How To Make Money As An Interior Designer (30 Profitable Ideas)

Looking for some extra cash from side hustles as an interior designer? We understand what you mean. After all, side hustles are really passion-driven projects. Sure they earn some extra cash on the side but generally speaking it is something that we already love to do, and things that we can do in our spare time without any external or job commitment pressures.

In essence, side hustles are an exercise of one’s passions, just monetized. As an interior designer, there is a good chance that if you wanted to, you would use your skills for free. But we could all use some extra cash, so why not make some money doing what you love?

You might be wondering what types of side hustles an interior design consultant can dabble in. Luckily, we have compiled a list of 14 ways that you can make extra money through your expertise. Here are just some of the ways to consider for your interior design side hustle.

How To Make Money As An Interior Designer

1. Product And Furniture Fabricator

If you feel a special connection to furniture, you can use your interior design skills to design furniture collections and build out your business portfolio as you do so. You do this by documenting your design process to give your customers insight into your thought process and approach to fabricating furniture.

Since you have the skills for the task, you can market them through websites to help promote your expertise. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great places to start. You can also market your skills on Etsy (Open an Etsy shop and list your first 40 items free), which is one of the best platforms for promoting your small business. Additionally, you can set up your own website where you can market yourself by showcasing your past projects and your design portfolio features.

2. Multimedia Design

As an interior designer, tapping into your creative potential is the key to being successful. By learning multimedia designing and performing it as a side gig, you will not only not break from your daily routine, but rather help to enhance your designing skills. Digital designers are quite high in demand in the business world, and we will go into more ways later in this post about how you can make money from this side hustle.

There are ample opportunities for multimedia design projects. The best way to attract clients to come to you is by creating a professional design portfolio. Once that is created and set up, begin contacting prospective clients and promoting your services. You can seek out clients who need multimedia design jobs or have them find you on platforms like UpWork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.

3. Online Tutoring

As an interior designer, especially if you have been in the industry for a while, you are armed with valuable, in-depth industry knowledge. Many others are hopeful of breaking into the industry. These industry newcomers and hopefuls would greatly benefit from your experience, so you can offer your skills as a teacher or an online tutor for a fee.

If you are savvy with various programs (such as Microsoft Excel, etc.) you can build an entire online course about interior design, and upload it to one of the many education platforms where you can it can be sold to interested students for a fee. You do the work once (with perhaps some refinements over time), and you allow yourself a source of passive income as people buy your course and money arrives in your account. You can use platforms like Kajabi, Udemy, Skillshare, Teachable, and Thinkific to upload your course.

4. Photography

As an interior designer, it is likely in your nature to have an eye for detail. That skill is also like a photographer, so you can make extra money as one, even if it is a capacity of an interior design consultant. If you can learn how to be a skillful photographer and have good DSLR equipment, you can begin compiling your online photographic portfolio.

If a professional camera is out of your budget when starting out, you can use your smartphone camera, as many clients are not overly concerned with what device you use to take photos, as long as the pictures are artistic and high-quality. You can then sell your best images through Fotolia by Adobe, Scoopshot, Alamy, and Shutterstock.

5. PostMates Delivery

Interior designers can also make money by delivering PostMates, much like people earn from Uber and Lyft-type side hostels. The only downside is that the earning potential isn’t high, especially if you do not live in high-traffic areas like Los Angeles or New York City. If you do live in a more metropolitan setting, you stand a chance of making a decent income with PostMates.

6. Airbnb Room Rentals

If you have a spare room in your home, you can rent it out to people through Airbnb, a great platform connecting renters and parties needing to rent. This is especially true if you urgently need cash, as it allows a great side income that pays out just 24 hours after the guests check in (intended to avoid problems or perpetrating of scams). In fact, some people rely on Airbnb for their full-time income. In either case, it is a great way to make extra money.

7. Social Media Management

One important skill to have as an interior design consultant is social media management since you need to sell your services through social media. But that doesn’t mean you can’t offer those skills as a side hustle to others. While you may think that this is a skill everyone has, not everyone is savvy or experienced on social media platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter.

You can contact local businesses to see if they are interested in your social media management services. Offer them a fair monthly fee, and you can manage their business regardless of where you are geographically located relative to them.

8. Create An Audiobook

Another way that interior designing consultants can earn extra money is to create an audiobook. In fact, it is a good idea to create several various themes that depend on your experience layers in the interior design realm. These audiobooks can either address various important topics that someone learning about interior design should understand, or ones that specifically teach relevant skills like digital design, online marketing, and accounting.

You can use platforms like ACX and KDP to create audiobook versions of the books as well and sell them on iTunes and Audible. With enough books on different topics, you could realistically begin to make five figures monthly.

9. Apparel Design

There is a high demand for funny, topical, and seasonal apparel ideas. Let your style guide your influence in creating variously designed apparel with graphics on them. You can use this to easily make money by submitting your designs to on-demand print and production platforms like Redbubble, CafePress, TeeSpring, and Zazzle. This method is one that many interior designers use as their passive income side hustle.

10. Create And Sell Art

If your artistic eye for interior design stems from your passion for creating art, don’t be shy about using that talent to make extra money. If you create art pieces on the side, you can get some additional income by upselling your skills, talents, and art creations, all while having a full-time interior designer job. You can use Shopify for this (Sign up for a free trial and enjoy 3 months of Shopify for $1/month on select plans).

11. Muralism

Perhaps your artistic sensibilities extend beyond simply putting paint on a canvas. Some artists dabble in muralism to make spare money. You do need to worry about heights, of course, but if that is not an issue, you can create a portfolio of work and find walls you can legally spray your murals on. You can even use services like Find A Muralist to get gigs and earn side money while being an interior designer.

12. Presentation Design Consulting

What if you could do something on the side that is already part of your normal job responsibility? Presentation design consulting is something interior designers regularly do, though some companies need this type of expertise outside of interior design purposes. For instance, many companies have to set up regular presentations via PowerPoint and they often need a consultant to help them design an effective presentation for their staff. You can find gigs like this one through design consulting agencies like SlidePress and Konsus.

13. Writing

If you are passionate about interior design and have some spare time, along with a knack for writing, putting your knowledge and research about various interior design projects and the field as a whole, you can write as a side hustle to compliment your interior design job. You can create general content about the interior design industry or focus on a specific niche.

A great way to find projects for interior design writing is to offer freelancing services to interior design companies or seek out freelancing work on the many platforms that offer writing work including Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, Freelancer, Upwork, and multiple others.

14. Blogging

If you have something to say without the constraints of specific topics purchased by clients such as the case through freelance writing, you can also create your own blog where you can use interior designer consultation voice to write about any topic you feel like. You can also publish sponsored blog posts, and the sponsor will pay you for your efforts.

You can write about your personal interior design passions, interesting projects you have heard about, review other interior design companies, or even stray from the topic and write about anything else that moves you. Once your blog begins to show metrics indicating consistent traffic, you can begin to monetize it wither ads and/or affiliate marketing partnerships.

The process of creating a blog is very simple. Most bloggers use WordPress to set up a brand new one. Once the blog gets big enough, you can monetize it and expand by purchasing your own domain name and web hosting services. Alternatively, you can quickly create a blog with Hostgator (a hosting solution) with just a few clicks and start writing.

15. Offer design consultation services

Offer design consultation services that involve providing expert advice and guidance to clients on various design-related matters. This could include assistance with interior design, product design, graphic design, and branding. Design consultants use their experience, knowledge, and skills to help clients make informed decisions about the design of their space, product, or brand, considering their specific requirements and preferences.

The goal is to create aesthetically pleasing and functional design solutions that align with the client’s vision and goals. Whether you’re looking to renovate your home or a business seeking to rebrand, design consultation services can help you achieve your desired outcome.

16. Sell interior design packages for residential or commercial properties

Selling interior design packages for residential or commercial properties is a business that provides clients with complete interior design solutions tailored to their specific needs. These packages can range from simple consultations and design plans to full-service interior design services, including sourcing and installing materials. The packages may focus on creating a warm and inviting home environment for residential properties.

In contrast, commercial properties may focus on creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces that reflect the brand and enhance the customer experience. Whether a small renovation project or a large commercial space, interior design packages provide clients with a convenient, cost-effective, and professional solution for their design needs. These packages can be customized to meet the client’s budget, timeline, and style preferences.

17. Create and sell your own line of furniture or home decor products

Creating and selling your line of furniture or home decor products is a business venture that involves designing and producing unique, high-quality pieces for the home. This can range from custom furniture pieces like tables, chairs, and sofas to decorative accessories like wall art, rugs, and lighting fixtures. The key to success in this business is to offer products that stand out in the market through innovative design, unique materials, or a focus on sustainable production methods.

By establishing a strong brand identity and marketing your products effectively, you can reach a wide audience of customers looking for stylish and functional pieces to enhance their homes. Whether you sell through your online store, at trade shows, or through retail partnerships, the potential for growth and success in this industry is significant.

18. Offer custom window treatments and soft furnishings

Offering custom window treatments and soft furnishings involves creating personalized solutions for clients seeking to add style and function to their windows and living spaces. This business offers a wide range of products, including curtains, drapes, blinds, shades, and cushions, that can be designed and fabricated to exact specifications, considering the client’s taste, budget, and design requirements.

With custom window treatments and soft furnishings, clients can create a unique and cohesive look in their homes while also improving privacy and controlling light levels whether a single window in a residential property or multiple windows in a commercial space, custom window treatments, and soft furnishings can add the perfect finishing touch to any interior design project.

19. Collaborate with contractors and builders on new construction projects

Collaborating with contractors and builders on new construction projects involves bringing building projects to life from start to finish. This requires close coordination between the designer and builder to realize the design intent in the finished product. Designers bring their expertise in space planning, materials selection, and aesthetic considerations, while contractors bring their technical knowledge of building codes and regulations, construction methods, and project management.

Collaborating ensures that the design and construction processes are smoothly integrated and that the final product meets both the client’s design goals and functional requirements. Whether working on residential or commercial projects, this collaborative approach is essential for delivering high-quality, functional, and visually appealing buildings.

20. Create virtual interior design services using software tools

Creating virtual interior design services using software tools involves leveraging technology to provide clients with interactive, immersive, and personalized design solutions for their homes or commercial spaces. This involves using specialized software to create 3D renderings, floor plans, and virtual walkthroughs, allowing clients to visualize and experience the design in real time. Virtual interior design services provide a convenient, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to traditional in-person design consultations.

They are especially useful for clients who are located remotely or have limited mobility. With virtual interior design services, clients can make informed decisions about the look and feel of their space without having to leave their homes. Whether you’re a professional interior designer or just starting, using software tools to offer virtual interior design services can help you reach a wider audience and grow your business.

21. Partner with real estate agents to stage homes for sale

Partnering with real estate agents to stage homes for sale is a business strategy that involves working together to showcase homes in their best light and maximize their appeal to potential buyers. Staging a home involves rearranging or adding furniture, decor, and accessories to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that highlights the home’s strengths and downplays any weaknesses.

By partnering with real estate agents, interior designers, and home stagers can gain access to a wider pool of clients and projects and help agents sell homes more quickly and for higher prices. Staging aims to create a memorable and emotional connection with potential buyers, helping them visualize themselves living in the space and making an offer. Whether working on a single room or an entire home, staging can be an effective and lucrative aspect of the interior design industry.

22. Offer renovation and remodeling services

Offering renovation and remodeling services involves helping clients update, refresh or transform their homes or commercial spaces. This can involve anything from minor cosmetic updates like painting and flooring to full-scale remodels that involve tearing down walls, adding rooms, or changing the layout. Renovation and remodeling services aim to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing space that meets the client’s needs, preferences, and budget.

To achieve this, renovation and remodeling services often involve close collaboration between the client, designer, and contractor to ensure that all aspects of the project are seamlessly integrated and delivered on time and within budget. Whether working on a single room or an entire building, renovation, and remodeling services can help clients improve their living or working spaces and increase their enjoyment of them.

23. Create and sell e-design packages for clients remotely

Creating and selling e-design packages for clients remotely involves offering interior design services online, using digital tools and communication platforms. This business model is designed for clients seeking a convenient, cost-effective, and time-efficient alternative to traditional in-person design consultations.

E-design packages typically include an initial consultation, a detailed design plan, a customized shopping list, and instructions for implementing the design; all delivered remotely through email, video conferencing, or a project management platform.

This allows clients to get a professional design solution without leaving their homes or meeting with the designer in person. With e-design packages, interior designers can reach a wider audience and offer their services to clients anywhere in the world. Whether you’re an experienced designer or just starting, offering e-design packages can be a great way to grow your business and make your services accessible to a wider range of clients.

24. Offer space planning and furniture layout services

Offering space planning and furniture layout services involves helping clients maximize the use of their living or working spaces by creating functional and aesthetically pleasing floor plans. This includes determining the best furniture, lighting, and decor arrangement to meet the client’s needs, preferences, and budget. Space planning and furniture layout services are especially useful for clients moving into a new home or office or those who want to make changes to an existing space.

Using software tools and visualization techniques, designers can help clients see how the space will look and function before any changes are made, allowing for informed decision-making and minimizing the risk of costly mistakes. Whether working on residential or commercial projects, space planning and furniture layout services can be an important aspect of the interior design industry, helping clients create functional and attractive spaces that meet their needs and reflect their style.

25. Provide lighting design services

Providing lighting design services involves creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing lighting plan for homes or commercial spaces. This includes selecting and specifying lighting fixtures, determining the placement and number of fixtures, and creating a balanced light distribution throughout the space.

Good lighting design can enhance the look and feel of a space, highlight important features, and create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Lighting design services can also be used to create functional and energy-efficient lighting systems that meet the client’s specific needs, such as task lighting, accent lighting, or ambient lighting.

By working with electrical engineers and lighting manufacturers, lighting designers can ensure that their plans are feasible and cost-effective and can help clients choose lighting products that match their design vision and budget. Whether working on residential or commercial projects, providing lighting design services can be an important aspect of the interior design industry, helping clients create beautiful and functional spaces.

26. Partner with retailers to offer in-store design services

Partnering with retailers to offer in-store design services involves forming a collaborative relationship between interior designers and retailers to provide clients with a comprehensive design solution. In this model, retailers provide the products and the physical space. At the same time, interior designers bring their expertise and creativity to help clients select and style products to meet their specific needs and preferences.

In-store design services can be especially useful for clients looking for a one-stop-shop solution where they can select and purchase products and receive design advice and inspiration in the same place. By partnering with retailers, interior designers can access a wider range of products and clients and provide a more comprehensive design experience.

Whether working on residential or commercial projects, offering in-store design services can be an important aspect of the interior design industry, helping clients create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect their style.

27. Offer color consultation services for both interiors and exteriors

Offering color consultation services for interiors and exteriors involves helping clients choose the right colors for their homes or commercial spaces. This includes selecting paint colors, accent colors, and exterior color schemes that complement the architecture, enhance the space’s look and feel, and reflect the client’s style.

Color consultation services can also help clients create a cohesive color palette that ties together different spaces and creates a harmonious look throughout their homes or businesses. Color consultants can use color samples, mock-ups, and visualization techniques to help clients see how the colors will look in the space and make informed decisions about which colors to use.

Whether working on residential or commercial projects, offering color consultation services can be an important aspect of the interior design industry, helping clients create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect their personal style and taste.

28. Create and sell your own interior design software or app

Creating and selling your interior design software or app involves developing a tool that helps people design and visualizes their homes or commercial spaces. This includes offering features such as room layout tools, product catalogs, visualization tools, and design inspiration, allowing users to create and see their design ideas in real time. By creating a user-friendly and accessible platform, interior designers and home enthusiasts can benefit from the ease and convenience of using interior design software.

By selling the software or app, designers can reach a wider audience and generate additional revenue streams while providing a valuable tool to help clients make informed design decisions. Whether developing desktop software, a mobile app, or a web-based platform, creating and selling interior design software or app can be an innovative and profitable aspect of the interior design industry, helping clients create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect their style and taste.

29. Offer furniture rental services for events or photo shoots

Offering furniture rental services for events or photo shoots involves providing a variety of furniture pieces, props, and accessories for clients to use for a specific period. This service is especially useful for events such as weddings, parties, and corporate functions, as well as for photo shoots for magazines, advertisements, and online platforms.

Interior designers and decorators can also use furniture rental services to stage homes for sale or create temporary design solutions for clients undergoing renovations or remodeling projects. Furniture rental services can help clients create beautiful and functional spaces that meet their specific needs and budget by offering a wide range of furniture options, from traditional to contemporary styles.

Whether working on events, photo shoots, or interior design projects, offering furniture rental services can be an important aspect of the interior design industry, helping clients create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect their personal style and taste.

30. Offer 3D rendering and visualization services

Offering 3D rendering and visualization services involves using specialized software to create realistic, three-dimensional images and animations of interior and exterior spaces. This service provides clients with a visual representation of their design ideas, allowing them to see how their spaces will look before construction or renovation begins.

3D rendering and visualization services can help clients make informed decisions about their design choices, including selecting furniture and decor, choosing colors, and determining the best layout for their spaces. This service can also help clients communicate their design vision to contractors, builders, and other stakeholders involved in the project.

By offering 3D rendering and visualization services, interior designers can provide a valuable tool to help clients make informed design decisions and create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect their style and taste.

The Finishing Touch

The side hustles discussed here can help interior design consultants make extra money to supplement their income through various side hustles, allowing for more financial freedom. We all have bills to pay, and the cost of living is not getting any less expensive, so it is often important to bring in some extra money to make ends meet while being able to save for the future.

Besides the suggestions in this post, you can perform side hustles that have to do with any other interests or passions you have, as long as you have the time to devote to them. Of course, it is unlikely that you will start making money immediately, so you do need to be patient. That is why it is important to take on things that you would potentially do for free so that the times when you are not initially earning don’t feel like a job.

One of the fastest ways for an interior designer to start earning extra money is through tutoring. Since you are already equipped with the skills and knowledge for the job, you can create a course to share that knowledge with others through various education platforms online.

Creating a blog is another effective monetization idea, as long your blog is professional and SEO optimized, filled with valuable content that will help others. Bloggers do need to be patient while traffic grows, once there is an inflow of visitors, you can earn through sponsored articles, affiliate marketing, and advertisements.

Are you looking for ways to turn your carpentry skills into a profitable business? Don’t miss out on our next article, where we showcase 30 profitable ideas for carpenters! From creating custom furniture to offering renovation services, there’s something for every type of carpenter. Click now to read the next article and start turning your passion for woodworking into a successful career!

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