Interior decorating is an exciting industry that is currently thriving, so it is the perfect time to become an interior decorator in Flordia.
As an interior decorator, you help homeowners transform their living spaces into beautiful, functional, and comfortable areas that reflect their unique style and personality.
Interior decorators play an essential role in helping homeowners and businesses create the perfect aesthetic appeal. With your professional advice and services, you’ll be able to assist clients in selecting the right colors, furniture, decor, and accessories to enhance their living spaces.
Whether you’re in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or any other city in Florida, you can capitalize on this growing market by starting your own interior decorating business.
So, how do you become an interior decorator in Florida?
We’ll approach this question from the point of view of someone wanting to start their own interior decorating business.
The first step is to become acquainted with your local market and earn an interior decorating certification.
Following that, you can establish your company, analyze local competition, and begin marketing efforts.
Each of these steps will be discussed in greater depth below. Let’s get into it!
Note: If you want to begin your career with an interior decorating job, rather than your own business, then we provide resume tips, information on how to find an interior decorating job, and an overview of interior decorating careers in other guides)
Steps to becoming an interior decorator in Florida
Step 1: Take an interior decorator certification course
While an interior decorator certification is not mandatory, it’s like putting the icing on the cake of your design career.
Why settle for good when you can be great?
Obviously, we are a little biased in recommending our very own Interior Decorating Institute’s online certification course, but in the interest of full transparency, you can also look at similar courses at QC Design School and IAP Career College.
Certification isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s the key to gaining trust in the industry and proving your expertise in Florida’s vibrant design market.
Many certification courses can be completed online from the comfort of your own home. Our course takes most people 2 to 5 weeks of part-time study to complete.
Step 2: Understand the local market
To succeed in interior decorating in Florida, it’s essential to have a deep understanding of your local real estate market.
The cost of decorating a modest home in the rural areas of Florida differs significantly from decorating a luxury apartment in the bustling city of Miami.
We recommend taking a look at other interior decorators operating in your area – and by that, we mean within about 50 miles of where you will be based.
Visit their websites and understand who they are targeting and at what price point.
Step 3: Learn from other interior decorators in Florida
To succeed in the field of interior decorating in Florida, it’s important to conduct thorough research by researching other interior decorating businesses and current job openings in the state.
Engaging with other interior decorating businesses will provide insights into the niches they operate in, the services they offer, and their pricing strategies.
For example, a quick online search for “interior decorators in Miami” or “interior decorators in Orlando” will reveal competitor websites to analyze.
As you conduct your research, focus on finding areas where you can differentiate yourself from the competition and offer unique value to potential clients. This may involve specializing in a particular type of interior decorating, offering cutting-edge design solutions, or providing exceptional customer service.
Step 4: Formally tart your interior decorating business
There are some essentials that just about every business needs, and starting an interior decorating business in Florida is no different.
- Register your business (Learn more here)
- Set up a business phone number (You can use Google Voice)
- Set up a business email address (We use Google Workspace)
- Set up a business mailing address
- Open a business credit card and bank account
- Get liability insurance (Read this guide)
- Set up the software to track income and expenses (Xero is a popular choice)
- Trademark your company name and logo
- Design a website (We use WordPress, but recommend Squarespace)
- Connect with service providers (storage and moving companies, furniture rental companies, etc.)
Step 5: Begin marketing your new company
There are many interior decorating marketing strategies that we cover in-depth in other guides, but in a nutshell, you’ll want a good mix of:
- Online Marketing (Google Ads, Bing Ads, social media activity, etc)
- Offline Marketing (Brochures, print ads, etc)
- Networking
When starting a new business it can be tough to get organic referrals via word of mouth, and online marketing techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO) can take at least a year to get good results.
For this reason, it’s always a good idea to get both Google Ads and Bing ads up and running when you start your business.
This will provide a steady stream of inquiries from Day 1, assuming your website is polished with a nice portfolio and some customer testimonials. If you have neither of these, consider offering some free/discounted services to friends to start building your portfolio.
Other facts about becoming a home stager in Florida
How much do home stagers make in Florida?
The salary of interior decorators in Florida varies depending on several factors, including experience, location within the state, the nature of their projects, and the client base they serve.
Here’s a general salary range for interior decorators in Florida:
- Entry-Level Interior Decorators: Those starting their careers may earn an annual salary between $30,000 and $50,000.
- Mid-Career Interior Decorators: Interior decorators with a few years of experience typically earn salaries ranging from $50,000 to $80,000 per year.
- Experienced and Established Interior Decorators: Highly experienced and well-established professionals in the field can earn salaries exceeding $80,000 per year, with some reaching six-figure incomes.
Please note that these figures are approximate and can vary significantly based on factors such as the specific city or region within Florida, the types of projects decorators take on, and their reputation in the industry.
Our researchers sourced this salary data from hundreds of interior decorating-related job postings on Indeed.com over the trailing 3 months.
Do I need a license to become an Interior Decorator in Florida?
In Florida, becoming an interior decorator does not require a license.
Compared to careers such as engineering or accounting, there isn’t a governing body that necessitates licensing in the field of interior decorating.
In saying that, while you can work as an interior decorator without a license, participating in an interior decorator certification course can help fast-track your interior decorating career and reduce the time spent on taking a trial-and-error approach to your career or business..
Do you need a degree to become an Interior Decorator in Florida?
Having a degree is not compulsory for a career in interior decorating.
However, obtaining a certification in interior decorating is a good idea to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field.
Additionally, completing courses in real estate, home staging, and similar domains at the college or university level can help you establish yourself as a credible interior decorator and provide extra opportunities for career growth.
