21 Lessons I Wish I Knew When I Started My Design Business
If I could sit down with the 2004 version of myself — fresh into launching Elizabeth Erin Designs with a whole lot of passion and very little preparation — I wouldn’t overwhelm her with strategy or perfection.
I’d give her truth.
After 21 years in the design industry, I’ve learned that interior design isn’t what people think it is. It’s not just about finishes, furniture, or floor plans. It’s about people. Communication. Emotions. Boundaries. And learning how to stay grounded while everything around you is constantly changing.
In this episode of Designing in 5D, I shared the lessons I actually needed when I started — the ones design school never taught me. This blog is an extension of that conversation.
If you’re a designer, creative, business owner, or anyone navigating growth and change, these lessons apply to you too.
Interior Design Is 20% Visuals and 80% Psychology
This might surprise people, but it’s the truth.
Design is only about 20% visuals. The other 80% is psychology, communication, and interpretation. It’s learning how to translate what someone means, not just what they say.
Clients will tell you they want “light and bright,” but what they actually mean could be ten different things. Your superpower as a designer is learning how to ask clarifying questions, read between the lines, and guide people toward decisions that actually feel right for them.
Miscommunication is where projects unravel — and clarity is where confidence begins.
Why Communication Costs More Than Materials When It Goes Wrong
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that unclear communication costs more than almost anything else in a project.
I’ve seen it firsthand. A single misunderstood term, a small assumption, or one unchecked interpretation can lead to wasted time, money, and energy. That’s why we created our Concierge Program — to bridge the gap between client, contractor, and subcontractor and act as an advocate for everyone involved.
Sometimes design isn’t about choosing something new. It’s about showing up, asking questions, double-checking, and protecting the client’s experience.
That kind of support changes everything.
Clients Don’t Hire You Just for Your Eye
This is something I wish I understood sooner.
Clients don’t hire you just because you have good taste. They hire you for how you make them feel during the process. They want to feel seen, heard, supported, and cared for — especially when decisions feel overwhelming.
Interior design is not glamorous behind the scenes. It’s scrubbing floors, steaming shower curtains, hanging art, fluffing pillows, and solving problems quietly so clients can walk into a space that feels complete.
The magic is in the details — and in the experience.
Pivoting Is Not Failure — It’s the Process
If you don’t like change, this industry will challenge you.
I’ve had to pivot through economic crashes, major relocations, personal hardship, and global events none of us saw coming. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something shifted.
Pivoting is not a sign you’re doing it wrong. It’s a sign you’re paying attention.
The ability to adapt, reassess, and keep moving forward is one of the most valuable skills you can have — in business and in life.
Burnout Doesn’t Mean You Failed
Burnout nearly ended my career more than once.
What saved me wasn’t working harder — it was rebuilding my business around the life I wanted, not building my life around my business.
That shift changed everything.
Saying yes to everything will break you. But those breaks teach you how to rebuild stronger, clearer, and more aligned than before. Perfection doesn’t exist — and chasing it will only pull you further from yourself.
Rest, boundaries, and intention are not luxuries. They’re requirements.
Not Every Client Is Your Client — and That’s Okay
This lesson is hard, especially early on.
When someone doesn’t choose you, it doesn’t mean you failed. It means the fit wasn’t right. Your process, your values, or your approach weren’t aligned — and that’s okay.
There are hundreds of people who are meant to work with you for every one who isn’t.
Trust that.
From Doer to Vision Holder: Where Legacy Begins
At some point, your role shifts.
You stop being the person who does everything and become the person who holds the vision. You build a team. You trust the process. You let go of micromanagement and step into leadership.
That’s where legacy begins.
Not by doing more — but by creating something that lasts beyond you.
Start Messy. Start Imperfect. Just Start.
If I waited until everything was perfect, this podcast wouldn’t exist. Neither would many of the best things in my career.
Growth requires movement.
Start where you are. Start messy. Anchor yourself in your values, your voice, and your process. You will lose clients. You will lose money. You will doubt yourself.
But you won’t lose you.
What falls away is the ego. What remains is clarity.
Protect Your Energy Like You Protect Your Calendar
Your energy is sacred.
Listen to your intuition. Pay attention to what feels aligned and what doesn’t. You don’t have to say yes to everything. Sometimes the opportunities that matter most come from listening instead of forcing.
Your business should evolve with you — not against you.
Design a Business You Love — and a Life to Match
You don’t need perfection to be powerful.
You need presence. Persistence. Alignment. And the courage to keep going when things feel uncertain.
Every lesson, every pivot, every burnout chapter brought me back to this truth:
You can build a business you love.
And you can design a life you love — with intention, grounding, and just a little sprinkle of magic.
Want to Apply This to Your Own Project?
If you’re planning a remodel, new build, or design project and want to reduce overwhelm, avoid miscommunication, and feel confident before construction begins, download our free Decision Confidence Toolkit.
Good design doesn’t start on demo day.
It starts with clarity.
👉 Download the Decision Confidence Toolkit
👉 Listen to the full podcast episode