In this podcast episode, we explore how niching down can help interior designers thrive in a competitive industry. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, focusing on a specific audience allows you to sharpen your marketing focus, create meaningful connections, and position yourself as an expert. By identifying your strengths, passions, and the clients you enjoy working with most, you can align your business with a niche that’s both fulfilling and profitable. We discuss six key benefits of targeting smaller markets, from crafting stronger pitches and smarter spending to building trust and a distinct brand identity. This focused approach simplifies your marketing efforts, maximizes your impact, and lays the foundation for sustainable growth, empowering you to create deeper connections with the right clients while building a business you love.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, we’re focusing on how to work smarter, not harder in 2025. As your design business grows, so do the demands on your time, energy, and resources. Streamlining your business isn’t just about saving time—it’s about creating a sustainable, profitable operation that delivers exceptional results for your clients without burning you out.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of implementing project management tools to streamline workflows
• How outsourcing and delegating tasks can free you up for creativity and growth
• Proven strategies for managing client expectations and keeping projects on track
• Tips for reducing bottlenecks and avoiding unnecessary delays in your projects
• How streamlining improves client satisfaction and boosts your bottom line

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, we dive into the ins and outs of professional photoshoots for your interior design projects. From understanding the costs and time commitments to navigating usage rights and creating the perfect shot list, this episode covers everything you need to know to make the most of your photography investment.

I also share my personal experiences with photoshoots, including the challenges of working around outdated focal points or less-than-ideal lighting, and how I overcame these obstacles by creating custom photography presets. These presets are designed to elevate your iPhone photos, ensuring consistency and professional-quality enhancements for your portfolio and social media.

For a limited time, you can grab my photography presets at 40% off using the code BLACKFRIDAY40. Visit The Profit Academy for Interior Designers website to purchase them and take your design photography to the next level!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The true costs of professional photoshoots (beyond the photographer’s fee)
• Time commitments, including setup, styling, and teardown
• How to plan a photoshoot: creating shot lists, selecting props, and more
• The importance of clarifying photo usage rights and credits with photographers
• Strategies for subsidizing photoshoot costs with client purchases
• Why and how to use presets to enhance your photos

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to streamline your photoshoot process, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you showcase your beautiful work and grow your design business.

Links & Resources:

• Photography Presets: Get them here and use code BLACKFRIDAY40 for 40% off
• Connect with Laura Thornton: Website | Instagram

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, we dive into strategic planning for a profitable 2025. Laura shares essential steps for setting actionable business goals, including assessing expenses, determining project requirements, balancing consultations and larger projects, setting clear goals, and aligning marketing efforts to attract profitable projects. She also discusses her own goals for the coming year, focusing on desirable projects like lake houses and cottages. For those looking to deepen their financial strategies, Laura offers a special Black Friday promotion on The Profit Academy for Interior Designers. Use code BLACKFRIDAY40 for 40% off the core 6-week course content—an invaluable investment to make 2025 your best year yet!

https://theprofitacademyforinteriordesigners.mykajabi.com/

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

In this episode, we dive into the advantages of having a dedicated design studio and how it can elevate your business. From projecting a more professional image and enhancing client trust, to showcasing your style and creativity in a real-world space, a studio offers unique benefits that go beyond what a home office can provide. We’ll explore how a studio can streamline your workflow, eliminate household distractions, and give you quick access to samples and resources. Plus, with a controlled environment for presentations and a hub for industry networking, a design studio becomes an invaluable investment in your brand and productivity.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Today, we’re talking about one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of running a design business: contracts. I’m thrilled to have Erica Canas, Esq., a Florida licensed attorney and interior design enthusiast, join us for this important conversation.

Erica is the founder of ID Law Shop, where she creates “best-practices” legal templates specifically for interior designers and architects. Her journey began when she couldn’t find legal templates that were actually tailored for her clients. She saw outdated forms, generic templates, and resources that weren’t created by real lawyers. With 16+ years of contract drafting experience under her belt, she’s made it her mission to provide legal resources that are actually useful for interior designers.

From contracts to intellectual property matters, Erica’s expertise is vast. She also offers full-service copyright and trademark registration to protect your designs and branding assets. And if you’re looking for custom drafting services, her flat-fee rates ensure you’re protected without the fear of runaway legal fees.

It’s an important episode today as we discuss legal protection for designers, how to structure your contracts, and why having the right legal documents in place can protect your business and help it thrive. Let’s dive in!

Website: https://www.idlawshop.com/about

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Founder and CEO, Darla Powell, is an interior decorator herself and knows firsthand how to successfully market in this niche. After receiving countless requests from fellow designers for help with marketing their interior design firms, Darla saw a tremendous need for an agency well-versed and laser focused on marketing strategies and practices tailored specifically for designers and architects. The solution? Wingnut Social – an agency focused on the best digital marketing for interior designers, architects and related niches.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Douglas envisions Interior Designher as a community hub where designers can finally learn, share, rent or buy the business skills they should have learned in school. 

In addition to all sorts of free education resources - from people who know what they’re talking about - Doug is collaborating with a few of our “experts” to create a series of no-cost / low-cost business tools to help designers improve their business quickly, dependably & at a ridiculously great price.

• Business expertise delivered at no/low cost. 
• Business tools that enable a small team to operate like their corporate cousins. 
• A well-planned & diligent social media strategy that builds brand effectively & at a low cost. 

Business owners & principal designers will be able to keep their focus on high-value tasks, while virtual & real-life employees can perform lower-value tasks efficiently & with ownership. Ever evolving software & global communications have truly leveled the playing field.  The only thing holding back the growth of our interior design firms is us.

Douglas sees Interior DesignHer as that online space where interior designers feel welcomed, encouraged, motivated & empowered to take their the businesses to a higher level.

Website: https://www.interiordesignher.com/

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

With an eye for detail and a heart for storytelling and 19 years ​of experience, Paisley is a luxury interior designer known for ​blending cultural influences with timeless elegance. 

Her work spans from the Gold Coast of Australia to Oaxaca, ​Mexico, creating immersive spaces that evoke harmony and ​emotion. Paisley's global perspective and passion for ​storytelling through design leave a lasting mark on luxury ​interiors. 

When she is not globetrotting and obsessing over her clients ​interiors; you can find Paisley barefoot with a matcha in her ​hand in a sleepy costal town of Mexico where she spends time ​with her family.

https://paisleygamble.com/

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Amber Rose Thomas is the visionary founder of "Launch with Amber," a bespoke service designed to elevate the effectiveness of Facebook Ads for coaches, experts, and course creators worldwide. Disappointed by the subpar results her clients experienced with traditional ad agencies, Amber, a Facebook™ Blueprint Certified Ads Manager and a CIM-accredited marketing strategist, decided to leverage her extensive cross-industry experience to provide a superior alternative. Through "Launch with Amber," she offers comprehensive done-for-you Facebook Ads services, strategic launch planning, and in-depth training sessions, all tailored to meet the unique needs of her global clientele.

email: [email protected]
website: https://www.launchwithamber.com/
@launchwithamber

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us [email protected] or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign