5 Free Ways to Start Marketing Yourself as an Interior Designer

If you want to become an interior designer, one of the biggest things that stops people from getting started is marketing themselves. Not because they don’t have ideas or taste, but because they feel like they have nothing to show yet. Creating content can feel intimidating when you’re just starting out.

If I had to start my interior design career all over again from scratch, with no degree, no experience, and no money, I would focus on one thing: documenting the process.

Clients don’t just hire beautiful rooms. They hire the way you think. When people start to understand how you approach design decisions and why you make certain choices, they begin to trust you long before they ever become a client.

The good news is that the five things I’m about to share with you won’t cost you a penny.

Step 1: Create a Mood Board and Talk Through It

Start by creating a mood board and talking through the process of putting it together. Don’t just post the finished board. Explain why you chose certain colors, textures, or furniture pieces and what kind of space the design is for.

Here’s a small pro tip that makes a big difference: describe the client. Even if the client is imaginary. Talk about their lifestyle, how they use the space, and what problems the design solves for them. When you do this, potential clients watching your content often recognize themselves in what you describe.

Step 2: Film Shopping Videos

Interior designers spend a lot of time sourcing materials, furniture, and decor, so show that part of the process. Go to your favorite stores and talk about the items you see and why you would choose them for certain spaces.

Explain why one fabric works better than another or why a particular piece might work perfectly in a specific room. You don’t need to buy anything. The value is simply showing how you think through design decisions.

Step 3: Create a Styled Scene at Home

This one can feel a little unconventional, but it’s incredibly helpful when you’re building content. Find a blank wall or small area in your home where you can stage a design.

You can purchase a few decor items from stores with good return policies, style the space, and document the process. As long as everything is returned in perfect condition, it doesn’t cost you anything. And you’re also giving those brands exposure in your content, so make sure you tag them when you post.

Step 4: Work With Local Vintage or Thrift Shops

Vintage stores and thrift shops are often packed with incredible pieces, but the way the inventory is displayed doesn’t always show their full potential.

Reach out and ask if you can help style some of their items into small scenes or vignettes. You get to practice your styling skills, create great content, and work with real pieces, while the shop benefits from better merchandising.

Step 5: Use AI to Create Design Concepts

Technology can also help you practice explaining your design decisions. You can use a mood board or write a detailed prompt with AI tools to generate a conceptual room image.

Once you have that image, create a video explaining the design. Talk about who the client is, what their needs are, and why you made certain choices for the space. Again, the goal isn’t the image itself; it’s showing people how you think as a designer.

The Real Goal Is Showing How You Think

If you notice a pattern in all five of these ideas, it’s this: you’re documenting your process. You’re showing people how you evaluate design choices, solve problems, and approach a space.

That’s what builds trust. And trust is what eventually turns viewers into clients.

If You Want to Go Deeper…

Content creation is just one part of building a design career. You also need to understand layout, budgeting, client communication, and how to actually run a design project.

That’s exactly what I walk through inside the Degree-less Design Crash Course. It’s the course I wish existed when I was teaching myself interior design and figuring out how to turn those skills into an actual business.

If creating content feels intimidating right now, start small. Pick one of these steps and try it. You don’t need a perfect portfolio to begin; you just need to start showing people how you think.

XOXO

Shira