5 Interior Designer Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Become An Interior Designer

Interior designing involves making indoor spaces safe, functional, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting essential & decorative items such as colors, lighting, and materials.

The global luxury interior design market is growing at a CAGR of 9.0%. The growth metrics show there is great potential for entrepreneurs targeting households.

If you are starting a luxury interior design business, focus on style and specialty. Add valuables with creative professions, such as interior design, so you stand out from the rest. Ensure you hire the right people and hone the brand identity.

Here are some real life success stories of starting a interior designer:

1. diSalvo Interiors ($1.32M/year)

In 1996, a mother and daughter team started a boutique design firm with just $50,000 in personal funds. Despite lacking a solid business plan, their passion for antiques and design drove them to success, and they now boast over $1 million in annual revenue and a portfolio of impressive projects.

How much they make: $1.32M/year
Current team size: 5

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How We (Mother And Daughter) Started A $1M/Year Boutique Design Firm

Mother and daughter duo turn passion for antiques and design into a boutique design firm with over $1 million in annual revenue and hundreds of trophy projects, showcasing the importance of grit, determination, and passion in building a successful business.

About
Annemarie started diSalvo Interiors about 27 years ago
Revenue
Annemarie grew the business to $110K/month
Read by 8,243 founders

2. Hoagard.com ($4.98M/year)

In 2014, Ali Bedrettin Boz and Cagri Ayten started designing steel samples as a hobby. They realized the potential for their designs in the interior design market and established Hoagard as an e-commerce brand. Despite facing challenges and initially low sales, Hoagard experienced a significant leap in 2016, reaching an average annual turnover of 4.5 - 5.5 million Euros.

How much they make: $4.98M/year
Current team size: 43

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I Turned My Hobby Into A $4.5M/Year Metal Wall Art Business

Hoagard is a profitable metal wall decor brand with an average annual turnover of 4.5-5.5 million Euros, which started out as a new hobby and transformed into a successful e-commerce business with 85% of sales coming from the brand's own website.

About
Çağrı started Hoagard.com over 9 years ago
Revenue
Çağrı grew the business to $415K/month
Read by 6,105 founders

So... can you actually make money with a interior designer?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

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3. SALSO Design ($1.2M/year)

Saleh Sokhandan, a designer and founder of Salso Studio, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the potential of optical illusion techniques in decoration, advertising, product design, and more. He started his journey as a freelancer, gradually gaining recognition and expertise in 3D design and optical illusions. Through his unique skills and continuous hard work, Salso Studio has attracted diverse clients, including advertising agencies, big companies, private individuals, and even investors for large-scale projects, generating an impressive revenue of $400,000 per year.

How much they make: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
Current team size: 6

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From Passionate 3D Artist To Making $1.2M/Year Designing Optical Illusions

Saleh Sokhandan, founder of Salso design studio, shares how he grew his business to $400k in revenue per year by using optical illusion techniques in decoration, advertising, entertainment, and product design for clients ranging from private individuals to big commercial companies and investors.

About
Saleh started SALSO Design almost 12 years ago
Revenue
Saleh grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Saleh $2000 to start the business
Read by 2,782 founders