4 Interior Design Business Success Stories [2024]
Interior design involves decorating and furnishing interior spaces like homes and offices to make them functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing.
To start an interior design business on a budget, begin by offering consultations to advise clients on decorating their spaces, source budget-friendly furniture and materials from discount outlets, start with smaller projects like single rooms to build a portfolio and market your services on social media and by word-of-mouth referrals.
In this list, you'll find real-world interior design business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a interior design business that makes money.
1. diSalvo Interiors ($1.32M/year)
In 1996, a mother and daughter team started a boutique design firm with just $50,000 in personal funds. Despite lacking a solid business plan, their passion for antiques and design drove them to success, and they now boast over $1 million in annual revenue and a portfolio of impressive projects.
How much money it makes: $1.32M/year
How many people on the team: 5
Mother and daughter duo turn passion for antiques and design into a boutique design firm with over $1 million in annual revenue and hundreds of trophy projects, showcasing the importance of grit, determination, and passion in building a successful business.
2. Seriously Happy Homes ($480K/year)
Rebecca West, founder of Seriously Happy Homes, came up with the idea for her interior design business after going through a divorce and transforming her own home. She realized the power of interior design to create a fresh start and wanted to give others access to the tools and information they needed to transform their spaces. Through starting small, taking before and after pictures of her projects, and building relationships with vendors and contractors, she grew her business and now offers comprehensive design services that bring in an average revenue of $40k per month.
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 2
Seriously Happy Homes, an interior design firm based in Seattle, uses their efficient design process to keep momentum in their projects, with average monthly revenue of $40k, without targeting the ultra-rich, and is shifting gears to focus on their virtual Design Helplines service and business coaching for interior designers.
3. Ventana Surfboards & Supplies ($96K/year)
David Dennis, co-founder of Ventana Surfboards & Supplies, was inspired by his business partner's reclaimed and eco-friendly surfboards, leading them to launch an environmentally responsible surf company. Frustrated with the industry's pollution and unsustainable practices, they started small, marketed their unique products through compelling content and stories, and have seen success with their line of boards, apparel, and surf supplies. With tripled board values over the past three years and profitable operations from the start, they plan to continue growing their brand organically while giving back to ocean conservation organizations.
How much money it makes: $96K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 0
Ventana Surfboards & Supplies co-founder David Dennis discusses their environmentally responsible surf company that has seen their boards triple in value over the last three years, and has grown a profitable eco-apparel line, focusing on compelling content and stories to attract customers.
4. Go! Organizer ($24K/year)
Dani Prado, an interior designer and professional organizer, came up with the idea for her business Go! Organizer when she realized the impact that an organized and aesthetically pleasing environment can have on people's lives. In 2020, when the Covid pandemic hit and she couldn't work in clients' homes anymore, she pivoted to offer online services and launched her business on the Fiverr platform, expanding her reach and transforming homes and lives around the world. Since then, she has been able to generate an average monthly revenue of $2K-$3K and has even started another company, Dani Prado CEO, to help new entrepreneurs structure their businesses.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How many people on the team: 1
Dani Prado started Go! Organizer in 2015, offering personal and home organization services, but expanded to an online platform on Fiverr due to the COVID lockdown, which allowed her to serve clients worldwide and triple her average monthly revenue.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
