Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design

Katie Decker-Erickson, Business Coach for Interior Designers

As an interior designer, do you find yourself caught between your love for design and the realities of running a profitable business? Whether you're launching your firm or scaling to new heights, the business side of interior design can be complex—and often overwhelming. That’s where Katie Decker-Erickson comes in. As a business coach for interior designers and the founder of a multimillion-dollar design firm, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while staying true to your creative vision. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Katie is actively in the trenches—elevating her own firm while helping other designers master the business of design. We’ll answer questions like: How do I get more interior design clients? What should I charge for interior design services? What are the best marketing strategies for interior designers? How can I grow my interior design business? How do I build a brand as an interior designer? How can I scale my interior design business? What systems do I need to run a successful interior design business? How do I create a client onboarding process for my design firm? Is it worth hiring a coach for my interior design business? This show delivers actionable tips on how to grow an interior design business with smart, sustainable strategies. You'll get insights on marketing your interior design services, building a strong brand, streamlining your systems, and scaling your firm—without burning out. If you're an interior designer, firm owner, or creative entrepreneur ready to build a profitable, passion-filled business, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let’s grow your interior design business—together.

  1. 91. Lessons From Our Big Mistakes w/ Michelle Lynne

    4D AGO

    91. Lessons From Our Big Mistakes w/ Michelle Lynne

    Send Katie a Text Message!! As this year comes to a close, I wanted to have a very honest conversation—one rooted in experience, not perfection. In this episode, I’m reflecting (with another seasoned firm owner- Michelle Lynne) on the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons we learned the hard way, and what actually matters when you’re trying to move your business forward with clarity instead of chaos. This isn’t about beating yourself up for what didn’t work. It’s about looking back clearly—without ego or shame—so you can recalibrate your direction, trust yourself again, and make smarter decisions as you head into 2026. Here’s what we dig into in this episode: In this episode, I talk about: Why you can’t change direction in your business without honestly looking in the rearview mirrorHow growing just for the sake of growth often leads to stress, misalignment, and regretWhy busyness, headcount, and “looking successful” can hide deeper operational problemsThe real cost of ignoring your intuition—and why it always shows up eventuallyHow intuition becomes powerful when it’s supported by data, not separated from itWhy avoiding your numbers only creates bigger problems down the roadWhat I call the “toll of the soul,” and why some profitable work still isn’t worth itHow letting go sooner—clients, projects, models, or people—can lead to faster alignmentWhy leadership requires hard conversations, not avoidanceHow reflection is meant to recalibrate your business, not keep you stuck in regretThis episode is for designers who know something needs to change—but don’t want to burn everything down to make it happen. My hope is that this conversation helps you look at your business with more honesty, more confidence, and a lot more self-trust as you step into what’s next. You don’t need to have all the answers for 2026 right now. But you do need to be willing to look clearly at where you’ve been—so you can choose where you’re going on purpose. If you’re ready to move forward with clarity instead of guesswork, this episode is for you. Stay in touch with Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignbakehouse/ Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    48 min
  2. 90. Top Questions Every Designer Has About Growing Their Business  - And My Answers

    12/24/2025

    90. Top Questions Every Designer Has About Growing Their Business - And My Answers

    Send Katie a Text Message!! Today’s episode is one I’ve been wanting to record for a long time because it’s built entirely around the questions I hear every single week as a business coach. These are the questions that come up in strategy calls, Voxer messages, office hours, and hallway conversations at High Point. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, unsure about hiring, confused by your numbers, or stuck relying on referrals, you are not alone — and this episode is for you. I’m walking you through the real answers, not the emotional ones, so you can start making CEO-level decisions in your business. IN THIS EPISODE, I COVER: Why feeling overwhelmed usually isn’t a hiring problem, but a clarity and systems problemHow to know whether you actually need help — and whether that should be a contractor or a W2 employeeWhat your numbers need to tell you before you ever make a hireWhy relying only on referrals leaves your business vulnerable, especially in changing marketsWhat a sustainable, predictable marketing strategy actually looks like for designersHow to align your financial reality with your goals instead of relying on vision boards aloneWhy pricing is math and positioning, not emotionHow to know when you’re truly ready to scaleWhy niching isn’t limiting — it’s how premium businesses growHow to raise prices without guilt and stop undervaluing your expertiseWhy you can’t “do it all” at once — and how the accordion model allows your business to support your life  If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this episode, it’s this: you cannot reach your goals without understanding your numbers. Every single time. Clarity comes from data, not panic, and confidence comes from knowing what your business can actually support. If you’re ready to take the next strategic step — not the emotional one — I’d love to help. You can book a free 15-minute problem-solving session with me at fixmydesignbiz.com. Your business should work for you, not the other way around. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    21 min
  3. 89. Your 2025 Interior Design Business Audit

    12/17/2025

    89. Your 2025 Interior Design Business Audit

    Send Katie a Text Message!!  If you want 2026 to look different than 2025, this episode is where that shift begins. Today, I’m walking you step-by-step through the 2025 Business Audit Worksheet and showing you how to look at last year honestly — without judgment, without overwhelm, and without getting stuck in the past. This isn’t busy work or a reflective exercise for the sake of reflection. It’s about understanding what actually happened in your business so you can make grounded, confident decisions about where you’re going next. You can’t build your next chapter without understanding the last one, and this episode gives you the structure to do exactly that. IN THIS EPISODE: Why reviewing 2025 realistically is the most important step before planning 2026How to use the 2025 Business Audit Worksheet as a decision-making tool, not a report cardThe difference between being busy and being profitable — and how to spot the gapWhich numbers matter most when you’re scaling and why avoiding them keeps you stuckHow to evaluate your time, energy, and stress alongside revenue and profitHow to identify offers, projects, and clients that delivered both profit and alignmentWhy misaligned services quietly drive burnout — even in “successful” businessesHow the 80/20 rule reveals what actually moved the needle in 2025What you need to stop doing before you can scale sustainably into 2026Why letting go of what no longer fits is leadership, not failureWHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS: So many designers want clarity for the year ahead, but clarity doesn’t come from guessing, hoping, or planning based on emotion. It comes from data, patterns, and honest reflection. This episode helps you slow down, pull your business over to the side of the road, and assess what really happened in 2025 — so you’re not building 2026 on assumptions, habits, or outdated models. Looking back isn’t about staying stuck. It’s about choosing your next move with intention.  If listening to this episode surfaced questions about your numbers, pricing, offers, or next steps, that’s exactly where real growth begins. I offer a free 15-minute problem-solving session to help you translate what you’re seeing in your audit into clear, actionable decisions for 2026. No pressure, no scripts — just clarity. You can book that conversation at fixmydesignbiz.com. Your business should support your life, not consume it. Grab your 2025 Audit Worksheet HERE Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    19 min
  4. 88. Turn Your 2026 Vision Into a Design Business That Actually Works

    12/10/2025

    88. Turn Your 2026 Vision Into a Design Business That Actually Works

    Send Katie a Text Message!! Welcome back, designers! This is Part 2 of The Design Business Growth Blueprint, and today we’re shifting from the hard-number reality of Part 1 into something just as important -  building your 2026 strategy like a true CEO. Not from vibes, not from wishful thinking, and definitely not from “I just want to make more next year,” but from real data, real capacity, and real clarity about the life you actually want to live. In this episode, I’m walking you through how I create strategic growth plans inside my own multimillion-dollar design firm, and how you can do the same. Grab your notebook and your favorite pen, we’re going deep. IN THIS EPISODE, I BREAK DOWN: • The difference between being a business owner running on feelings and being a CEO making decisions from data • The four essential data categories every designer needs to evaluate before planning 2026: revenue + profit reality, time tracking, true capacity, and demand • Why numbers don’t shame you — they reveal you — and how that clarity becomes your power • How to evaluate where your time actually goes and why time, not money, determines your scalability • Why your business should expand and contract like an accordion depending on the season of life you’re in • The three must-haves for growing into high six figures and seven figures: repeatable services, pricing that reflects demand and capacity, and a proactive team plan • The biggest traps designers fall into every year, feeling-based goals, vanity  • Why the 2026 Business Blueprint Worksheet will help you set up a confident, strategic Q1  This episode is all about stepping into your CEO era - not by hustling harder, but by grounding your decisions in numbers, capacity, clarity, and the reality of the life you’re building. As you look toward 2026, I want you to sit with one big question: What does your life need next year? When you honor that answer, everything else gets clearer. If you want support building out your strategy, head over to fixmydesignbiz.com and grab the 2026 Business Blueprint Worksheet when you register for the masterclass. It will walk you through your data, help you find your gaps and opportunities, and give you the clarity you need to set goals like a CEO, not a business owner running on fumes. I can’t wait to hear what your life is asking for in 2026. Send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn and tell me - I read every single one. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    25 min
  5. 87: Your Business Reality Check Starts Here

    12/03/2025

    87: Your Business Reality Check Starts Here

    Send Katie a Text Message!! In this kickoff episode of our two-part series, I’m taking you behind the scenes of the work most designers avoid: facing the truth about what actually happened inside your business this year. Before we can build your 2026 vision (that’s coming in Part 2!), we have to strip away the assumptions, the emotions, the “I think I made money here… maybe?” and look at the real data. I’m talking revenue, margins, client load, time spent, energy, alignment—everything. I know this work is uncomfortable. But this is the difference between running a busy, high-cortisol design business… and building a profitable, strategic, scalable one. In this episode, I dive into: • Why most designers avoid looking at their numbers—and why that avoidance keeps you stuck • The “numerical autopsy” that reveals what actually worked in your business • How assumptions lead to hustle… but truth leads to strategy • The difference between being busy and being profitable, and the real markers of each • The revenue vs. margin conversation designers desperately need to hear • How to evaluate your client load, your time, and your emotional bandwidth • The 80/20 rule for figuring out which actions created the majority of your results • How to identify your dream clients and reverse-engineer where they came from • What your marketing actually delivered this year (and what was just noise) • The one thing you already know isn’t working… and why you’re still doing it • What it takes to build capacity instead of just pushing your capability until it snaps This episode is your permission—and your push—to stop guessing about your business and start knowing. Because when you know the truth, you can actually make decisions that move you toward clarity, profitability, and a business that finally feels aligned with who you are now. Part 2 is coming next, and that’s where we’ll take everything you uncover today and turn it into a vision and action plan for 2026 that isn’t emotional, frantic, or based on old patterns—but strategic, grounded, and sustainable. If you’re ready to stop avoiding your numbers and start leading your business like a CEO, this one is for you. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    25 min
  6. 86.  What Are You Waiting For? How to Break Through Overwhelm and Actually Move Your Design Business Forward

    11/26/2025

    86. What Are You Waiting For? How to Break Through Overwhelm and Actually Move Your Design Business Forward

    Send Katie a Text Message!! In today’s episode, I’m getting real with you — lovingly calling you out and calling you up. If you’ve been stuck in planning mode, waiting for the “right time,” or drowning in overwhelm while nothing truly moves your business forward, this is your wake-up call. I’m sharing the mindset shifts, micro-actions, and systems my clients use to stop overthinking, start taking action, and create a design business that actually supports their life. IN THIS EPISODE, I TALK ABOUT: Why overwhelm isn’t a capability issue — it’s a direction issueThe real reason designers get paralyzed by analysisHow to identify the #1 bottleneck slowing every project downWhy confidence is a byproduct of action (and won’t show up first)The power of taking one 20-minute step today, not somedayWhat “micro-CEO time” looks like and why it changes everythingHow to balance running your current business while building the one you actually wantWhy hiring for what drains you is more effective than hiring for what feels “expected”How improving one strategic area can ripple across your entire business  If you feel stuck or overwhelmed, I want you to hear this: you don’t need a perfect plan, a free week, or a burst of confidence to create real change. You need one clear decision and one 20-minute action. That’s it. DM me and tell me the one thing you’re committing to after listening — I respond to every message, and I’m here to support you as you step out of analysis mode and into the version of your business you actually want to lead. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    28 min
  7. 85. From Designer to CEO: How Owning the Vision Grows Your Business

    11/19/2025

    85. From Designer to CEO: How Owning the Vision Grows Your Business

    Send Katie a Text Message!! When you’re deep in the day-to-day of your design business, it’s easy to forget why you started it in the first place. I’ve been there — chasing goals, saying yes to opportunities, and still feeling like something’s off. In this episode, I’m challenging you to step back and look at your business through the lens of a true CEO and visionary. Because you can’t scale what you haven’t defined. IN THIS EPISODE: Why most designers are stuck in their business instead of leading itHow to get clear on what you actually want — not what you think you should wantThe difference between designing for your clients and designing your lifeHow to spot the misalignment that’s keeping you stuck in the grindWhat it really means to be the visionary of your businessHow to build from intention instead of emotionWhy clarity is your most valuable business asset as you grow  Scaling doesn’t start with another system or hire — it starts with you. As the CEO, your job is to hold the vision, make decisions that align with it, and lead your business where you want it to go. If you’re ready to stop reacting to what’s right in front of you and start leading with clarity, it’s time to step fully into your role as the visionary. Let’s realign your business so it supports the life you actually want. Book a 15-minute problem-solving session, and let’s start there. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    24 min
  8. 84. Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Designer: Why Confidence Is Your Real Growth Strategy

    11/12/2025

    84. Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Designer: Why Confidence Is Your Real Growth Strategy

    Send Katie a Text Message!! If you’ve ever looked at another designer’s success and wondered, “What do they have that I don’t?” - this episode is for you. I’m digging into the real mindset work behind scaling a design business - and it’s not about better clients, a bigger team, or even a new offer. It’s about confidence. Because growth doesn’t start when your circumstances change; it starts when you decide to trust yourself again. I’m sharing how self-doubt sneaks in even when things are working, what it really means to lead with confidence, and the small mindset shifts that help you rebuild trust in your decisions, your design, and your direction. In This Episode: The subtle ways self-doubt shows up in successful design businesses (and why you might not notice it)Why confidence — not strategy — is the foundation for sustainable growthHow to rebuild self-trust when you feel uncertain about your next stepThe difference between making decisions from fear vs. from leadershipHow to recognize when it’s time to stop waiting for permission and start leading with clarity You can have all the strategy, systems, and team support in the world — but if you don’t trust yourself to make confident decisions, your business will always feel harder than it has to. Confidence is what turns chaos into clarity. It’s what helps you lead your team, price your services, and make bold moves that actually move you forward. If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of second-guessing, this episode will remind you: you already have what it takes. You just need to decide to believe it again. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    21 min
5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

As an interior designer, do you find yourself caught between your love for design and the realities of running a profitable business? Whether you're launching your firm or scaling to new heights, the business side of interior design can be complex—and often overwhelming. That’s where Katie Decker-Erickson comes in. As a business coach for interior designers and the founder of a multimillion-dollar design firm, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while staying true to your creative vision. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Katie is actively in the trenches—elevating her own firm while helping other designers master the business of design. We’ll answer questions like: How do I get more interior design clients? What should I charge for interior design services? What are the best marketing strategies for interior designers? How can I grow my interior design business? How do I build a brand as an interior designer? How can I scale my interior design business? What systems do I need to run a successful interior design business? How do I create a client onboarding process for my design firm? Is it worth hiring a coach for my interior design business? This show delivers actionable tips on how to grow an interior design business with smart, sustainable strategies. You'll get insights on marketing your interior design services, building a strong brand, streamlining your systems, and scaling your firm—without burning out. If you're an interior designer, firm owner, or creative entrepreneur ready to build a profitable, passion-filled business, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let’s grow your interior design business—together.

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