What I Wish I Knew When I Started My Interior Design Business

Real talk from someone who built it from scratch

Starting a design business sounds great in theory — you get to be creative, make spaces look amazing, and work with people who actually want your help.

When I kicked off Inspired Spaces in 2005, I had no real plan. No pricing structure, no systems. Just a few colour consults, a teaching background, and the feeling that it was time to give this a proper go.

It wasn’t polished, but it was a start.

From Teaching to Textiles (and Back Again)

Before interior design, I was a high school teacher. I taught Textiles and Design, Design and Technology, and Computing Studies — all the creative, hands-on subjects.

When my daughter was born with a disability, I left teaching to focus fully on therapy and specialist support. But the reality of that workload caught up with me, and I needed something outside of it. I returned to the classroom — just one day a week at first. That turned into nearly 20 more years of teaching, mainly because at the time, there was no after-school care or support for families like ours.

Eventually, I walked away from the classroom for good, went back to study full-time, and picked up work at Clarendon Homes — all while slowly building Inspired Spaces on the side. A redundancy gave me the nudge to take things full-time.

It wasn’t a quick jump — but looking back, every part of that journey shaped how I work now.

Rookie Mistakes? Plenty.

I made them all.

Oversharing in consults. Undercharging. Saying yes when I should’ve said “not a fit.” I had no systems, no boundaries, and no business training — just a head full of ideas and a habit of giving too much away for free.

If I could go back, I’d tell myself:

Charge for your time — even the first conversation.
Don’t give away your thinking — that’s your product.
Write everything down — even the small stuff.
Find someone who knows business — and listen to them.

Tech That Changed the Game

When I started studying interior design, CAD was just coming in. I learned it alongside hand drafting — and stuck with ArchiCAD ever since. These days, I use AI for the tedious stuff: splashback layouts, rough visualisations, colour palette tests.

It’s not about replacing creativity — it’s about saving hours.

If you’re avoiding it, now’s the time to get familiar. It’s not going anywhere.

What Actually Inspires Me

It’s not Pinterest. Inspiration comes from real places and real people.

Some of the things that keep my creativity sharp:

Theatre — set design, lighting, and the atmosphere of it all
European architecture — the craftsmanship and scale still blows me away
Travel with my daughter — seeing the world through her eyes gives me a new perspective
Artist workshops — watching how other creatives think and work
Conversations with other designers — especially the Designer Chicks crew

Creativity needs input. You can’t create in a vacuum.

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Residential vs Commercial (and Why I’m Shifting the Balance)

Residential interiors will always be close to my heart. I love the personal nature of it — how a better floorplan or smarter storage can make daily life feel calmer and more functional.

But lately, I’ve leaned further into commercial interiors. The scale is different, the process is different, and the impact can be huge. A well-designed office can shift company culture, help retain staff, and change the way teams work together.

For Anyone Starting Out in Interior Design

If you’re just getting started — or even thinking about launching a design business — here’s what I’ve learned the long way:

Get real experience first. Work for someone else. Learn the backend before you go out on your own.
Don’t work for free. It’s a slippery slope that’s hard to recover from.
Build systems early. Even simple checklists will save you hours.
Invest in good photography. Your work deserves to be captured properly.
Find your people. Whether it’s a mentor or a designer group, don’t do it alone.

Interior design isn’t just about colour palettes. It’s problem-solving, documentation, technical knowledge, and people management. The creative part is just one slice.

In Case You Missed It

Catch my conversation on Laidback Design Chat, where I share valuable insights into my career in interior design and the creative journey behind it. Check out below!

FAQs: Working with Inspired Spaces

Do I need a designer if I already have a builder?
Yes. Builders execute — designers plan. A resolved interior design layout saves time, money, and stress later.

Can I book you just for advice or a second opinion?
Yes. A 2-hour consult is often all you need to feel confident about your next steps.

What’s the difference between styling and interior design?
Styling is cushions and artwork. Interior design is layout, storage, joinery, lighting, and function. Different skills, different process.

Do you design for accessibility or NDIS needs?
Yes — we’ve done multiple projects that prioritise accessibility without compromising aesthetics.

How do you charge?
We offer fixed-fee packages with optional add-ons. No hourly guesswork or vague invoices.

Where do you work?
We’re based in Sydney, working across the North Shore, Northern Beaches, Hills District, and North West. For commercial projects, we cover metro Sydney and take on select regional or interstate work.

Can you work magic in small spaces?
If by “magic” you mean finding function where it felt impossible — yes. It’s one of our specialties.

We’re overwhelmed. Can you handle everything?
Absolutely. We manage the process from start to finish — design, documentation, selections, and liaising with suppliers and builders.

We’ve had a bad experience with a designer before. How are you different?
We provide clear documentation, honest advice, and a track record of calm, consistent project delivery — backed by 20+ years of experience.