45+ Profitable Business Ideas For Interior Designers (Real Examples!)

•

Updated: June 18th, 2021

45+ Profitable Business Ideas For Interior Designers (Real Examples!)

Looking to start a business based of interior designing but not quite sure what to start?

The good news is, there are so many opportunities to become an entrepreneur and build an innovative product/service in this line of work.

If you're looking to start your own business based of interior designing, there are several low-capital options you can choose from.

We put a list together below of the most profitable business ideas for interior designers you can start today!

Here they are:

1. Start a bedding company ($2.4M/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$10,000 — $14,166,667/month

View all 16 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$47,937

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Colin McIntosh from Denver, Colorado, USA started Sheets & Giggles almost 5 years ago, a bedding company.

Revenue: $200,000/ month
Founders: 1
Employees: 6
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA

Case Study

From 2015 - 2017 I ran biz dev at a Techstars-backed wearable tech startup in Denver. We raised a $3M seed round, grew to a full-time team of 25, and were in most major retailers in the US… and then it all abruptly ended in September 2017. It was pretty devastating, and I can’t really go into the reasons why it ended, but leaving retail partners at the altar without holiday inventory was particularly upsetting for me as the partner lead.

Build a business model first, not a product. So many entrepreneurs spend time and money building a solution for a problem they perceive without ever validating that it’s a viable business.

After that experience, I decided that the timing was about as good as it was going to get for me to found a company: I had a great CO network, had just been through Techstars, was on the founding team of a company that launched two crowdfunded physical products at nationwide retail, and had built a skill set in marketing and distributing physical products. That said, I didn’t have much money in my bank account (working at startups will do that to you), and I didn’t want to raise VC right off the bat, so I knew I had to do a crowdfunding campaign.

starting-a-bed-sheet-business-making-600k-in-first-8-months

—

Starting A Bed Sheet Business Making $600K In First 8 Months ➜

2. Start a lighting store ($420K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$35,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Time To Revenue

300 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Business model

Brick & Mortar

Nick Griffiths from Fowey, England, United Kingdom started Any Old Lights almost 9 years ago, a lighting store.

Revenue: $35,000/ month
Founders: 2
Employees: 3
Location: Fowey, England, United Kingdom

Case Study

I must have written millions of words in my lifetime - for magazines, newspapers and my books - and I loved every minute of it. But kids come along and maybe the city life isn’t ideal for them growing up.

That’s the beauty of starting a business - you have to cram knowledge into your aching grey matter, day in, day out. And it’s really exciting. So new and different and initially bewildering. But cracking it is a major buzz.

So in Summer 2011, my family moved to Cornwall, a delightful and quirky county that takes up the final chunk bottom-left of the map of England, where my wife, Sinead, had grown up. Now the kids have beaches and boats and crabbing. And I had…

starting-a-lighting-store-and-growing-to-35-000-per-month

—

Starting A Lighting Store and Growing To $35,000 Per Month ➜

3. Start an artificial plants business ($600K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$50,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$300

Time To Revenue

210 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Crafty Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Business model

Brick & Mortar

E-Commerce

Sharon Demmery from Walsall started Demmerys LTD about 5 years ago, a artificial plants business.

Revenue: $50,000/ month
Founders: 1
Employees: 2
Location: Walsall

Case Study

My journey to business success has taken many twists and turns. Essentially I’m a bedroom to workshop business, but there’s lots more to my story than that. After working in an ice cream factory after leaving school, I later became a Mum to two (now) grown-up boys before entering the world of floristry.

Finally, my website was launched. But guess what, nothing happened. No phone calls, no emails, no orders. I hoped the next week would be better, but it wasn’t. I was busy trying to do Instagram, Facebook postings and still nothing happened.

However, what I couldn’t get my head around was why I was making money for someone else. And so I spent almost two years looking at ways to make money for myself, but there wasn’t an easy solution. At the time, I had some money saved up, but it was nothing amazing—probably, around £30K max.

how-i-started-a-65k-month-luxurious-artificial-flower-arrangements-business

—

How I Started A $65K/Month Luxurious Artificial Flower Arrangements B... ➜

4. Start an online rug store ($384K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$32,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Manuel Mas from Crevillent, Valencian Community, Spain started Mundoalfombra.com about 22 years ago, a online rug store.

Revenue: $32,000/ month
Founders: 2
Employees: 5
Location: Crevillent, Valencian Community, Spain

Case Study

My father has a big background in manufacturing rugs because he worked from 12 years old till now on this industry in Crevillent, so he knows the product, the processes, the suppliers and the people who run this business in our town of 27,000 inhabitants.

I studied computer engineering in the early 2000s and loved the online world. I knew then that the near-future of commerce will be the World Wide Web and eCommerce will be exploding in the next few years. I remember my first orders on Amazon.com from Spain or eBay in the first years… books and other products traveling about several weeks till arriving home…

So the fusion of the Internet and the rug world was clear, then Mundoalfombra.com was created. The experts in rugs and carpets arrived in the online world. Products manufactured in the same town with direct serving, great quality, short delivery times in Spain and Portugal, good prices, exceptional customer support and good relationship with suppliers. The experience in the offline world was shipped to online with a new company. From the old grand-grandfather ́s company experience, born in 1890, to a new opening, and from natural fiber rugs to hundreds of different models and fibers.

how-we-started-selling-rugs-and-carpets-online-in-the-early-2000s

—

How We Started Selling Rugs And Carpets Online In The Early 2000s ➜

5. Start a throw pillow designing business

Examples of a successful throw pillow designing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a throw pillow designing business ➜

6. Start a faux painting business

Examples of a successful faux painting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a faux painting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a faux painting business ➜

7. Start a framing service

How Much Can You Make?

$50,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Negotiation Skills

Examples of a successful framing service:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a framing service:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a framing service ➜

Case Study

Hi, my name is Saleh Sokhandan, I am the founder of Vidavin. I am a designer of creative and artistic products that are made based on 3D art and optical illusion techniques.

Our imagination is endless, and we like to accompany others in the joy of new experiences.

i-started-a-600k-year-business-creating-3d-art-optical-illusions-from-iran

—

I Started A $600K/Year Business Creating 3D Art & Optical Illusions [... ➜

8. Start a fashionable home décor business

How Much Can You Make?

$415,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful fashionable home décor business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a fashionable home décor business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a fashionable home décor business ➜

Case Study

Hello, our names are Ali Bedrettin Boz and Cagri Ayten. We founded Hoagard in 2014. We took up designing as a new hobby and created steel samples. At first, nobody realizes what is going to happen. Results are extraordinary. We had not only got a new hobby but also, brought a brand new notion to interior design.

Hoagard was established without investment. So it was not a gold mine between the years of 2014 and 2016 the situation was relapsing during these years. By making a huge leap in 2016, it has become a brand that reaches an average annual turnover of 4.5 - 5.5 million Euros.

i-turned-my-hobby-into-a-4-5m-year-metal-wall-art-business

—

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

9. Start a pool and garden designing business

Examples of a successful pool and garden designing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a pool and garden designing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a pool and garden designing business ➜

10. Start a headboard art business

Examples of a successful headboard art business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a headboard art business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a headboard art business ➜

11. Start a patio furniture retail business

Examples of a successful patio furniture retail business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a patio furniture retail business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a patio furniture retail business ➜

12. Start a home restoration business

Examples of a successful home restoration business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a home restoration business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a home restoration business ➜

13. Start an interior landscaping business

Examples of a successful interior landscaping business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a interior landscaping business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an interior landscaping business ➜

14. Start a kitchen remodeling business

Examples of a successful kitchen remodeling business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a kitchen remodeling business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a kitchen remodeling business ➜

15. Start a window shutters and blinds business ($36M/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$3,000,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$50,000

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful window shutters and blinds business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a window shutters and blinds business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a window shutters and blinds business ➜

Case Study

Hi there! My name is Kyle Cox and I am the Founder and CEO of Blindster, one of the largest eCommerce retailers of custom window treatments in the country.

We’ve been successful in our mission as Blindster has experienced tremendous growth. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Blindster achieved record sales of $39MM in 2020, an increase of 60% over 2019.

i-built-a-36m-year-ecommerce-selling-window-blinds

—

I Built A $36M/Year eCommerce Selling Window Blinds ➜

16. Start a fireplace installation business

Time To Revenue

180 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Design Skills

Examples of a successful fireplace installation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a fireplace installation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a fireplace installation business ➜

17. Start a home theater rooms set-up business

Examples of a successful home theater rooms set-up business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a home theater rooms set-up business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Home Theater For Dummies - Amazon.Com

Learn more about starting a home theater rooms set-up business ➜

18. Start a house painting business

Examples of a successful house painting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a house painting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a house painting business ➜

19. Start an interior design consulting business ($24K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$2,000 — $15,000/month

View all 3 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$8,166

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Coaching Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Business model

Consulting

Work from home

Work From Home

Examples of a successful interior design consulting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a interior design consulting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an interior design consulting business ➜

Case Study

My name is Courtlyn Jones and I am the CEO and the founder of The Design Database, an online platform, and community designed to be a support system for Creatives (designers, artists, writers, photographers, architects, etc.) by connecting them with clients who are looking to hire now.

Since launching in late July, over 200 Creatives and 25 companies have created accounts on our platform, we have received grant funding from the HerRise Pitch Competition by HerSuiteSpot, and we’ve raised over $10,000 crowdfunding on Kickstarter. We are off to a very exciting start!

i-left-my-dream-job-to-build-an-online-community-for-creatives-and-designers

—

I Left My Dream Job To Build An Online Community For Creatives And De... ➜

20. Start a self storage business

Examples of a successful self storage business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a self storage business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a self storage business ➜

21. Start a futons business

Examples of a successful futons business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a futons business:

Learn more about starting a futons business ➜

22. Start a skylight installation business

Examples of a successful skylight installation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a skylight installation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

The Landscape Lighting Guide: A complete guide to building a low voltage LED landscape lighting business: Paul R Gosselin Sr

Learn more about starting a skylight installation business ➜

23. Start a wallpaper business

Examples of a successful wallpaper business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a wallpaper business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a wallpaper business ➜

24. Start a hot tub installation business

Examples of a successful hot tub installation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a hot tub installation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

The Hot Tub Bible - Matt Maroon

Learn more about starting a hot tub installation business ➜

25. Start a home office planning business

Examples of a successful home office planning business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a home office planning business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a home office planning business ➜

26. Start a bathtub reglazing business

Examples of a successful bathtub reglazing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a bathtub reglazing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a bathtub reglazing business ➜

27. Start a window installation business

Examples of a successful window installation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a window installation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a window installation business ➜

28. Start a house decoration business

Examples of a successful house decoration business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a house decoration business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a house decoration business ➜

29. Start a house preparation service business

Examples of a successful house preparation service business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a house preparation service business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a house preparation service business ➜

30. Start a party balloon business

Examples of a successful party balloon business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a party balloon business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a party balloon business ➜

31. Start a fabric store

Examples of a successful fabric store:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a fabric store:

Fabric Business Plan, How To Start A Fabric Business Online, How To Start A Fabric Store Business,

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a fabric store ➜

32. Start a mirror art production business

Examples of a successful mirror art production business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mirror art production business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a mirror art production business ➜

33. Start a paving consulting business

Examples of a successful paving consulting business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a paving consulting business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a paving consulting business ➜

34. Start an antique furniture refurbishing business

Examples of a successful antique furniture refurbishing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a antique furniture refurbishing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting an antique furniture refurbishing business ➜

35. Start a plant nursery shop

Time To Revenue

270 days

Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Business model

Brick & Mortar

Examples of a successful plant nursery shop:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a plant nursery shop:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a plant nursery shop ➜

36. Start a furniture cover manufacturing business

Examples of a successful furniture cover manufacturing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a furniture cover manufacturing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a furniture cover manufacturing business ➜

37. Start a junkyard business

How Much Can You Make?

$37,000,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$1,000

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Customer Service Skills

Examples of a successful junkyard business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a junkyard business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a junkyard business ➜

Case Study

Brian Scudamore is the founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK - an international junk removal franchise based in Canada.

Brian grew the business to $37M/month, initially driving around looking for piles of junk or simply knocking on doors and asking the owners if they needed anything taken away for a fee.

This company offers a franchise-based, full-service junk removal business devoted to assisting clients in recovering lost space in their residences and places of business.

They collect all types of trash, including clothing, household items like furniture and electronics, and junk from renovation projects. Additionally, they help those in need by donating any possible items to charity.

Read the full story on sidehustlenation.com ➜

—

How to Start a Junk Hauling Business: From $0 to $300 Million and Beyond ➜

38. Start a designer lamp shades business

Examples of a successful designer lamp shades business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a designer lamp shades business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a designer lamp shades business ➜

39. Start a home repair business

How Much Can You Make?

$16,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Negotiation Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful home repair business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a home repair business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a home repair business ➜

Case Study

Taerra Chiba, the owner, and operator of The Practical Diva, is a fully certified and insured home renovation contractor in New York, NY.

She is in charge of both major and minor residential remodels. She also helps homeowners who wish to tackle the process on their own. Taerra can assist with project planning but is also ready to give advice and assistance.

Taerra is an extraordinary lyric soprano and an engaging stage performer with a lovely, agile, warm voice as an opera singer. She is a gentle and experienced instructor. She has formerly taught at the university level and has a private studio in New York City.

She is a student at Southern Virginia University and studied BA in music in 2005. She is interested in various activities, from athletics and choir to theater and Student Government.

She began freelancing as an opera singer in Soprano in 2012. She later offered individual vocal lessons to music majors and nonmajors at Southern Virginia University.

Taerra has a proven track record of growing this side business comfortably. She made roughly $14,000 in her first year, $36,000 in her second year, and is presently making about $4,000 each month.

She acquired more high-quality assignments and revenue with fewer obligations after switching to HomeAdvisor. She began with roughly ten weekly tasks and works 2-4 depending on the workload.

—

NYC Opera Singer Moonlights as Home Contractor ➜

40. Start a professional organizing business ($96K/year)

How Much Can You Make?

$8,000 — $100,000/month

View all 3 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$1,500

Time To Revenue

210 days

Time Commitment Per Week

Min. 100 hours/week

Skills

Negotiation Skills

Customer Service Skills

Design Skills

Planning

Handy

Work Ethic

Time Management

Leadership

Organizational

Creativity

Interests

Travel

Work

Design

Business

Finance

Business model

Consulting

Examples of a successful professional organizing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a professional organizing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a professional organizing business ➜

Case Study

Hey there! My name is Amber Barrett and I’m the founder and CEO of Arranged by Amber. I started this business in 2018 as a Professional Organizing service, but through pivots and lots of trial and error, this business now supports other Professional Organizers by implementing business systems and automation into their businesses.

Today, Arranged by Amber averages $8,000/month helping Professional Organizers implement business strategies and systems that save them time and money.

how-i-make-8k-month-helping-organizers-automate-their-business

—

How I Make $8K/Month Helping Organizers Automate Their Business ➜

41. Become a ceramic tile manufacturer

Examples of a successful ceramic tile manufacturer:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a ceramic tile manufacturer:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a ceramic tile manufacturer ➜

42. Start a mosaic tile creation business

Time To Revenue

300 days

Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Crafty Skills

Customer Service Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Business model

Brick & Mortar

Examples of a successful mosaic tile creation business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a mosaic tile creation business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a mosaic tile creation business ➜

43. Start a home organizing business

How Much Can You Make?

$8,000/month

View all 1 case studies

Average Initial Investment

$500

Skills

Business Savvy Skills

Customer Service Skills

Self Motivation Skills

Examples of a successful home organizing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a home organizing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a home organizing business ➜

Case Study

Hello! I’m Audra George and I started Pretty Neat: An Organizational Solution in February of 2018. We are a service-based company that helps clients get their homes and spaces organized. Our team mainly organizes for residential clients but we have also helped some businesses as well. We strive for the spaces to not only look great but to function well. We have found that an organized space helps to decrease anxiety and stress, and creates a more peaceful environment. This is our ultimate goal! We help busy families with organization, move management services, decluttering, downsizing, and more.

In the beginning, I started to second guess if I made the right decision to start a business. But, I kept on consistently putting our name out there, learning, growing, and serving clients that did come our way and doing it well. From year one to year two, we grew 800% and we have had continued growth every year since. We went from just me serving clients to gradually adding team members. We are very blessed and thankful to be able to serve others through professional organizing.

how-i-make-96k-year-decluttering-people-s-homes

—

How I Make $96K/Year Decluttering People's Homes ➜

44. Start a cabinet door making and repairing business

Examples of a successful cabinet door making and repairing business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cabinet door making and repairing business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a cabinet door making and repairing business ➜

45. Start a drapery studio business

Examples of a successful drapery studio business:

Here are some great videos on how to get started with a drapery studio business:

For further info, check out these books and products:

Learn more about starting a drapery studio business ➜

Pat Walls, Founder of Starter Story

Want to find more ideas that make money?

Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.

Get our 5-minute email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

See full profile