The Surprising Reasons Repeat Business Slips Through Your Fingers

The Surprising Reasons Repeat Business Slips Through Your Fingers

Have you ever designed a jaw-dropping space… complete with custom drapery, layered textures, and that “wow” moment that practically sings… only to never hear from the client again? We’ve all been there.

It’s one of the most frustrating mysteries in interior design: Why do happy clients vanish instead of calling you back to tackle the rest of the house, the vacation cabin, the new office… or anything at all?

You know they loved your work. You probably got a glowing testimonial or a “you changed our lives” text message. So what gives?

Let’s break down the surprising (and totally fixable) reasons repeat business slips through your fingers, and how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

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Are You Accidentally Making It Easy for Clients to Pay Late?

Are You Accidentally Making It Easy for Clients to Pay Late?

Late payments can be a frustrating (and surprisingly common) challenge for many interior designers. Beyond the financial hit, they can delay progress, complicate purchasing schedules, and strain client relationships.

But here’s the part that’s often overlooked: In many cases, late payments aren’t just the client’s fault. Sometimes, the way your systems are set up might actually be making it easier for clients to pay late, without you even realizing it.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about recognizing how small gaps in communication, structure, or process can unintentionally invite delays, and what you can do to change that.

Let’s take a look at a few ways interior designers might (unintentionally) be making late payments more likely:

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What Your Client Welcome Packet Really Needs

What Your Client Welcome Packet Really Needs

Most designers have a client welcome packet. A few pretty pages, a thank you note, a brief process overview... and that's it.

Not exactly the first impression that screams “you’re in the hands of a polished professional who’s about to make your dream home a reality.”

If you want your welcome packet to actually set the tone for an incredible client experience — one where clients trust you, respect your process, and are excited to work with you — you need a lot more than just a pretty PDF.

Here’s what your client welcome packet really needs:

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How to Proactively Address and Handle the Most Common Interior Design Client Complaints

How to Proactively Address and Handle the Most Common Interior Design Client Complaints

Every interior designer has been there—you’re deep into a project, feeling good about the progress, and then BAM—a frustrated email lands in your inbox, or a not-so-pleasant phone call comes through. Maybe the client feels out of the loop, has sticker shock, or suddenly wants to change everything. These moments can be stressful, but they’re also preventable—or at the very least, manageable with grace and professionalism.

Over the years, we’ve gathered insights from working interior designers about the most common client pain points and complaints. After hearing the same frustrations repeatedly and seeing common patterns emerge, we realized that most designers—at some point—will experience these, and that’s why we wanted to share them with you to help you avoid unnecessary headaches!

So, whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro looking for smoother projects, here’s how to get ahead of these common complaints before they happen—or handle them better if they already have appeared.

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What Does It Really Mean to "Educate" Your Clients?

What Does It Really Mean to "Educate" Your Clients?

When you hear the phrase "educate your clients," does it conjure images of standing at a chalkboard, diagramming the difference between a loveseat and a settee? Or maybe, you picture a client nodding eagerly as you cover the finer points of fabric durability? (Spoiler: it’s neither of these.) Educating your clients isn’t about lecturing; it’s about giving them the confidence to make decisions and the clarity to trust yours. 

Here’s the thing: interior design can feel overwhelming for those new to it. Most clients walk in with a Pinterest board full of dreams and a vocabulary that maxes out at “modern farmhouse.” They want the magic but aren’t always sure how it’s made. That’s where you come in—not to play professor, but to guide them through the process with a little patience, a lot of insight, and just enough humor to keep it from feeling like a chore.

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