13 Passive Income Ideas For Interior Designers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a interior designer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a interior designer today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a interior designer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As an interior designer, you could supplement your income by creating and selling online courses related to your expertise. You might design a course on color theory, space planning, or how to choose the perfect furniture for different styles. Sharing your knowledge in these areas could be valuable to aspiring designers and design enthusiasts who want to learn from a professional.
Launching an online course allows you to make money from your skills and experience without the need for more client appointments. Once the course is created and uploaded to an online learning platform, it could continue to generate income over time with little additional effort on your part. As the e-learning market grows, your opportunity to reach a global audience and earn passive income expands as well.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
2. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a fantastic way for you, as an interior designer, to share your wealth of knowledge with a wider audience while earning extra income. By focusing on a special area within interior design, such as sustainable materials, small space transformations, or budget-friendly decorating, you could attract a dedicated readership.
Your expertise could allow you to create engaging content like how-to guides, product lists, and video interviews. Not only would this content draw traffic to your site, but it also opens up opportunities to monetize through affiliate links, brand collaborations, and sponsored posts.
Ultimately, consistent, high-quality content and active engagement with your followers could steadily grow your blog, turning your passion and knowledge into a reliable stream of passive income. Balancing your existing career with a niche blog could amplify both your professional reach and your financial stability.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
3. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
If you love creating video content, starting a YouTube channel could become an exciting new venture for you as an interior designer. You could share your expertise through tutorials on decorating skills, offer advice on choosing color schemes, or showcase your before-and-after project transformations. You might also create inspirational content that shows different design styles or trends.
By consistently uploading high-quality videos, you could attract a substantial audience, which opens the door to earning money through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. Engaging with your viewers and leveraging social media marketing can further grow your channel’s reach. While it does require some effort and time, the potential for financial rewards and personal fulfillment is significant.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
4. Make passive income with a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business could be a great way for you as an interior designer to supplement your income. You could curate a monthly box that includes unique and chic home decor items, exclusive design tips, or small DIY projects. This would let you share your design expertise and favorite finds with subscribers in a fun and engaging way.
The demand for subscription boxes is growing, as they offer customers value and exclusive products. By carefully selecting high-quality items and perfecting your box design, you'd not only add value to your customers' lives but could also build a profitable business. Developing good relationships with fulfillment companies would ensure smooth operations, and effective marketing would help grow your subscriber base.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
5. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
Starting a niche website could be a smart move for interior designers looking to supplement their income. As an interior designer, you have specialized knowledge that could be valuable to a dedicated audience. By creating a website focused on a particular aspect of interior design—like small-space living, sustainable design, or even DIY home decor—you can offer insights, tips, and resources that resonate with your target audience.
You could create content such as blog posts, how-to guides, and video tutorials, sharing your expertise and establishing yourself as an authority in your niche. Over time, you can attract a loyal following and monetize your site through affiliate marketing, selling digital products like e-books or design templates, or placing ads. This way, you could turn your passion for design into a steady stream of passive income, all while continuing to work in the field you love.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
6. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As an interior designer, you could leverage your keen eye for aesthetics to start a stock photography business. By capturing high-quality photos of your beautifully designed spaces, unique décor items, and stylistic details, you could create a valuable portfolio that businesses and website owners might pay to use for marketing purposes. Your distinct approach to interior spaces provides a unique niche, making your stock photos stand out in the market.
With some investment in good photography gear and learning the basics of taking professional photos, you could start uploading your images to stock photography websites. An excellent online presence could help you attract more buyers and turn your creative work into a steady stream of passive income, all while you continue doing what you love.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
7. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a great way for you as an interior designer to earn passive income. You could create custom designs for products like throw pillows, wall art, and blankets that reflect your unique style and design expertise. These items could appeal to your existing clients or anyone who appreciates your aesthetic.
With the print-on-demand model, you wouldn't have to worry about inventory or shipping, as products are created and sent directly to customers by the fulfillment service. You could use online platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to reach a global audience without a significant upfront investment. This approach allows you the freedom to focus on designing while building a scalable business from home.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
8. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As an interior designer, you could supplement your income by creating a mobile app that offers unique tools or resources catered to both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Think about how you might develop an app that includes features like virtual room planners, color palette generators, or even a directory of popular material sources. These tools could save time for those planning a redesign and provide valuable insights from your expert knowledge.
Moreover, your app could include tutorial videos or step-by-step guides on various interior design projects, accessible through a subscription model. This could provide consistent passive income as users pay for premium content. By leveraging your expertise and the growing reliance on mobile solutions, your app could become an essential resource for people looking to enhance their living spaces.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
9. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($148K/month)
As an interior designer, you could supplement your income by starting a social media automation business. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while helping other businesses drive engagement and growth. By creating tools and services to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data, you could provide significant value to your clients, ranging from small businesses to influencers, and in return, they would pay you for saving them time and enhancing their social media presence.
Given your keen eye for aesthetics and trends, you could effectively tailor social media content to catch the attention of your clients' target audience. As social media engagement becomes increasingly vital, your automation services would meet a growing demand. This venture could be particularly fulfilling if you have an interest in technology and marketing, offering a seamless extension of your creativity into the digital realm.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
10. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As an interior designer, creating an AI writing tool could offer you a valuable stream of passive income by capitalizing on your industry expertise. You could develop an AI tool that generates engaging and informative blog posts, product descriptions, or portfolio content for other designers, bloggers, and businesses. This type of tool leverages your knowledge to help others in the industry maximize their online presence without spending countless hours writing.
By embedding your understanding of interior design into the AI tool, you could provide specialized content that is both accurate and appealing. This tool could streamline content creation, offering automated, error-free, and time-efficient solutions for busy professionals. By investing in this innovative venture, you could transform the way content is created within the design community while earning consistent passive income.
This not only enhances your entrepreneurial portfolio but also places you at the forefront of technological advancements in your field. With today’s high demand for quality content, your AI writing tool could become an essential resource for many, making it a promising addition to your business endeavors.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
11. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As an interior designer, you could explore starting an AI-based business solution to streamline your own operations and offer services to other designers. AI tools can automate repetitive tasks like scheduling, billing, and inventory management, which frees up your time to focus on the creative aspects of your work. By integrating AI solutions, you could also provide valuable customer insights and enhance your marketing efforts.
Imagine using AI to predict design trends or to personalize client recommendations based on data analysis. These capabilities could set you apart in a competitive market and potentially attract more clients. Moreover, entering the AI field doesn't require a tech background; many platforms are user-friendly and provide support, allowing you to leverage this technology effectively.
Launching an AI-based solution could be a strategic move to innovate within your profession and boost your income by offering something unique and cutting-edge.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
12. Make passive income with an acquisition marketplace ($18K/month)
As an interior designer, starting an acquisition marketplace could be an exciting way to supplement your income. You could create a platform where buyers and sellers of design firms, decor shops, or other related businesses connect and negotiate deals. This allows you to leverage your industry's knowledge and network while enjoying the potential passive income from transaction fees or consulting services.
Picture a tailored marketplace that not only lists businesses for sale but also offers tools and resources, from negotiation support to due diligence. Such a platform would attract both seasoned entrepreneurs and those new to the field. If you understand market trends and legal aspects, this venture could be a lucrative extension of your design expertise.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $30,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $300 (?)
How long does it take to build: 105 days (?)
BitsForDigits is an acquisition marketplace for internet startups and online businesses looking to exit, with steady growth in the number of signups and making $6,000 per month, attracting customers organically with zero marketing spend.
13. Make passive income with a corporate photographer ($23.4K/month)
As an interior designer, you could diversify your skill set by starting a corporate photography business. Your keen eye for design and aesthetics could be invaluable in capturing stunning images that align with the marketing and branding needs of businesses. This complementary skill could open up new income streams for you without straying too far from your primary expertise.
With your existing network of clients and industry contacts, you could market your corporate photography services effectively. Companies often need professional photos for website updates, marketing materials, and events—areas where your design know-how can give you a competitive edge. By creating a strong portfolio and showcasing your unique style, you could attract a steady stream of clients.
Additionally, becoming a corporate photographer allows you to explore creative storytelling through visual media. Understanding the specific needs of each business and translating that into compelling imagery could not only supplement your income but also offer a fulfilling new way to utilize your design skills.
How much you can make: $8,300 — $50,001/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of an Indian first-generation entrepreneur who built Studio 31, a profitable and award-winning wedding photography and film company capturing over 350 weddings annually, with a unique focus on customer experience and organic marketing, serving more than 90% NRI clients and generating an annual revenue of about a million dollars.
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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.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
