Your interior design projects look beautiful, your clients seem satisfied, but… it’s hard to put a finger on, but something feels off.
Your studio doesn’t feel like you.
It’s got nothing to do with creativity—you’re talented, no question.
It’s got nothing to do with your work ethic—you’re putting in the hours.
You’re creating spaces you love, you’re creating beautiful interiors, but something is missing.
Is it that you’re constantly busy chasing feedback, managing endless revisions, or quietly compromising your vision? Or is it something bigger?
What’s missing isn’t skill. It’s alignment.
You’re not alone. Many interior designers start their interior design studio’s based on what truly reflect them, but in getting new projects they slowly drifted away from their own authenticity. Further and further away from what truly resonates with them.
If you want your studio to feel uniquely yours, it’s time to stop doing what looks right—and start doing what feels right.
Here’s how you get there.
Stop designing from your client’s wishlist.
Start designing how they want to feel.
Clients often say one thing, but mean another.
They say: “We want an extension,” but actually crave the feeling of being together.
They say: “We want this or that style,” but that’s just what they saw in the magazines or on tv and deeply they just desire comfort.
According to Deborah de Jong, expert in client communication, truly understanding your clients isn’t about taking their words at face value. It’s about getting behind the surface. When you recognize what your client truly craves, you step away from guesswork—and towards clarity.
Your clients don’t hire you just for your taste.
They hire you because you can translate that hunch, that feeling they have into space.
Stop calling yourself a perfectionist.
Start designing your design philosophy.
You say you’re a perfectionist because you love beautiful details and you can spend hours designing them or picking a color. But what happens if you say it out loud? You attract perfectionist clients—and they’re usually even more indecisive than you.
According to brand strategist Ericka Saurit, the strongest studios aren’t the ones who try to please everyone. They’re the ones brave enough to say:
- “This is what we stand for.”
- “This is how we work.”
- “This is how our spaces feel.”
Claiming your position doesn’t limit your creativity. It liberates it.
Because when you know what you stand for, so do your clients.
Stop filling your portfolio.
Start refining your signature.
Too many designers aren’t even aware they’re chasing what’s trending, afraid they’ll miss out if they don’t.
But great interior design studios aren’t built on volume—they’re built on voice.
Kristoff d’Oria, known for shaping top luxury brands, emphasizes:
“Clients don’t choose designers for what they do differently. They choose them for what they consistently do better.”
The market isn’t looking for another designer who can do anything.
It’s waiting for the designer who can do one thing exceptionally well.
And when your signature becomes clear, the right clients find you. Effortlessly.
Stop living someone else’s rules.
Start writing your own.
When your studio is built around someone else’s vision of success, you’re always working. But never satisfied.
You’re chasing someone else’s idea of “luxury.”
You’re stuck in someone else’s rhythm.
Roelfien Vos, renowned for her fearless personal style, says:
“The moment you trust your own voice more than the noise around you, your studio becomes your strength.”
A successful studio isn’t just busy—it’s energizing. It’s a place where creativity flows because the work you do truly aligns with who you are.
Practical shifts for a studio that feels like you:
- Ask deeper questions in your intake. Move from tastes to feelings.
- Clarify your design philosophy. Name it, own it, express it.
- Set clear boundaries around your creative process.
- Say ‘no’ more often—especially to projects that don’t feel aligned.
- Stop labeling yourself a perfectionist. Be authentic about your strengths and your humanity.
What’s waiting for you on the other side?
A studio that doesn’t just look successful—but genuinely feels right.
A life that isn’t filled with compromises—but built on clarity, strength, and joy.
Ready to take that first step?
Rediscover exactly who you are as a designer with our Beyond Interior Design Test.
Because clarity in your design voice is the foundation for a studio that truly feels like you.
