you are not only in the business to make money, you are also in it to ensure the successful execution of every job you do, big or small.

From experience, I find that most clients are great to work with, and some fabulous client-designer relationships have developed into long-lasting friendships too. However, while some clients can be overtly difficult or outright impossible to work with, some interior designers don’t deliver as promised either, and this after much sugar-coated selling to a fascinated unsuspecting client.

To avoid running into troubled waters and potential litigations, it is best to have a signed pact between both designer and client. This way, everything is well documented and clear-cut before the project begins.

The contract agreement need not be anything complex that’s full of technical mumbo-jumbo. All that’s required are a few important clauses that are interior design-related, and if you have ever been in doubt about the importance of contract agreements and what clauses are vital to include, this book “Important Clauses to Add to An Interior Design Contract Agreement - Significance of Signed Pacts Between Interior Designers and Clients” explains what is required and why.

Some of these clauses protect not only you as a designer, but also your client as well. So, in the event that there is disagreement or dispute between both parties, a formal letter of an agreement becomes the saving grace. And as long as everything is spelt out in clear terms and both parties have signed it, neither of you will be held legally responsible for any action or inaction.

Interior Design Contract Agreement Templates Online

And, you don’t have to draw up an interior design contract agreement if you don’t know how to. You don’t need to employ the services of a legal practitioner if you aim to save a lot of money either. Most of today’s interior designers now opt for downloadable ready-to-use interior design contract agreement templates. They are affordable, simple to adapt, and print-ready. There are free ones available too but I’ll advise against using the free versions as they have many limitations.

Interior Designer Contract Templates
100% Customizable Templates - Instant Download in all File Formats and Sizes
(Source: Template.net)

These ready-made contract agreement templates are also editable in all versions of Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and PDF and can be shared and signed digitally, so it doesn’t matter which part of the world either party lives in, as long as the contract can be signed and work commences.

Further reading:

How Interior Designers Charge Their Clients

How interior designers charge their clients for services rendered? This question is relevant to both interior designers and their clients’. To an interior designer, knowing how to bill a client for a potential contract that they hope to get, without over-billing or under-charging can be somewhat challenging. As a professional interior designer, I know the dilemma of trying to charge reasonably without shooting myself in the foot. I know I am not alone.

And then there are the clients. Most clients don’t know what to expect. Many people believe that interior designers come very expensive and would not even dare to think about employing the services of one. Some ask why they need a designer’s input when they can do it all by themselves; the DIY enthusiasts of course.

But what happens when you have a project that does require the input of a professional designer? Something more complex like renovations or partial upgrades; interior design works that require design layouts, blueprints, 3D drawings, etc...? How about the not-so-complex tasks like a kitchen or bathroom upgrade on a budget or upgrading a dull drab living room?

There are many ways that an interior designer can charge for services rendered and this eBook “How Interior Designers Charge for Their Services - Fee Structures and Guidelines for your Interior Design Business” will show you how. In this book, you’ll find different billing structures. There will be at least a couple of pricing structures that will work best for you and your interior design business.

So whether you are a client who wants to be sure and happy about the way you are being billed, a designer that plans to start up an interior design business or you are already a practising interior designer who wants to avoid costly mistakes that will either make you lose revenue (despite your hard work) or, at best, allow you to just break even, you will be glad you got this book that comes in both digital and paperback forms.

Books of Interest: