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March 24, 2025

How to Choose a Studio Location as an Interior Design Firm

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3 min read

Summary

✔️ Select a location that aligns with your ideal client’s lifestyle and expectations.
✔️ Prioritize natural light—it’s essential for creativity, presentations, and mood.
✔️ Design for function: create zones that support collaboration, focus, and storage.
✔️ Make curb appeal part of your branding—it’s your first and lasting impression.
✔️ Proximity to vendors, showrooms, and creative partners can streamline your process.
✔️ Think about the client and team experience you want your space to evoke.
✔️ Choose a space that serves your growth—not just your current to-do list.

Reflection Questions

What message does my current (or future) studio location send to potential clients before they even walk in?

How does my workspace support—or limit—my creative process and daily workflow?

If my studio were a reflection of my brand values, what would it look, feel, and sound like?

Journal Prompt

Describe your dream design studio—not just the layout or location, but the experience. How does it smell when you walk in? What kind of light fills the space? How do your clients feel when they arrive? How does your team move and work within it? Let yourself imagine the studio not just as a place to work, but as a stage for your brand, your process, and your future.

Choosing the right studio location signals your intent and describes your brand to potential clients, future employees, and possible partners. As a firm owner, your studio should reflect your creative ethos, support your operational flow, and inspire trust from the moment a client walks through the door. Whether you’re expanding into a flagship space or relocating for growth, your studio is an extension of your brand and should be treated with the same level of discernment you give to your design work. Here’s what to consider when selecting your next studio address.

7 Considerations for Creating a Space as Distinctive as Your Brand

Choose a Location That Aligns with Your Clientele

It might seem a bit rude to say so outright, but your zip code speaks before you do. Whether you’re a luxury residential firm or specialize in boutique hospitality, your studio should be located where your ideal clients already are—or aspire to be. Think walkable design districts, creative corridors, or upscale commercial neighborhoods that align with your brand’s positioning.

A studio in the right area not only reinforces your credibility but also makes you more accessible to vendors, collaborators, and clients alike. It subtly signals, “We understand your world—because we’re in it.“

Look for Natural Light—and Leverage It

Lighting affects mood, productivity, and perception. For a creative studio, natural light is non-negotiable. It enhances everything from fabric viewing to mood boarding, and it elevates client presentations by ensuring color and texture are seen accurately.

Look for a space with large windows, skylights, or the ability to add custom lighting that mimics daylight. Your studio should feel like a curated experience, not a dimly lit storage room.

Prioritize Flow and Function

A beautiful studio that lacks utility will eventually slow your team down. Consider your ideal layout: Do you need private offices for client calls? An open floor plan for creative collaboration? A materials library? A sample closet? A space for styling and shoots?

Plan for zones—collaboration, quiet work, meetings, production, storage—and ensure the space can evolve with your needs. Think less real estate listing and more spatial choreography.

Consider Curb Appeal (Yes, Even for a Studio)

First impressions are everything. The entrance to your studio should feel intentional—whether that’s a minimalist facade with brass signage, a boutique storefront with gallery windows, or a hidden-gem loft behind a raw steel door./

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Clients may be walking in for their first consultation—or a full reveal presentation. Either way, the building’s exterior should whisper (or shout), you’re in the right place.

Think About the Vendors and Partners Nearby

Design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Being close to trusted vendors, trade-only showrooms, artisan workshops, or design centers can streamline your workflow and deepen your network. Bonus points if you’re in close proximity to like-minded businesses—florists, stylists, architects, or photographers—that complement your services.

A well-placed studio becomes a daily hub for collaboration, convenience, and community. It saves time, reduces logistics fatigue, and keeps your team in the creative zone.

Make Room for the Experience You Want to Create

Your studio should also be an immersive brand environment. Do you want clients to walk in and instantly feel calm, inspired, or energized? Do you host client reveals, photoshoots, team workshops, or cocktail events?

Your space should reflect your studio’s personality and accommodate your studio’s rituals. Think about scent, sound, hospitality, and moments of surprise. Every touchpoint should speak your unique design language from the coffee bar to the conference table.

Invest in Longevity, Not Just the Lease

Short-term convenience shouldn’t trump long-term vision. While budget and availability always factor in, consider how a space will serve your firm as you grow. Will it still work when you expand your team? Can it adapt to new service offerings or technologies?

Treat your studio as an investment in your brand’s next chapter. It’s not just where you design—it’s where your brand lives.

Final Words

The perfect studio will be a physical embodiment of your creative spirit and strategic vision. When you walk into the right space, you’ll feel it. When your clients do, they’ll know they’re in expert hands. Choose wisely, build intentionally, and make it unforgettable. Need advice? Join the DesignDash Community for insights from your peers.

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