Behind the Scenes of an Interior Designer 

What comes to mind when you imagine an interior designer at work? If you’re picturing someone choosing fabrics or paint colors, you’re in good company. Most people think that’s the main part of my job. While I do make material and color selections, you may be surprised to learn that in actuality, it’s just a tiny part of my role.

As a designer (and especially as a business owner), there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes than you may expect. Today, I’m inviting you along for a peek into what my weeks actually look like and where inspiration finds its way into my work.

A Week in the Life

As a designer, no two weeks are the same, which is one of my favorite parts of my job. At any moment, we’re handling multiple projects that are all in different phases of our design process.

On a given day, I may be getting updates from contractors on one project, invoicing and tracking down products and shipping status for another, all while talking to potential new clients. The following day might involve a site visit for one project, sourcing products for another, organizing operations behind the scenes, and networking. As you can see, my days are less about shopping and more about, well, herding cats.

What many people don’t realize is that even a seemingly simple design choice can involve dozens of tiny decisions behind the scenes. A framed piece of art, for example, isn’t just about picking something pretty. We’re considering the scale of the artwork, the frame finish, mat color and thickness, overall dimensions, wall placement, hanging height, lighting reflections, and how it all relates to the furniture and architecture around it. Even one piece can become a layered puzzle of proportions, function, aesthetics, and budget.

Now imagine multiplying those decisions across kitchens, bathrooms, furnishings, tile layouts, lighting plans, and custom details for multiple projects at once. There’s actually quite a bit of technical problem-solving and “design math” happening behind the scenes every single day, which is part of why this work is so much more than simply choosing paint colors or fabrics.

This organized chaos of project and people management takes careful balance. In every project, there are so many people involved, including the clients, vendors, and trades, so highly organized communication is key to making this always-moving puzzle work.

Staying Inspired through Learning and Industry Exposure

Continuing education is a critical part of being a designer, and as a lifelong learner, I prioritize it and make it a part of each week. There are truly endless decisions and possibilities in this industry, so staying up to date with what’s happening is a necessity. Learning about new products, vendors, and strategies could not only spark a creative idea for a current project, but it helps me build my toolbox for future projects down the road.

I’ve always believed that education does not only take place in a classroom. Inspiration is all around us, and I’ve learned to tune in to some specific sources…

Inspiration in Print

Books: Nerd alert… I’m still fascinated by the business side of my work, and reading business and growth mindset books helps me feel like I’m keeping myself fresh and open to learning new things. My job often involves a lot of time in the car, so each week, I try to listen to at least one business book (and one book for fun) while driving between job sites.

I’m obsessed with Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara (and going to their conference is on my bucket list). Its philosophy of creating extraordinary experiences by exceeding expectations really embodies my goal for KP Home’s service. I just bought the accompanying workbook, and I’m so eager to dive in.

Magazines: I’m a sucker for a printed publication. Friends have made fun of me because I will grab all the free magazines. I’ll admit, the stacks I have at home are unnecessary, but I love to just flip through them and I always find plenty of inspiration.

In-Person Connections

Trade events: Our local trade events are wonderful, and I attend them whenever possible to learn about new lines being carried locally. I also try to make it to some of the larger national events to find out what’s going on in the industry on a broader scale. I attend High Point Market and the Kitchen & Bath Conference regularly, and my bucket-list trade events include Milan, Deco Off in Paris, and Decorex in London.

Connecting with vendors: I’ve always enjoyed attending events with vendors to learn about their products and what’s on the horizon. Recently, I went to a dinner with Brizo to learn about their new collection and to a new carpet brand event at my local showroom.

Design Community Connections: “Networking,” or building meaningful relationships, is key to personal and professional growth. Each of our projects is unique, and we always run into new situations. Keeping a growth mindset and having an arsenal of people to reach out to discuss experiences is crucial. In addition to my regular networking experiences, I just joined a year-long coaching program that I’m really excited to begin.

High Point Market

Yes, I mentioned High Point Market already, but it really deserves its own place on this list. For me, it’s less about sourcing one exact item and more about immersing myself in the industry. I always leave with a camera roll full of inspiration photos and pages of notes about ideas that sparked something for a current or future project.

One of the most valuable parts of attending market is being able to physically experience products. We can sit on sofas, test cushion fills, examine materials up close, and ask detailed questions that simply can’t happen through a website. I’m also able to meet and build relationships with vendors in person, and that in itself is invaluable.

During my latest trip, I had been searching for a bed made entirely of natural materials for a client project. I was able to connect directly with a vendor who collaborated with their team to create a completely custom all-natural fill option. That kind of conversation and customization isn’t something I could just do off their website.

Experiences like High Point help me narrow down the overwhelming number of options available and guide clients toward selections that truly fit their timeline, investment, and style.

Online Inspiration

Podcasts & webinars: I love listening to business podcasts, both about general leadership and the design industry. Some recent favorites have been How I Built This, Acquired, and A Slight Change of Plans. I’ve also learned so much from webinars hosted by industry coaches on running the business and providing excellent service.

Instagram: I’m adding this one begrudgingly. Yes, it’s a rabbit hole and not everyone is authentic, but there are so many creative people out there. I do find some cool inspiration and events through social media.

AI: The design industry typically does not change super fast, but AI is making an impact, and it’s becoming a real part of design. I’m keeping up with AI and other movements, and I’ve been genuinely interested in some of the ways people are using these tools to help the design world. I actually have an upcoming blog post diving deeper into my thoughts on AI in interior design, including where I think it can be incredibly helpful and where I still believe the human element matters most. Stay tuned.

Personal & Introspective Growth

Travel: I think we can all agree that seeing a new part of the world can feed the soul like nothing else. Whether it’s thousands of miles away or a neighboring city, a new place always delivers a new perspective. I recently visited my ceramicist friend in Detroit, and while I loved spending time with her, I was also immersed in the inspiring world of ceramic tiles and its history.

All surroundings: Inspiration is truly all around us, each and every single day. From food and fashion to art and nature, I try to keep my mind open and notice the intriguing. Art, specifically, can provide so much color palette inspiration.

Rest: Finally, slowing down and resting is a critical part of the creative process. It’s a lesson I often need to keep reminding myself of in this busy season of life. When I prioritize self-care and some rest, my brain gets the quiet pause it needs to get the creative juices flowing again. 

The Evolution of My Design Style & Philosophy

Years of designing and my investment in industry growth and learning has caused my design philosophy and style to evolve, and it still is evolving. It’s no secret that I’ve always loved design, but I once thought that being a good designer meant following trends. I could easily replicate nationally-known designers, but just because they are popular doesn’t mean their style is for everyone.

Instead, personally, I’m trying to take my own advice that I give to my clients about finding your own unique style and leaning in. For me, that means embracing the more unique and quirky things that speak to me and not second-guessing it. I was once so nervous to use color, though I gravitated towards it, and now I feel confident about wanting more bold things in my own home. The heart wants what it wants, and I’m happy to oblige.

This looks like finally leaning into pieces that simply make me smile, even if they don’t “need” to make sense. I recently bought a vintage phone purely because I thought it was fun, along with a large art piece that immediately spoke to me (both pictured above). I added a few other pieces to round everything out, and I’m just waiting on the final custom frame to be completed.

I think that’s part of the beauty of evolving in your own home over time. The most meaningful spaces usually aren’t created all at once. They come together piece by piece, through curiosity, confidence, and allowing yourself to choose the things you genuinely love.

When Creativity, Chaos & Inspiration Come Together

There’s simply so much behind the scenes that our clients don’t see. They don’t see the chaos of screenshots pasted into Canva drafts, the phone calls to vendors, the time spent sourcing a specific piece of furniture, the epiphany of connecting a webinar topic to a project, the site visits and coordination of trades… The behind-the-scenes can look crazy, but in the end, the chaos, creativity, and inspiration come together to create magic: a polished home perfectly aligned with who you are.

And that’s truly what it’s all about: you. You and a home filled with self-expression are the end goal, and inspiration for your project begins long before we even meet. If you’ve been dreaming of making your home a place where you can connect with those you love most, I’d love to help you bring it to life.

Warmly,
Kristen