Is it possible to make design accessible for everyone?

Democratizing design. Making design accessible for everyone. Every time I hear a designer claim that this is their mission or reason they are in business it makes me cringe.

I cringe, not because I’m a heartless, elitist, design snob, but because these designers are setting up unprofitable businesses. Because inherent in the “accessible for everyone” mindset is that these are the clients that may not have or want to spend a ton of money on their home.

I believe that home design is important, I think that everyone should have a comfortable, cozy home that reflects their style. I want everyone to love their home.

But the service of a professional, an interior designer, is a luxury service and it’s costly. Running a business is costly. Interior design is not really a scalable industry.

Interior design can be for anyone who wants it. Hiring a professional interior designer is not for everyone.

The problem with design for everyone.

So the “accessible for everyone” idea is that interior design shouldn’t be out of reach for the everyday person. And it’s not. There are more resources now than there ever have been. There are online design companies, design blogs, Pinterest, design television, and thousands of home design retailers. There is no shortage of help for the everyday person who wants to improve their home.

But from what I see, it is not possible for an interior design firm to make money with the mindset that they want to make design available to everyone. Everyone can’t afford a professional.

There are things that everyone should have - the services of an interior designer are not one of them.

Interior design can be for anyone who wants it. Hiring a professional interior designer is not for everyone.

As I wrote in an article from a few weeks ago, small interior design projects don’t make money. They don’t make money because fundamentally if the clients don’t have a lot to spend in their home, they won’t want to spend much on professional services.

And when you take on these clients, you are essentially subsidizing your clients’ homes. You are paying for them to have a nice house. Many times, the designer ends up paying to work on their home.

You shouldn’t be sacrificing your fees and expertise for clients who can’t afford you. There are plenty of alternative options for these clients.

You may think this is an underserved area of interior design, to help those who don’t have a ton to spend on their home design. But that’s because it’s a terrible business model. It is not profitable. It’s a noble pursuit, but not realistic for running a business.

What to Do Instead

A better plan for your altruistic mission would be to charge appropriately for your professional services and volunteer or donate to a non-profit organization like a women’s shelter to improve living environments for those truly less fortunate.

Your clients should be able to afford your services without you subsidizing them.

Create design packages instead of offering full-service design to minimize your involvement for clients with low budgets.

Remember, hiring an interior designer isn’t for everyone.

Professional, personal services are costly. Hiring a personal driver is more expensive than a taxi. An astrologer is more $$$ than having your chart drawn up on a free website. A travel concierge is pricier than booking yourself online. Having a chef come to your house and cook a personalized meal is going to cost you more than getting a meal kit delivered. Why would (or should) an interior designer be any different?

In the comments, share your thoughts on making design accessible for everyone.

About The Author

Hi! I’m Capella and I’m an interior designer who helps fellow designers build their businesses. Forget secrecy and competition, I believe designers should support and uplift each other. By helping and boosting one another, we can elevate the business of interior design together! Hang around a bit and I’ll share all the business “secrets” no one else wants to talk about.