Building Your Interior Design Dream Team: How to Hire the Right Support for Your Unique Strengths
Why Knowing Your Strengths is the First Step to a Sustainable Design Business
Episode 112
In this episode, I reveal why knowing your strengths and building the right support team is essential for a sustainable design business. Learn how to identify which tasks drain your energy, determine what type of support to hire first, and make the mindset shift from doing everything yourself to leading a team that complements your unique abilities. Plus, discover why "Control Freak" isn't a personality type—it's just a sign you haven't found the right support yet.
Hope you enjoy the episode
Beth xx
As interior designers, we often start our businesses because we love creating beautiful spaces, not because we dream of managing invoices, writing social media captions, or reconciling accounts. Yet somehow, many of us end up spending more time on these administrative tasks than on actual design work.
I've seen this pattern repeatedly in my work with designers: talented creatives burning out because they're trying to do everything themselves. The solution isn't working harder—it's building the right support team that complements your unique strengths.
"You didn't start your business to be a one-woman admin army," I often remind designers. "You started it to design. So let's help you get back to doing just that."
The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For
Let me start by giving you permission: You do not have to be good at everything. You do not have to do everything yourself. And no, "Control Freak" is not a personality type—it's usually just a sign that you haven't found the right support yet.
When you know your strengths and build a team that complements them, you unlock the ability to:
Work more efficiently in your zone of genius
Enjoy your work more (because you're doing what you love)
Make better decisions about where to invest your time
Delegate with confidence rather than anxiety
Grow your business beyond just you
The alternative? Burnout. You end up trying to wear all the hats—bookkeeper, graphic designer, marketing strategist, admin fairy, tech support—and somehow still deliver amazing design work. It's exhausting and, frankly, it's not sustainable.
Identifying Your Zone of Genius
Before you can build your dream team, you need clarity about your own strengths and weaknesses. This isn't just about skill—it's about energy. Your zone of genius is where skill and passion intersect.
I recommend grabbing a notebook and answering these questions honestly:
What Lights You Up?
What tasks feel easy and energizing?
What do your clients consistently rave about?
Where do you over-deliver, not because you have to, but because you want to?
What do you lose track of time doing?
What Drains You?
What tasks do you procrastinate on for weeks?
What do you consistently think, "I really should have figured this out by now"?
What parts of your business make you feel anxious or inadequate?
What would you gladly never do again if you had the choice?
The tasks that energize you—that's your zone of genius. That's where you belong. Everything else? That's where your support team comes in.
Who Should Be on Your Dream Team?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to building your support team. The right hires depend on your specific strengths, weaknesses, and business model. However, these are the most common support roles I see in successful design businesses:
1. Admin or VA Support
This person handles the operational details that keep your business running smoothly:
Sending invoices and following up on payments
Managing emails and calendar
Handling client onboarding steps
Following up on proposals
You shouldn't be sending out your own invoices and chasing them two weeks later. A VA can handle all those tasks that chip away at your day.
Best for: Designers who get stuck in the admin weeds and want to free up time to focus on client and creative work.
2. Bookkeeper and Accountant
Unless you genuinely love numbers (and some designers do!), this hire is practically non-negotiable. A good bookkeeper will:
Keep your financial records organized
Ensure you're prepared for tax time
Help you understand your profit margins
Make you feel less anxious when you open your accounting software
I would argue this is most probably one of the first bits of support you should take on in your business.
Best for: Designers who avoid looking at their P&L or don't even have one. They often help you save money, which is a bonus.
3. Marketing or Social Media Help
If showing up on Instagram, writing captions, or sending newsletters feels like pulling teeth, then this support role might be your priority:
Creating and scheduling social media content
Writing newsletters or blog posts
Managing your online presence
Developing marketing strategies
Even a few hours a month from a marketing VA or copywriter can keep your studio visible and consistent.
Best for: Designers who know marketing matters but never make time for it.
4. Systems Support
If your business feels held together with DMs, spreadsheets, and a little bit of hope, it might be time to bring in systems support:
Setting up client management systems
Creating workflows and automations
Developing templates and processes
Streamlining your operations
This role is close to my heart because I love a good process. The right systems can transform a chaotic studio into a well-oiled machine.
Best for: Designers who want to scale but feel like chaos is holding them back.
5. Design Assistant or Junior Designer
When you're feeling booked out and the next level isn't more hours but more help, design support makes sense:
Drafting and technical work
Sourcing and product research
Supplier communication
Presentation preparation
Even starting with just one or two days a week from someone junior can make a huge difference in your capacity.
Best for: Designers who want to keep growing without dropping the ball.
How to Decide Who to Hire First
I know what you're thinking: "I can't afford all these people!" Don't worry—you don't need them all at once. Start small and strategic:
Identify your biggest pain point: What tasks do you dread or consistently put off?
Calculate the cost of your time: If you're doing $150/hour design work but spending 10 hours a week on $25/hour tasks, you're losing money by not delegating.
Start with part-time or project-based help: Many amazing freelancers work just a few hours a week or month.
Look within your network: There are talented people in your community who might be perfect for part-time support roles.
Ask yourself: What's the one role that would immediately take a weight off my shoulders? What would I do with that freed-up time? Could I use it to make more money or simply to breathe?
The Mindset Shift: From Doer to Leader
Building a team requires more than just hiring—it requires a mindset shift. You're moving from doing everything yourself to leading a team that supports your vision.
This shift can be challenging, especially for designers who are used to controlling every aspect of their business. You might worry:
Will they do it as well as I would?
How do I know I can trust them?
What if clients prefer working directly with me?
Is it really worth the investment?
These concerns are normal, but remember: being a great business owner isn't about being a hero who does everything. It's about being a leader who knows where they shine and gets the right people around them to do the rest.
Real Results: The Transformation of Building a Team
Let me share a quick story about a designer I worked with recently. Sarah was working 60+ hours a week, constantly feeling behind, and turning away potential clients because she simply couldn't handle more work.
After identifying her strengths (client relationships and creative direction) and pain points (admin and bookkeeping), she made two strategic hires:
A part-time virtual assistant (10 hours/week)
A bookkeeper (monthly service)
The result? Within three months, Sarah had:
Reduced her working hours to 40-45 per week
Increased her capacity by 30%
Improved client satisfaction due to faster response times
Finally had time to work on her business strategy
The investment in her team paid for itself through increased capacity and the ability to take on more projects. But perhaps more importantly, Sarah rediscovered her love for design now that she wasn't drowning in administrative tasks.
Your Next Steps: Building Your Dream Team
Ready to start building your support team? Here are your next steps:
Complete the strengths assessment I outlined above to identify your zone of genius and energy drains.
Identify your first strategic hire based on your biggest pain points.
Start small with part-time or project-based support.
Document your processes before hiring to make delegation smoother.
Set clear expectations with your new team member from day one.
Remember, support doesn't always mean full-time or even part-time. There are amazing freelancers, contractors, and specialists who can work just a few hours a week or month to take specific tasks off your plate.
Building the right team around you isn't just about getting help—it's about creating a business that supports your life and gives you freedom to do what you love. Because ultimately, that's why you became a designer in the first place: to create beautiful spaces, not to drown in administrative tasks.
Your business doesn't need you to do it all. It needs you at your best, and you can't do that alone.