Sure, interior designing is a very lucrative, secure, and entertaining business, but it also has its own challenges. An interior designer strives for perfection in all aspects. It is a dynamic occupation that requires constant learning and updating on the latest trends and designs.
Also, every customer and every space is unique. Every client has their own expectations, and sometimes it can become very difficult to handle and convince some clients. I have listed down the top 5 challenges of being an Interior designer. Let’s take a look and see how many designers can relate.
1. It is a Taxing Job
Satisfying a client’s requirement is no piece of cake. It always breaks your spirit when after putting in your 100% in a project, you hear “I didn’t like it” in the end. It can become even more stressful for an interior designer because often, you cannot change or undo what you’ve done.
Pressure and stress can build up over time, which makes it harder for the designer to generate new ideas. They get a “designer’s block.” Trust me. It’s real.
Nevertheless, just remember that you are the problem solver. The client trusts you to be the solution provider. Have faith in your ability and creativity, and keep delivering your best.
2. Difficult Clients
One of the many challenges of being an interior designer is that not every client will be good. 5/10 clients are often the ones that make your life very difficult. A designer needs to set the right expectations from the beginning. It’s also important for the client to be transparent from the very start.
Do you know what kind of clients are the toughest? The ones that are always in your work giving unsolicited advice through the design process! Sure, this is somehow justifiable, but only to the degree that it doesn’t ruin the entire structure.
Tackling such clients is possible. But it doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with such annoying situations.
3. The Low Beginning
I know many people believe that interior design is a very lucrative business. It is. But it takes time to set up a high-revenue generating business as an interior designer. I remember starting at a really low salary. And honestly, the salary scale isn’t very impressive in this profession anyway, no matter how many years of experience you have.
It’s a profession for people who have an entrepreneurial mindset. It’s a profession for people who want to go solo. Even then, you’re going to be paid less initially. But once you’ve made a mark for yourself, you can achieve great heights.
You need to always keep adding to your skills. It will help you earn more money when working with new clients. Even if you want to keep job security, I recommend you keep updating yourself by learning something new every day and bank on your newly acquired skills.
You may feel like giving up in the initial stages of setting yourself up. But I can guarantee you that perseverance is the key. Keep going and keep on growing. Sky is the limit.
4. No Work-Life Balance
Sometimes, giving too much time, even for a little piece of work, is a prerequisite in this field. Coordinating with people can eat up a lot of time. Designer’s block can waste a lot of your time. Sometimes, there’s too much work in an organization by default that you cannot escape.
You’ve got to put in extra hours to produce the desired output. Sometimes, you invest so much time voluntarily to satisfy the designer in you, even when your bosses approve of your first design drafts.
The initial years for an interior designer are the most difficult. It’s a time when you can make it or break it. Working long hours to build your career is normal in this field.
You make compromises with your family time and lose out on work-life balance. But that’s the cost you got to pay.
5. Communication Skills That Close the Deals
It has legit taken me many years to learn how to communicate effectively with clients. I usually suggest all the designers who are just starting out or struggling with closing new clients have face-to-face or in-person meetings for pitching.
These are the key moments when you can put your 100% and leave a lasting impression. Many interior companies even take requirement briefs not on the phone but in face-to-face meetings. It’s a foolproof way to make a connection with potential clients.
Learning the right communication skills is very crucial. You got to be good also as a salesperson when you’re a designer. Just being good at designing is not enough. You’ve got to be charming and likeable when you engage with new customers. Communication skills shape your business outcomes.
Last Words from a Designer
I have listed above some of the major challenges that an interior designer faces in this industry. But this doesn’t mean you can not conquer these challenges.
You can always find some workarounds. Just keep enhancing your skills, keep learning and maintain the “never give up” attitude.
The disadvantages of being an interior designer mentioned in this post are broad. These can be completely subjective and based on a person’s experience. You may not face these challenges even.
The actual difficulties which every designer faces are: supply delays, limited materials, inability to source the right material, issues with timely payments from the clients, not getting the right workforce, suppliers, vendors, etc.
But these are again part and parcel of the job, and you sign up for these. Trust me, it’s going to be all worth it in the end.
I have completed my ebook where I have shared all my insights about the interior design industry and the challenges one faces in this business. The title of the book is “Ins and Outs of Interior Design Business”.
This book is for all those who are pursuing Interior design as their career, those who are considering switching to Interior design, or someone who is just passionate about interior design and wants to explore it. So, if you want to purchase this book, let me know in the comments below and leave your email id.
If you think I have missed out on any major challenge you’ve faced, or you think I should add to the list, do write it down in the comments below, and I will make sure I add it to this blog post.
Cheers,
Samiksha Gupta