6 New Year Resolutions Every Interior Designer Should Make

With 2024 bringing a fresh start, looking ahead to exciting trends and better business practices is a resolute way to start off your year.

In fact, from good marketing strategies to improving your skills, taking your interior design offerings to the next level is where growing your portfolio is at. 

If you’re not sure how to do this, read on. We’ll be sharing some clever ideas to add to your to-do list.

Achievable interior design goals for 2024

Experts say that becoming entrenched in a mundane mindset can distract you from your end game. So instead, stay focused by employing an achievable plan of action.

When setting new goals, it’s important to acknowledge both your aptitude and limitations. This will ensure that you pinpoint your stumbling blocks and play to your strengths.

These six suggestions will help get the ball rolling:

1 - Declutter your workspace

Start 2024 off with a clean slate by neatening up your office. You’d be amazed by how getting rid of unwanted stuff can impact your productivity, sharpen your focus and streamline your processes.

Make sure that you:

• Do all your filing
• Empty out your cabinets and drawers 
• Give the space a deep clean
• Create digital folders for specific projects
• Find furnishings, like the Wall Street writing desk by Cattelan Italia, that are ergonomically designed to give you optimal comfort. 

2 - Restructure your website

How you present your business to the world is important, so brush up on the latest web design trends and make sure that yours is on par. This will help modernise your image and make it easier for potential clients to navigate their way seamlessly through your offerings. 

Do some research on:

• How to implement an edgy layout
• Including a voice user interface (VUI) to increase easy navigation
• Choosing the right typography for your image
• Incorporating interactive experiences via VR or AR to highlight your design skills
• Ways to insert micro-interactions on your webpage. 

3 - Ramp up your marketing plan

Interior design is a competitive industry, so build a strong brand awareness by employing out-of-the-box ways to market your business. 

Keep current by:

• Developing a consistent online presence through social media platforms
• Creating engaging content containing high-res images, your latest projects and valuable tips
• Attending networking events with like-minded professionals throughout the year. This will allow you to share knowledge, keep current and get advice from industry gurus when needed
• Encouraging collaborations. Working with estate agents, luxury furniture companies and architects will widen your net exponentially
• Offering free consultations or design guides. It will enable future clients to get to know your style before they commit to engaging with you. It’s a great way to build up trust. 

4 - Get tech-savvy

Brush up on the latest industry developments so that you can offer patrons life-enhancing innovations without feeling overwhelmed. 

Create an impression by:

• Embracing new AR, VR and 3D tools that enable your customers to experience floor plans, 3D renderings and virtual tours in detail before signing them off. They also facilitate quick changes, saving you time and money in the long run
• Doing a course in SMART home technology - it will teach you how to integrate AI effectively in the modern home 
• Finding out more about 3D printing and its impact on the future of interior design 
• Incorporating energy-efficient systems into every project. With global warming a chief concern, it’s crucial to make sure that you play your part in sustaining the planet
• Learning about new developments in electrochromic glass. This fabulous format responds to environmental conditions by changing its transparency, thereby providing privacy and controlling light. 

Read more about our free CPD courses if you’re keen to smarten up! You can also make use of our wonderful Project X management software to help keep you organised.

5 - Step out of your comfort zone

Take a good hard look at where your weak points are and commit to broadening your horizons in as many ways possible. It will grow you both personally and professionally, adding fun and inspiration to your daily routine.

We suggest you:

• Attend at least one new course a year to improve your skillset
• Sign on interesting new clients - especially if they’re different from your usual target audience
• Be unconventional and try out a style you’ve never worked on before
• Explore different environments, cultures and perspectives by doing a little traveling - even if it’s just a local excursion.
• Allow others to give you constructive criticism and take what they say on board without letting your ego get ruffled. This will provide the insights you need to evolve your profession.

6 - Find a sense of balance

Creating an equilibrium between work and personal life is key to your well-being and will increase your productivity, so don’t exclude it from your resolutions list.

Commit to:

• Setting boundaries that restrict you from answering any calls, posts or emails after office hours. Yes, there will be some exceptions, but don’t make these bad habits the rule.
• Taking a wellness day when needed to help you recharge. You’ll be amazed at how much more creative you become
• Getting into a healthy eating routine and making sure you don’t skip meals
• Keeping hydrated throughout the day
• Exercising regularly - even if it’s just going for a walk with your fur family.

Tips for keeping committed

We all know how hard it can be to button down our New Year’s resolutions and stick to them, but if you put a few simple strategies in place, it’s not as impossible as you think.

Here are some pointers to help you along:

• Display them in your office. Having something in sight will remind you of your objectives every day
• Subdivide each of them into manageable stages so you don’t get overwhelmed by the bigger picture
• Discuss them with a family member or colleague - they’ll hold you to them
• Acknowledge your progress and give yourself rewards along the way
• Get into the habit of doing a monthly review - it will allow you to adjust your path if needed
• Be flexible - nothing is written in stone and plans change. However, scrapping things because you’ve gotten lazy is a no-no. 

If you want to succeed in 2024, then make sure you nail your business goals by implementing some well-considered New Year’s resolutions. This can be done through creating a sensible marketing plan and keeping your finger on the pulse when it comes to new trends.

To support your work, our expert design team is on hand to help with all your floor plans and find bespoke furniture options that will inspire your vision.

Book an appointment today and let’s get the ball rolling on your next triumphant year.