If you have a passion for beautiful interiors, color coordination, furniture styling, and turning ordinary spaces into extraordinary homes, then starting a home decorating business may be your perfect path to independence and creativity.
But how do you turn that passion into profit?
This guide walks you through the entire process—from initial planning to launching, pricing, marketing, and scaling your own home decorating business.
✅ What Is a Home Decorating Business?
A home decorating business involves helping clients:
✔️ Enhance interior spaces with furniture, color schemes, and décor.
✔️ Select wall treatments, rugs, lighting, and accessories.
✔️ Create visually appealing, functional, and cozy environments.
Note: Home decorators differ from interior designers because decorators don’t typically work with structural changes, architectural plans, or require formal design credentials.
🚀 Step 1: Define Your Home Decorating Niche
| Niche | Description |
|---|---|
| Residential Decorating | Homes, apartments, condos |
| Airbnb & Short-Term Rentals | Styling for rental appeal |
| Holiday or Event Decorating | Seasonal décor, weddings, parties |
| Staging for Realtors | Preparing homes for sale |
| Eco-Friendly Decor | Sustainable, non-toxic furnishings |
| Budget Makeovers | Affordable transformations |
Tip: Focusing on a niche can help you stand out in a competitive market.
📄 Step 2: Create a Business Plan
✔️ Define your services
✔️ Outline your pricing model
✔️ Identify your target clients
✔️ Plan startup costs (supplies, website, marketing)
✔️ Set financial goals (monthly income targets)
A simple, 1-page business plan is enough to start.
📝 Step 3: Handle Legalities
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Register your business name.
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Set up as an LLC, sole proprietorship, or partnership.
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Get a business license (check local regulations).
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Open a business bank account.
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Consider liability insurance to protect yourself if something goes wrong on a client’s property.
💼 Step 4: Build Your Service Packages
Examples:
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✔️ Full Room Makeover – $500–$3,000
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✔️ Color Consultation Only – $150–$400
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✔️ Decor Shopping Assistance – Hourly ($50–$150/hour)
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✔️ Holiday/Event Decorating – Priced by job or hourly
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✔️ Real Estate Staging – $500–$2,000 per property
Tip: Offer tiered packages to appeal to different budgets.
🪑 Step 5: Create a Portfolio (Even if You’re New)
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Style your own home or a friend’s space.
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Use before/after photos.
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Create mood boards (Canva, Photoshop).
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Offer discounted or free services to initial clients in exchange for photos and testimonials.
A strong visual portfolio is the #1 marketing tool in the decorating business.
🌐 Step 6: Build Your Online Presence
✔️ Website Must-Haves:
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Home page with services
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Portfolio/gallery
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About you and your design philosophy
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Contact form
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Pricing or “book a consultation” button
Tools: Wix, Squarespace, WordPress
✔️ Social Media:
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Instagram (priority for visual business)
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Pinterest (high traffic for décor)
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Facebook (local business pages and groups)
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TikTok (trendy for DIY, transformations)
📢 Step 7: Marketing – How to Get Clients
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Partner with real estate agents, Airbnb owners, event planners.
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Join local business groups, BNI, or Chamber of Commerce.
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Post regularly on local Facebook groups.
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Use Instagram reels, stories, and hashtags like #homedecorator #interiorstyling.
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Offer a “friends and family referral discount.”
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Attend home expos or craft markets with a booth.
💰 Step 8: Set Pricing for Profit
| Service Type | Typical Pricing |
|---|---|
| Full Room Makeover | $500 – $3,000 |
| Hourly Consulting | $50 – $150 per hour |
| Furniture Shopping | $150 – $500 per day |
| Holiday Decorating | $300 – $1,500 |
| Realtor Staging | $500 – $2,500 per home |
Factor in:
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Time
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Supplies
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Travel
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Overhead costs (website, marketing, taxes)
📈 Step 9: Grow and Scale Your Business
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Offer digital services (e-design, virtual consultations).
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Sell mood boards, design plans, or décor guides online.
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Launch a YouTube or TikTok channel for passive income.
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Create partnerships with furniture stores for commissions.
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Hire assistant decorators as you grow.
✅ Startup Costs Breakdown
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Website + domain | $100–$300 per year |
| Business registration | $50–$200 (varies by state) |
| Liability insurance | $300–$700 per year |
| Basic tools/supplies | $200–$500 |
| Marketing (ads, flyers) | $100–$500 initially |
| Decor inventory (optional) | $500–$2,000 (if staging) |
✅ Pros & Cons of a Home Decorating Business
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Creative, flexible work | Income can fluctuate initially |
| Low startup costs | Client management challenges |
| High demand in real estate + rentals | Some physical labor involved |
| Scalable with virtual services | Must constantly market yourself |
❓ FAQ – How to Start a Home Decorating Business
Do I need a license to be a home decorator?
Usually, no interior design license is required, but a general business license might be needed depending on your location.
Can I start with no experience?
✔️ Yes! Start by decorating your own home or friends’ spaces to build a portfolio.
How much can I make as a home decorator?
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Part-time: $1,000–$4,000/month
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Full-time: $5,000–$15,000+/month depending on clients, pricing, and demand
Is staging homes for real estate profitable?
✔️ Yes! Realtors often pay $500–$2,500 per job, and staging leads to repeat work.
What’s the difference between a decorator and designer?
A decorator focuses on aesthetics (furniture, colors, style).
A designer can make structural changes, work with architects, and often requires certification.
🏁 Final Thoughts – How to Start a Home Decorating Business
Starting a home decorating business is one of the most rewarding, flexible, and creative careers you can choose.
With low startup costs, a strong online presence, and passion, you can transform homes—and your own life—by doing what you love.
✔️ Decorate. Inspire. Transform. Build a business that reflects your creativity.
