26 Side Hustles For Interior Designers [2024]

Thinking about expanding your horizons and increasing your income as an interior designer in 2024?

In a world where creativity meets commerce, interior designers have unique skills that can easily translate into lucrative side hustles. But what are the most promising opportunities that can capitalize on your design expertise and eye for detail?

We've curated a list of innovative side hustle ideas tailored specifically for interior designers like you, eager to leverage their professional skills towards new ventures.

For each side hustle idea, we’ll delve into practical examples and actionable steps, ensuring you have a clear path towards establishing your new income streams.

Here's the full list:

1. Start an interior design consulting business ($33.6K/month)

Starting an interior design consulting business makes perfect sense for an interior designer looking to supplement their income or launch a side hustle. As a consultant, you could leverage your existing design expertise and passion to help clients create beautiful and functional spaces within their homes or commercial buildings. This side venture allows you to utilize your skills in space planning, furniture selection, and color consultation without a significant commitment of time or resources.

The beauty of an interior design consulting side hustle is its flexibility and ease of entry. You could start small, perhaps offering consultations during evenings or weekends, and gradually build your clientele. Plus, you already possess a strong portfolio of past design projects and the necessary business skills like marketing and project management to get started quickly and effectively. Staying abreast of the latest trends and nurturing a professional network will ensure your side business thrives and potentially grows into a full-time endeavor.

2. Start a home decor business ($43.4K/month)

As an interior designer, you could easily supplement your income by starting a home decor business as a side hustle. Your existing expertise and eye for design mean you already have a leg up in this field, and building a compelling portfolio—using your home or a friend's—could be your first step. This portfolio will showcase your talent to potential clients, essentially marketing your skills with visual proof of your capabilities.

Running this home decor business on the side is manageable since you can take on projects at your own pace, making it easy to start without a significant time investment. With just a few successfully transformed spaces, you could attract a steady stream of clients and steadily grow your brand. By focusing on creating an outstanding portfolio and effectively marketing your services, you’ll have numerous opportunities to earn extra income without overwhelming your primary job commitments.

3. Start a furniture business ($207K/month)

Starting a furniture business could be a natural side hustle for an interior designer, allowing you to leverage your existing skills and industry knowledge. With the growth of flexible workspaces and the real estate industry, the demand for bespoke and stylish furniture is higher than ever. Being well-versed in design principles gives you a unique advantage in creating pieces that appeal directly to your clients' tastes and spaces.

This side venture is relatively easy to start with minimal investment, especially if you begin by focusing on a specific niche, such as office furniture or luxury items. By understanding your local market and crafting a well-thought-out business plan, you could create unique, high-quality products that attract a premium price. As an interior designer, incorporating your personal touch into each piece can set your business apart and offer your clients something truly distinctive.

4. Start an instagram fan account

As an interior designer, starting an Instagram fan account could transform your passion for design into a profitable side hustle. By focusing on celebrity homes, popular design brands, or even noteworthy public figures in the interior design world, you could attract a dedicated following. Sharing daily updates, exclusive content, and breaking stories about these figures in the design realm can engage your target audience and keep them coming back for more.

This venture is relatively easy to start and doesn't require a significant time commitment, making it an excellent fit for your busy schedule. With the potential to earn through promotions and advertisements from relevant brands, your Instagram fan account could become a lucrative income supplement. It's a perfect way to leverage your existing expertise and interests without the need for extensive additional work.

5. Start a swimwear line ($19.2K/month)

As an interior designer, your keen eye for aesthetics and trends can translate seamlessly into a swimwear line. Living near a beach or a popular pool area provides a lucrative market that's always in demand, allowing you to supplement your primary income with relatively minimal effort. Leveraging your design skills, you could easily curate stylish swimwear collections that appeal to trend-conscious buyers.

Starting a swimwear line doesn't require extensive effort or resources, making it a feasible side hustle. You could begin by creating a few unique designs and partnering with local manufacturers for production. This allows you to focus more on your primary career while earning extra income from your swimwear line.

6. Start a coffee cart

As an interior designer, starting a coffee cart could be an exciting side hustle that blends creativity with business acumen. Given your eye for aesthetics, you could design an attractive and inviting coffee cart that stands out and appeals to your clientele. With low startup costs and minimal equipment requirements—a professional coffee machine and coffee cups—you could easily venture into this business without interrupting your primary career.

Operating a coffee cart requires flexibility and allows you to choose locations that align with your main job, such as near design studios, home decor shops, or during interior design expos and events. This seamless blend allows you to serve coffee during your downtime, making extra money without committing to extensive hours. By strategically positioning your cart and being available when your customers need caffeine, you could maximize profits all year round, making this a feasible and profitable side hustle.

7. Become a flipper of real estate contracts

As an interior designer, you could find flipping real estate contracts to be an ideal side hustle that leverages your existing skills and industry knowledge. You already possess a keen eye for property potential and an understanding of what buyers want, which are valuable assets when assessing properties and negotiating contracts. This venture is straightforward to start and doesn't require significant time investment, making it a practical option alongside your primary career.

With real estate contract flipping, you typically secure a property under contract and then assign that contract to another buyer for a profit. Given your schedule flexibility, you could manage these transactions during off-hours or weekends, seamlessly integrating it into your routine. The minimal upfront costs and relative ease of entry make it an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurial-minded designers looking to diversify their income streams.

8. Start an educational blog ($63K/month)

As an interior designer, starting an educational blog could be an excellent way to supplement your income while sharing your expertise with a wider audience. By focusing on niche topics you're passionate about, whether it's sustainable design or budget-friendly decor tips, you could easily attract readers who seek your professional insights. Using free platforms like WordPress or YouTube, you could create quality content without significant upfront investment, allowing you to maintain a flexible schedule.

The great thing about an educational blog is that it doesn't require a lot of work to start. You could write posts or create videos in your spare time, gradually building a library of valuable resources. Over time, with consistent content and effective promotion through social media and SEO, you could even monetize your blog with affiliate marketing and digital products, creating a steady stream of passive income.

9. Start a lifestyle blog ($16.2K/month)

As an interior designer, starting a lifestyle blog could be an excellent side hustle to showcase your design expertise along with insights on wellness, fashion, travel, and personal development. This versatile platform allows you to share your creative ideas and experience with a broad audience while easily integrating your design skills into the content. Since starting a blog is relatively low-cost and can be managed on your own schedule, it fits seamlessly into your existing routine without requiring a significant time investment.

You could engage your readers by sharing design tips, DIY projects, and home decor inspiration, which not only builds your brand but also attracts potential clients. Monetization through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and product collaborations could turn your creative outlet into a supplementary income stream. Overall, a lifestyle blog is a flexible, low-maintenance venture that offers endless possibilities for creativity and financial growth, aligning perfectly with your professional skills and entrepreneurial spirit.

10. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could be a fantastic side hustle for an interior designer looking to supplement their income. With your expertise, you could create content that showcases design tips, DIY projects, or home tours, attracting an audience interested in home improvement. Given YouTube's established monetization system and substantial popularity, you have the potential to earn extra income through ad revenue, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.

One of the biggest advantages is that it's easy to get started and doesn't require a substantial time investment. You can film and edit videos in your spare time, making it a flexible side hustle that fits around your primary job. Plus, by leveraging your existing design projects as content, you’re maximizing resources you already have, reducing the additional workload.

11. Start a party planning business ($164K/month)

If you're an interior designer looking to supplement your income, starting a party planning business could be an ideal side hustle. Leveraging your organizational skills, creativity, and client-focused approach, you could easily pivot into coordinating memorable events. This venture aligns perfectly with your existing expertise in décor, spatial planning, and budget management.

The beauty of this side hustle is that it doesn't require a heavy initial investment or a full-time commitment; you could start small by planning events on weekends or during your off-hours. Your background in design gives you an edge in creating aesthetically pleasing themes and settings, which are crucial elements in successful parties. With some diplomacy and salesmanship, along with your natural multitasking skills, you could help clients enjoy their events while boosting your income.

12. Start a video content creation business ($125K/month)

As an interior designer, you could leverage your keen eye for aesthetics to start a video content creation business. This side hustle would involve producing engaging videos, such as promotional content, social media snippets, or tutorials, for a variety of clients. Given your design background, you already possess a strong sense of visual storytelling and space composition—skills that translate seamlessly into video production.

Launching this venture on the side is quite feasible, as it requires minimal initial investment and can be done outside of your regular work hours. All you need is some basic video equipment, editing software, and a few initial projects to build a portfolio. With the high demand for video content and your unique design perspective, you could tap into a lucrative market without a significant time commitment.

13. Start a web development business ($91.1K/month)

As an interior designer, you could easily leverage your design skills to start a web development business on the side. Since you already have an eye for aesthetics and functionality, transitioning to web design is a natural fit. Using coding and design skills, you could create visually appealing and user-friendly websites for clients, enhancing their online presence.

Starting this side hustle doesn’t require significant upfront investment and can be tailored to fit your schedule, making it easy to manage alongside your primary job. Since the demand for well-designed websites is constantly growing, especially for small businesses, this venture could provide a steady stream of supplemental income without overwhelming your current responsibilities. Plus, your unique perspective as an interior designer could set you apart in the web development space.

14. Start a cloud management software ($129K/month)

As an interior designer, you could branch out into the tech industry by developing cloud management software as a side hustle. With businesses increasingly migrating to digital solutions, cloud management software is in high demand. Your eye for design could be invaluable in creating user-friendly interfaces, making it easy for companies to manage their cloud resources efficiently.

Starting this venture doesn’t require a great deal of initial work, and with the modern tools available, it's easier than ever to get started. You could begin on a small scale, perhaps collaborating with a software developer, to build a functional prototype during your off-hours. This allows you to supplement your income while taking advantage of the booming market for cloud management tools.

15. Become a corporate photographer ($23.4K/month)

As an interior designer, you could leverage your keen eye for detail and aesthetics by starting a side hustle as a corporate photographer. This venture fits naturally with your ability to create visually appealing environments, allowing you to capture corporate spaces, events, and marketing materials in a professional and compelling manner. Given your existing design portfolio, you already have a strong foundation to showcase your photographic style, making it easier to attract potential clients.

Running a corporate photography business on the side is not only feasible but also requires minimal initial effort. With strategic networking at local events and through social media, you could begin securing gigs that can be scheduled around your primary commitments. The flexibility of this side hustle means you can gradually build your client base without disrupting your main career, all while supplementing your income effectively.

16. Start a tourist visa information business ($136K/month)

As an interior designer, you could leverage your creativity and organizational skills to start a tourist visa information business on the side. Given the tremendous growth in the tourism industry and the increasing demand for visa information services, this venture presents a lucrative avenue for supplemental income. You could efficiently manage this side hustle without a huge time commitment or capital investment, making it an ideal complement to your primary career.

You could create a user-friendly website or blog that provides detailed, up-to-date information on visa requirements for various countries, thus catering to the needs of tourists and potential immigrants. This type of business is low-risk and offers high-profit potential, allowing you to utilize your design skills to craft attractive, informative content that draws visitors to your site. Additionally, your background in interior design could help you market your services to a broader, design-conscious audience who appreciate well-designed, user-centric resources.

In conclusion, a tourist visa information business could integrate smoothly into your existing schedule while allowing you to explore your entrepreneurial ambitions. The minimal initial investment and straightforward setup make it a practical and promising side hustle for interior designers looking to diversify their income streams.

17. Start a fabric store

As an interior designer, starting a fabric store could perfectly align with your current profession, leveraging your existing knowledge of textiles and design trends. This side hustle could seamlessly integrate into your routine, allowing you to curate a collection of high-quality and fashionable fabrics. Because you already have industry insights, sourcing the right materials at competitive prices would be straightforward, making this venture promising and profitable.

The startup process is relatively straightforward and doesn’t demand a massive time investment. You could begin by investing in a varied inventory of fabrics, setting up a simple retail space, and establishing an online platform to manage your orders efficiently. With a mix of creativity, business planning, and customer care, this side business could grow into a significant supplementary income, merging perfectly with your passion for design.

18. Become a video game seller

If you're an interior designer with an entrepreneurial spirit, diving into the video game selling business could be a lucrative side hustle. You could easily manage this venture alongside your main career since it primarily involves stocking and selling video games, consoles, and accessories, either online or through a physical store. Starting is straightforward, requiring a reliable supplier, a marketing strategy, and a user-friendly website or organized store, making it accessible without demanding too much time or effort.

Given the rising demand for video games across multiple platforms, this market presents a compelling opportunity. You could tap into an ever-expanding market driven by passionate gamers, ensuring a steady stream of potential customers. With careful planning and strategic partnerships, this side hustle not only supplements your income but also offers a fun and engaging way to diversify your professional portfolio.

19. Start a dumpster rental business

As an interior designer, starting a dumpster rental business could complement your field perfectly by providing an essential service that's always in steady demand. When executing large-scale home renovations or demolitions, you could offer clients a convenient solution for managing large amounts of waste, easing the process for them and adding another revenue stream for you.

This venture is relatively easy to get started with, requiring an initial investment in dumpsters and the acquisition of necessary permits, while the logistics can be managed flexibly alongside your design projects. The physical aspect of the business dovetails well with the hands-on nature of interior design, and savvy marketing can transform this straightforward service into a lucrative side hustle. Balancing your design expertise with a practical service like dumpster rental could position you as a one-stop solution for your clientele, enhancing your professional offering while supplementing your income.

20. Start a baby photography business

As an interior designer, you could seamlessly transition into a baby photography side hustle due to your innate understanding of aesthetics, composition, and lighting—all crucial elements in capturing beautiful baby portraits. Your eye for detail would naturally lend itself to creating charming and memorable images, much like how you design captivating interiors.

This side hustle is relatively easy to start and doesn't require a significant time investment, making it perfect for complementing your main career. You could offer weekend or evening sessions to accommodate your busy schedule, providing a flexible way to supplement your income while enjoying a creative outlet.

Moreover, offering various packages, from digital files to custom-framed prints, allows you to meet diverse client needs. Building an online presence, perhaps showcasing your work on social media or through a dedicated website, could attract clients and expand your reach within the local community.

21. Start a photography blog ($10.1K/month)

Starting a photography blog would make sense as an interior designer because you could showcase your design projects through stunning visuals while sharing valuable tips and insights on creating beautiful spaces. This platform allows you to connect with a community of design enthusiasts and fellow photographers, positioning yourself as an authority in both fields. It’s an excellent way to diversify your skill set and expand your professional reach without requiring a significant time investment.

Since you’re already familiar with styling and capturing interior spaces, you could easily integrate photography into your existing workflow. Running a photography blog is relatively low-maintenance and can be done during your free time, making it an ideal side hustle. By consistently sharing high-quality content and tapping into both design and photography trends, you could attract sponsorships, monetize through advertising, and offer paid services like online courses or consultations, giving you an additional revenue stream without overwhelming your schedule.

22. Start a kids store ($166K/month)

As an interior designer, venturing into the kids store business could be a seamless and profitable side hustle. With your eye for aesthetics and design, you could create a visually appealing and uniquely themed store that resonates with both kids and parents. Whether you choose to specialize in clothing, toys, or accessories, your ability to curate attractive product displays and a welcoming ambiance will set your store apart.

Starting a kids store is relatively easy and manageable as a side venture. You could begin by researching the local market to identify popular and in-demand products, and then partner with reliable suppliers. Establishing an online store will enable you to reach a broader audience, while a physical storefront could help in building a loyal local customer base. Since it does not require a tremendous amount of work to get started, you could balance this entrepreneurial pursuit alongside your interior design career effectively.

23. Start a cleaning service ($128K/month)

Starting a cleaning service as an interior designer is an excellent way to supplement your income while leveraging your design expertise. Because it requires little capital to get started, you could easily offer your cleaning services to neighbors or clients during your free time, such as weekends or evenings. Given your keen eye for detail and aesthetics, you could enhance the appeal of homes through your meticulous cleaning skills, potentially leading to more satisfied clients and word-of-mouth referrals.

The beauty of this side hustle lies in its flexibility and minimal work commitment, making it ideal for fitting around your primary interior design job. You can scale your business at your own pace as you gain experience and build a solid client base. With the average house cleaner earning around $17.32 per hour, this venture could provide a substantial boost to your income without requiring a significant upfront investment.

24. Start a fitness equipment company ($327K/month)

As an interior designer, starting a fitness equipment company could be a seamless and highly rewarding side hustle. Your expertise in space planning, aesthetic design, and functionality seamlessly translates into creating attractive and efficient fitness spaces for homes, gyms, and educational institutions. By leveraging your existing network of clients and understanding of design trends, you could uniquely position your fitness equipment business to offer customized solutions that meet both aesthetic and functional needs.

This venture is relatively easy to get started on the side and doesn't require a massive time investment initially. With many suppliers offering drop-shipping options, you could run your operation primarily online, allowing you to manage orders and marketing during off-hours. This entrepreneurial move could not only diversify your income streams but also enhance your professional portfolio by showcasing your versatility and innovation.

25. Start a CPG company ($228K/month)

As an interior designer, you could leverage your keen eye for aesthetics and deep understanding of design trends to create your own line of consumer packaged goods (CPG) that cater specifically to home decor enthusiasts. Imagine developing beautifully designed items such as stylish cleaning supplies, chic storage solutions, or even tastefully branded candles and air fresheners that align with the latest decor trends. These products could easily appeal to your existing clientele, adding unique value to their living spaces while seamlessly blending with their interior design.

Starting a CPG business as a side hustle is quite feasible and doesn't require a massive time investment, making it perfect for steady income supplementation. The steps to get started are straightforward: identify a market gap, research and develop your product, find a reliable manufacturer or distributor, and raise some initial capital. With the right effort, your design expertise could turn everyday items into must-have decor essentials, offering a lucrative extension to your design career without a lot of extra work.

26. Start an online t-shirt business ($82.9K/month)

As an interior designer, you could creatively leverage your design skills to start an online t-shirt business and supplement your income. By applying your keen eye for patterns, color schemes, and stylish aesthetics, you could craft unique, appealing designs that resonate with specific audiences. This side hustle can seamlessly integrate into your existing schedule, as the online nature of the business allows for easy management and minimal workload.

Starting an online t-shirt business is straightforward and requires little initial investment. You might start by offering customized quote t-shirts, tie-dye prints, or even screen-printed designs, taking advantage of your ability to identify and anticipate design trends. The creative possibilities in this industry are vast, allowing you to express your artistic flair outside of interior spaces while generating extra income.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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163 Million Dollar Solopreneur Business Ideas

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