Business Of Design Podcast: EP 463 | Has Your Brand Outgrown You? A Branding Wake-Up Call for Interior Designers with Puja Malhotra
- roopcreative
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
There’s a moment many interior designers experience—but don’t always know how to name.
Your work has evolved. Your confidence has grown. Your fees reflect your experience.
And yet… sharing your website feels uncomfortable. Something feels slightly off.
That feeling isn’t insecurity. It’s misalignment.
I recently had the opportunity to unpack this exact moment on Business of Design Podcast with Kimberley Seldon in Episode 463: Has Your Brand Outgrown You? A Branding Wake-Up Call for Interior Designers.
When Your Brand No Longer Matches Your Work
Most designers don’t have a branding problem. They have a brand drift problem.
The brand you built early on—often DIY, rushed, or created to “just get something out there”—quietly stops keeping pace with who you are now. And when that happens, your brand doesn’t just feel outdated. It starts repelling the clients you actually want to attract.
This is where hesitation shows up:
You avoid sharing your website.
You over-explain your value on calls.
You attract price shoppers instead of aligned clients.
These aren’t marketing issues. There are clarity issues.
Branding Is Strategy, Not Decoration
One of the biggest misconceptions we discussed is the idea that branding is a creative indulgence. In reality, branding is a business tool.
Your brand should:
Build trust before you ever speak to a client
Communicate your positioning clearly and calmly
Support your growth—not limit it
Consistency does far more for trust than creativity alone. A visually “interesting” brand may catch attention, but a clear and consistent brand is what makes you memorable.
Your Website Is Working—Just Not How You Think
Another key conversation point: your website shouldn’t function as a portfolio graveyard.
It should act like an employee. One that:
Pre-qualifies clients
Reinforces your expertise
Reflects your current level, not your past one
When your website is aligned, it carries the weight of your experience so you don’t have to.
Timeless Branding for Sustainable Growth
If you plan to grow, scale, raise your fees, or trademark your business, timeless branding matters. Not because trends are “bad,” but because longevity requires clarity. A strong brand gives you room to evolve without needing to start over every few years. If your work has leveled up and your brand hasn’t kept pace, this episode will put language to that uneasy feeling—and help you understand what to do next.
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