Time Blocking for Interior Designers (That You’ll Actually Stick To)
Designing a Week That Feels as Good as It Looks
Episode 120
After a little time away (hello, school holidays and a much-needed breather), we're back and really looking forward to this next season of Design Dialogues. The break gave me time to reflect on how I run my own business—what’s working, what needs adjusting, and how I want to structure my weeks moving forward.
In this solo episode, I’m sharing a more realistic and creative-friendly approach to time blocking—one that actually works for interior designers. If you’ve tried traditional time blocking and found it too rigid or overwhelming, you’re not alone. This method lets you zoom out, align your work with your energy, and make space for what really matters—without losing the flexibility you need to thrive as a designer.
Whether you’re juggling projects, marketing, clients, and still trying to find time to actually design, this episode will help you create more structure, less stress, and a better rhythm in your studio.
Hope you enjoy the episode
Beth xx
What If Time Blocking Could Feel Good?
Let’s be honest—most productivity advice out there doesn’t work for creative business owners.
You’re not trying to tick off endless tasks from a corporate to-do list. You’re designing homes, managing projects, nurturing client relationships, and trying to build a business that doesn’t burn you out.
So this week on Design Dialogues, I’m walking you through a gentler, more sustainable way to structure your week as an interior designer—using time blocking that’s rooted in energy, not just efficiency.
This is the same approach I use in my own studio and with my mentoring clients in the Health Check. It’s not about filling every hour with “output”—it’s about protecting space for the kind of work that really matters.
Why Typical Time Management Advice Falls Flat for Designers
Interior design isn’t a typical job. It’s part creativity, part logistics, part client management, and part running a business. Your day can swing from sourcing tile samples to solving an invoicing issue—sometimes within the same hour.
This episode is all about giving you permission to rethink productivity.
Because trying to copy-paste a colour-coded time-blocking template from a productivity YouTuber usually ends up in frustration. Why? Because those systems were never designed for fluid, creative, client-led work.
Instead, I’ll show you how to:
Design a weekly structure that aligns with your creative flow
Group tasks in a way that protects your focus and energy
Create a rhythm that works even when life gets messy
Get clear on when to work on the business—not just in it
The Five Types of Time Every Studio Needs
I break down five distinct time blocks I recommend for designers who want to protect their creativity while growing their business. These include:
Creative Time – Deep work time for floor plans, sourcing, or concept development
Client Time – Dedicated slots for meetings, emails, and communication
Admin Time – Managing finances, operations, proposals, and follow-ups
Marketing Time – Thoughtful, proactive work on visibility and brand growth
CEO Time – Space to reflect, plan, review KPIs, and make strategic decisions
By defining these buckets of time, you can stop context-switching all day and start approaching your week with more calm, clarity and confidence.
Creating a Weekly Rhythm That Works
Here’s the secret: this isn’t about locking yourself into a rigid routine.
It’s about creating anchors—those recurring appointments with yourself that build momentum and reduce decision fatigue. For example:
Mondays = creative focus (internal work only)
Tuesdays and Thursdays = client-facing days
Fridays = admin catch-up + wrap up the week
Wednesdays = open buffer space for overflow or CEO planning
This kind of rhythm creates consistency without killing your flexibility—and that’s what makes it actually sustainable.
Designed to Be Adapted, Not Perfect
This episode is not about being perfectly scheduled. It’s about protecting the time and energy that fuels your design work and supports your studio’s growth.
So whether you’re solo or growing a team, this structure can help you:
Stop reinventing your week every Monday
Feel more in control of your business
Get more done—without working more hours
Stay connected to the creative work that lights you up
A Note on Taking Breaks (And Why It Matters)
You’ll hear in the intro that I took a short winter break before returning with this episode. Why? Because part of building a sustainable business is acknowledging when you need rest—not waiting until burnout forces you to stop.
This theme—building rhythms that include rest—is woven throughout the episode. Because a well-designed week includes time off, creative space, and the ability to zoom out and see the big picture.
This Episode Is Perfect For:
Interior designers who are tired of working reactively
Studio owners who want better boundaries without losing flexibility
Creatives looking to structure their week without killing inspiration
Design professionals juggling multiple projects (and roles!)
Anyone who wants to spend more time designing, not just managing