When I speak to interior designers about their aspirations for their business and life, they often reference other designers whose success they admire - those who seem to have cracked the code, achieved the dream, and built interior design businesses that are celebrated worldwide. There’s often a perception that these designers have unlocked some secret knowledge - an elusive formula that has propelled their brand and success.
But the reality is, there’s no secret formula. The gap between where you are and where you aspire to be isn’t insurmountable. With these five intentional choices, you can narrow that gap and create the success you desire.
Success is a Choice
Everyone’s circumstances are different. Some come from wealthier backgrounds and more connected social circles. Some have grown up in astonishingly beautiful homes or traveled extensively, giving them a rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and experiences to draw from when embarking on a new project. But these things represent advantages—they do not guarantee success.
There are plenty of world-renowned interior designers who worked hard and got resourceful to reach where they are today. Take, for example, Kelly Wearstler, who paid off her student loans by modeling for Playboy magazine, or Amber Lewis, who started out blogging about her DIY home renovations and selling cushions she sewed in her garage on Instagram.
The people who create next-level success haven’t had it handed to them. They build it through strategy, commitment, and consistency - and, above all, a decision: I choose to create my own success.
Instead of seeing an uncrossable chasm between your current reality and your aspirations, I invite you to recognize the gap as a sign of your potential. The frustration you feel isn’t about what others have achieved; it’s you seeing what you’re capable of but haven’t yet acted on.
You don’t narrow the gap by staring at it. You narrow the gap by becoming the person who has already crossed it. So ask yourself: What needs to happen to make this a reality? Go learn what you don’t know, surround yourself with brilliant people, be courageous, be visible, and start taking action as the version of you who already has what you desire.
Making Money is a Choice
While success is about more than money, the flipside is that you’ll never truly feel successful if you don’t have enough of it. Having more than enough is essential to creating the life and business you desire - and it’s a major factor in whether you consider yourself successful.
It’s not about how much you make; it’s about whether the money you earn gives you freedom:
Freedom to choose the projects you work on - not taking on misaligned clients because you’re unsure where the next opportunity will come from.
Freedom to spend your time doing work you love - not handling every scrap of admin because there’s no budget for the support you need.
Freedom to work the hours you choose - not overcommitting and then scrambling to deliver within the limited time available.
Choosing to run a business that makes money might seem obvious, but our minds can be sneaky. If you’re wrestling with limiting beliefs about money - like “Who am I to charge that much?”- you’ll always find yourself undercharging. And if you lack money management skills, you’ll hold back from investing in the support you need.
So, I invite you to decide: I choose to deliver incredible work and make incredible money.
Notice how, when you filter every pricing decision, fee proposal, and opportunity through this new lens, it becomes easier to resist the temptation to lower your fees. Instead, you’ll become increasingly intentional about earning the money that unlocks your freedom.
Growth is a Choice
Many designers tell me they want to grow their business, but only some take the actions that lead to growth. Some back away at the slightest invitation to invest in their success, held back by the doubt: “What if it doesn’t work for me?” They allow fear to win.
Others consume endless information—reading, watching, taking notes—waiting for “the perfect time” to make their move. But that time never comes.
Then there are those who decide: I choose growth over fear.
These designers invest, learn, read, and watch… they do all the things. But most importantly, they take action. They understand that growth isn’t just about absorbing information—it’s about moving, implementing, refining, and letting go of old patterns that have kept them small.
Strategy Over Busyness is a Choice
When I started my business, anytime someone asked how it was going, I’d brightly reply, “So busy!” It wasn’t until I was completely in the weeds - buried in spreadsheets and samples - that I realized: busy is not success.
Here’s what I often see: you land a client, celebrate the new project, and then disappear down the rabbit hole of working on that project - losing sight of the bigger picture and neglecting the systems and strategies that sustain your business.
While it’s tempting to get caught up in perfecting every detail for a client, just because you’re working hard doesn’t mean you’re working smart. Yes, doing a great job for your clients will take you to a certain level - you’ll get paid and, hopefully, receive a few referrals. But focusing all your energy on client work will never take you to the level you truly want to reach. The freedom level.
The level where you have strategic and creative oversight, enjoy seeing the money flow in, but aren’t the one doing all the doing.
You have to decide: I choose to be strategic and cultivate the business skills that give me control, consistency, a full pipeline, and a healthy bank account.
That means focusing on all the moving parts of your business - not just the client work. It’s about orchestrating your marketing, sales conversations, project pipeline, systems, and finances so you’re consistently generating leads, building a recognized brand, creating multiple income streams, and achieving the freedom you desire.
Breaking Free From Self-Sabotage is a Choice
Our self-sabotaging patterns can be incredibly sneaky. We work late, telling ourselves that because our clients are paying good money, it has to be perfect. We people-please and sacrifice our own needs, convincing ourselves we’re being of service to our clients.
If this feels familiar, know that while this way of working might feel normal, it isn’t supportive of you or your business - and it’s not sustainable. The pursuit of perfection will exhaust you. Abandoning your own needs will erode your confidence.
You have to recognize these patterns and decide to act differently with the decision: I choose to see myself as the star of my business, around which everything else must revolve.
Because when you see yourself this way, you take care of yourself. You prioritise rest. You do things that fuel your creativity. You uphold the standards and boundaries that allow you to do your best work - without clients trampling over your processes.
As a result, your confidence grows. You have more energy. You feel more empowered in your creativity and communication. Your clients get the best version of you. And the people around you delight in this joyful, energized version of you.
Final Thoughts
The success you dream of is not a distant dream. It’s not a formula or a sudden breakthrough. It’s not something that’s for others and not you. It’s wholly within your reach when you make these 5 intentional choices and start taking the action that aligns with your vision:
- I choose to create my own success.
- I choose to deliver incredible work and make incredible money.
- I choose growth over fear.
- I choose to be strategic and cultivate the business skills that give me control, consistency, a full pipeline and a healthy bank account.
- I choose to see myself as the star in my business, around which everything else must revolve.
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Katy Stevenson Bretton
Katy Stevenson Bretton is a mindset and business coach who helps interior designers grow their businesses with proven strategy and depth coaching. After a decade managing multi-million-pound projects at London’s City Hall and seven years running a successful interior design studio, Katy now empowers designers to connect to their unique purpose, build their brand, price profitably, and create next-level income and freedom. Known for her clarity, insight, and intuitive coaching, she unlocks your biggest vision along with the strategy and inner work to achieve it.
