Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt the immediate urge to rearrange the furniture, tweak the lighting, or perhaps give the walls a fresh lick of paint? If this sounds any bit like you, then you might have an innate talent and an eye for interior design. Better yet, turning this passion into a side hustle could not only be fulfilling but also financially rewarding. Let’s first dive into why interior design consulting is a great side hustle, who might be good for it and how you can get started.
Benefits Of Interior Design Consulting As A Side Hustle
So why choose interior design consulting? Well, in our bustling world where everyone wants their living or working space to be not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing, interior design consulting has become more sought after than ever. This profession allows you to unleash your creativity, play with colours, textures and layouts while also bringing joy and convenience to others through your designs.
One of the biggest perks of taking up interior design consulting as a side hustle is the flexibility that it has to offer . Unlike a typical 9-5 job, you can schedule consultation and projects around your main career and personal life. Whether it happens to be a weekend gig or something that you get around to doing in the evenings, it can be moulded to fit your existing lifestyle, so you don’t have to change your own life too much in order to fit it in!
Interior design consulting can be really truly lucrative. Depending on your skill level, the complexity of the project, and your geographic location, you can charge a handsome looking fee for your consulting services. As you build your portfolio and reputation, your earning potential increases significantly. You can have all of the control and reap all of the rewards of our own business.
This side hustle also opens various networking opportunities, every project is a chance to meet new people, be it suppliers, contractors, or clients who could lead you to your next project or introduce you to bigger networks and really grow your business and yourself as a person.
Who Could Benefit From Interior Design Consulting As A Side Hustle?
Not everyone will benefit from this particular side hustle, but there is a huge handful of people who can truly thrive. Those who prefer an online side hustle this isn’t for you. People who have a creative flare like a knack for design, colour schemes, and spatial arrangements, this could be your area to really shine and find huge enjoyment in. Interior design is all to do with creativity and vision, so those who enjoy dreaming up and executing beautiful spaces will find this role fulfilling.
If you’re a detail-oriented planner, you’ll be happy to know that successful interior designers are meticulous planners. With the need to keep track of multiple different elements like budget, timelinessm client preferences, and even more! If you’re someone who thrives on managing details and ensuring everything runs smoothly, interior design consulting could be right up your alley. Problem solvers can also thrive in these situations, every space and client will bring its own set of challenges. Whether it happens to be working within a tight budget or making a small room appear larger, your ability to solve problems creatively is the key to a lot of interior design consultation.
Last but not least people persons will find themselves thriving in these situations, as much as interior design might be about spaces, it’s also about people. Understanding client desires, negotiating with contractors, and managing expectations are all a part of the job. If you’re good at communicating and enjoy working with others it can be a great fit.
Getting Started Up
Education and training is first and foremost when it comes down to most things, however whilst a formal degree in interior design isn’t mandatory, having one can certainly give you a competitive edge. Alternatively, there are numerous different online courses and certifications available that can provide you with necessary knowledge and credentials to get started. One of the most important things about starting up any kind of business is building up a portfolio. Start up by working on your own home or offering up your services to friends and family. Begin to take high quality pictures of your work to begin building a portfolio. As you gain more clients, your portfolio will grow, serving as the perfect visual pitch to potential new clients.
Part of starting up any good business will always be needing a social media or online presence. Today, everything is online, everything is digital, meaning that having an online presence is essential. It’s important to create a professional and clean cut looking website that showcases the best of your portfolio, services and contact information.
Try and utilise social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to display your work and attract potential clients. Being online and really utilising these tools will just help your business to be further widespread and attract more people than what you would without this kind of online presence. Moreover, try attending experiences like design expos, join online forums, and connect with local designers and architects. Networking is truly key to most industries, including the interior design industry as it often works on referrals.
Challenges To Anticipate
Side hustles are great, but just like anything it comes with its challenges too, not everything can always be a walk in the park after all. It’s all a bit of a balancing act, juggling a full-time job and a side hustle can be challenging, as well as balancing family matters, social interactions and just having time to yourself! It’s important that you manage your time efficiently and set realistic goals and boundaries for both yourself and your clients.
Another tricky thing to get your head around, especially if you’ve rarely dealt with clients, is managing clients expectations. Clear communication and good people skills from the outset about what is feasible within their timeline and budget is crucial.
The interior design market can be competitive. Standing out really requires not just skill, but also marketing savvy and a unique style or niche! Interior design consultation is a massively rewarding side hustle, especially for those who love design and enjoy truly transforming spaces. It offers up the freedom to express your personal creativity, the flexibility to work on your own terms and the joy of seeing your creations come to life and be loved!