Embarking on a new journey…
Embarking on the journey of starting your my interior design business has been an exhilarating endeavor filled with anticipation, creativity, and, yes, a healthy dose of AAHHH. It's a leap of faith into a world where passion meets profession, where honesty and authenticity are my guiding stars, and where the future is ripe with possibility and exciting projects.
To give you a little bit of background on me, I have been working freelance now for over 2 years as a secondary source of income. Where I have been blessed to work through a referral basis with the most amazing clients. Growing rapidly, I eventually have made my next steps into securing the dream I had as a little boy sitting at home watching Changing Rooms… So, let's explore what it truly means to me to take that leap, embracing honesty, emotions, and the promise of future prospects along the way.
Honesty as Your Foundation
To me, building a successful interior design business starts with honesty – honesty with yourself, your clients, and your vision. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses, your passions and aspirations, and what sets you apart in a crowded marketplace. Authenticity breeds trust, and trust is the cornerstone of my successful business relationships. By staying true to my values and principles, I have laid a solid foundation upon which to build my brand and my reputation as an interior designer in Glasgow.
Embracing Your Emotions
Interior design is a deeply personal and emotive endeavor, both for you as the designer and for your clients especially when you like to focus on how you can improve their life through space and strive for detailed perfection. To me I have decided to embrace all of the emotions that come with the creative process – the excitement of exploring new ideas, the satisfaction of bringing a vision to life, and yes, even the occasional frustration or setback along the way. I am so open with my life that I believe honesty is the best policy. I will be honest with you, for example if you are saying you want your space to feel cosy but are looking at cool tones and you can be honest with me if for example I am picking a felt but you hate wool! My ability to connect emotionally with my clients and understand their desires and dreams is what sets me apart as a designer who truly cares about the people behind the projects. I mean I even named by business Identity to always remind me that there is human behind the spaces.
Navigating Future Prospects
As I have set out on my journey, it's natural to wonder about the future prospects of my business. While the path ahead may seem certain, brimming with potential and opportunity. I will always stay curious, stay adaptable, and stay open to new possibilities as they arise. Even though I lecture in Interior Design and have worked for the last 4 years helping to develop junior designers, I never want to stop learning. Whether it's expanding my services, exploring new markets, or embracing emerging technologies like AI, the future is mine to shape and that is what I love. By staying nimble and proactive, you can position your business for long-term success and sustainability.
For me, I love working with my clients below the radar of social media and online visibility as it means we develop stronger relationships and better understanding of each individual or family, rather than trends and aesthetics that do not work for them. We always start from a very natural place… building a relationship and a foundation of trust.
Building Relationships, Not Just Spaces
At its core, interior design means more to me than just creating beautiful spaces – it's about building meaningful relationships with your clients and collaborators. Take the time to actively listen deeply, to understand needs and desires, and to forge connections that go beyond the confines of a single project. Building strong relationships to me has not only lead to repeat business and referrals but also brings a sense of fulfillment and purpose to your work. Now that many of my clients are now considered friends.
Embracing the Journey
Starting my own interior design business has been a journey filled with highs and lows, triumphs and challenges. Embracing the journey for what it is over the last two years – a learning experience, a creative adventure, and a chance to make your mark on the world. Celebrate your successes, learn from issues, and above all, keep moving forward with courage and conviction. The road ahead may seem crazy, but with honesty, emotion, and a clear eye towards future prospects, the possibilities for me are endless and I have many exciting projects to announce in the coming months.
In conclusion, starting your own interior design business is a bold and courageous step into the unknown. By embracing honesty, embracing your emotions, and embracing the promise of future prospects, you can chart a course toward success and fulfillment in the ever-evolving world of interior design. So, dare to dream, dare to create, and dare to make your mark – the world is waiting for your unique vision and voice.
My advice from doing it is - just do it.