How to Make 6 Figures As A Interior Designer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a interior designer? Good for you! Being a interior designer is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a interior designer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
Supplementing your income as an interior designer by starting a freelance writing business could help you reach a six-figure salary. By leveraging your expertise in design, you could write articles, blog posts, and guides for online publications, design magazines, or your own blog. This not only provides additional revenue streams but also elevates your personal brand within the industry.
Working as a freelance writer gives you the flexibility to craft your own schedule, allowing you to balance client projects with writing assignments. Your strong writing skills, ability to meet deadlines, and up-to-date knowledge of design trends could make you a sought-after contributor in the design niche. Plus, your writing could attract new clients to your interior design business, further boosting your income potential.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
2. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could significantly bolster your income as an interior designer, enabling you to reach that coveted six-figure mark. By leveraging your industry expertise, you could offer personalized guidance and strategic support to clients navigating their professional paths within design or other fields. Designing custom sessions that focus on resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement, you could position yourself as an invaluable asset for those aspiring to excel in their careers.
With the flexibility for both in-person and virtual meetings, this side business offers the chance to work around your primary design projects. Launching your coaching practice could not only monetize your natural motivational skills and human resources expertise, but also allow you to set your own schedule. This entrepreneurial endeavor empowers you to create impactful professional relationships, generating a supplementary income stream while broadening your influence in the professional realm.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
3. Digital products ($261K/month)
Starting a digital products business could be a highly lucrative venture for an interior designer aiming to make six figures. You could create and sell downloadable guides, eBooks, or online courses that teach design principles, styling tips, or how to use design software. Offering these products allows you to reach a global audience without the limitations of physical inventory.
Moreover, developing an app or creating a subscription-based membership site where clients can get personalized design advice or access to exclusive resources could further enhance your income stream. Digital products are easy to create, share, and offer an efficient way to build your business without significant overhead costs. The possibilities are endless, making it a promising avenue to supplement your income and scale your expertise.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
4. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Supplementing your income as an interior designer with affiliate marketing could be a lucrative avenue to explore. By promoting home décor products, furniture, or design software from companies you trust, you could earn commissions on sales generated through your referrals. This approach allows you to leverage your expertise in design to offer credible recommendations to your audience, thereby enhancing your reputation while earning extra income.
This venture demands minimal upfront investment since you don't need to create or stock any products yourself. You simply need to sign up for relevant affiliate programs, receive unique tracking links, and use your marketing skills to drive traffic to the companies' products. With consistent effort, affiliate marketing could potentially become a significant income stream, aiding in your goal to make six figures as an interior designer.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
5. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Social Media Influencer: A Lucrative Avenue for Interior Designers
You could leverage your expertise as an interior designer by becoming a social media influencer. By creating compelling content on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok, you could attract a wide audience and showcase your unique design skills. Your content might include design tutorials, room makeovers, DIY projects, or even home tours, appealing to a mass audience interested in home decor and interior design.
As your follower base grows, brands and companies related to interior design could seek you out for partnerships and collaborations. This could provide extra income through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and even exclusive brand deals. With a strategic approach and consistent effort, you could supplement your income significantly and potentially scale your earnings to a six-figure salary by capitalizing on your influence and expertise in the industry.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
6. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
Starting an online course could significantly boost your income as an interior designer by allowing you to share your specialized knowledge with a broader audience. By developing engaging video lessons and supplementary materials focused on your expertise, you could fill educational gaps and attract students seeking to learn design skills.
With the flexibility to offer self-paced or cohort-based courses, you could build a loyal student base that generates passive income. This approach provides an entrepreneurial opportunity to monetize your instructional talents with relatively low startup costs, turning your passion for interior design into a six-figure business.
How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
7. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a game-changer if you're aiming to make six figures as an interior designer. By selling curated decor items, furniture, and other home essentials online, you could tap into a vast market that extends beyond your local clients. This side business would let you capitalize on your design expertise and eye for aesthetics to offer unique, hand-picked products that align with your brand.
With lower overhead costs and the flexibility to operate your store from anywhere, an ecommerce business allows you to reach a wider audience without the limitations of a brick-and-mortar location. Given the current boom in online shopping, consumers are more inclined than ever to purchase home decor and furniture from the convenience of their devices. Establishing an online presence could not only supplement your income but also turn into a lucrative standalone business.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
8. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be an excellent way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as an interior designer. Blogging allows you to share your creative ideas, tips, and portfolio with a broader audience, positioning you as an authority in your field. Given that 77% of internet users read blogs, you have the opportunity to reach a massive audience and attract potential clients.
With a well-executed content strategy, you could build a loyal following, create a mailing list, and keep your audience engaged through regular posts. Over time, your blog could generate additional revenue streams through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and even online courses or consultations. As blogs are rated as one of the most trustworthy sources of online information, your insights and expertise could help you establish credibility and attract premium clients willing to pay for your services.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
9. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative side business for an interior designer looking to make six figures. By leveraging your design expertise, you could create compelling social media strategies for clients who appreciate your eye for aesthetics. This venture requires minimal time commitment since many social media marketing tools can help you automate your processes.
Moreover, your ability to create visually engaging content could set your agency apart in the market. All you need is a strong social media marketing strategy and a professional portfolio to attract and retain clients. This supplementary income could help you cover utility bills, finance education, or save for a vacation, allowing you to achieve your financial goals more efficiently.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
10. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a powerful way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as an interior designer. By creating engaging content showcasing your design projects, DIY tips, and expertise, you could attract a large audience interested in interior design. Once your channel reaches the required threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months, you could be eligible to join the YouTube Partner Program and start earning ad revenue.
Furthermore, a successful YouTube channel could open up additional revenue streams such as sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and selling your own design products or courses. By establishing yourself as an authority in interior design, you could leverage your online presence to secure consulting opportunities or even launch an entirely new business. With dedication and effective promotion strategies, you could build your own YouTube success story and significantly boost your income.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
11. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your income as an interior designer. By delving into topics you're passionate about, such as design trends, color theory, or client success stories, you could attract a dedicated audience of design enthusiasts and potential clients.
With basic recording equipment and an affordable hosting platform, you could share your expertise and insights, building your personal brand and expanding your reach. As your audience grows, you could monetize your podcast through sponsorships, advertisements, or even offering exclusive content and services, ultimately boosting your income and helping you achieve a six-figure salary.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
