If you're an interior designer in Oakville, Burlington or anywhere in the GTA, a lot of your new clients probably hear about you through a referral first. And then what do they do? They look you up. Your website is where that warm referral either turns into a discovery call or quietly goes cold.
I design websites for interior designers, decorators, kitchen and bath designers and home builders, and the sites that book clients tend to have the same handful of things in common. None of them are complicated. Here's what I'd make sure your site has.
1. A homepage that says what you do in seconds
When someone lands on your homepage, they should know right away who you are, what you do and where you work. A beautiful photo is a great start, but pair it with one clear line, something like "Interior design for family homes in Oakville and Burlington."
Then give them an obvious next step. A button near the top that says "Book a consultation" or "Start your project" does a lot of quiet work for you.
2. A portfolio that shows your best work (not all of it)
Your portfolio is the heart of your site. It's what people come to see. But more isn't always better. A few strong projects with great photos will do more for you than every room you've ever touched.
Tell the story of each project
For each project, add a short write-up: what the client wanted, what you changed and how the space feels now. A few sentences are plenty. It helps people picture working with you, and it gives Google real words to read alongside your photos.
Keep it fresh
This is one of the reasons I build on Squarespace. It's so user friendly. Once your site is built, you can add new projects and photos yourself, anytime. No waiting on someone else to post your latest kitchen.
3. Clear services, so people know you're the right fit
Don't make visitors guess. Spell out what you offer, whether that's full-service design, consultations, kitchen and bath renovations, new builds or styling. Say who each service is for and what the process looks like.
When people understand how working with you works, that first call is easier for both of you. They show up already knowing you're a good match.
4. An About page with your face on it
People hire people, especially for something as personal as their home. A warm photo of you and a few honest paragraphs about how you work go a long way.
Share why you love what you do and what clients can expect from you. It doesn't need to be long. It just needs to sound like you.
[Image: a natural headshot of the designer in her studio or in a finished space]
5. A look that matches the quality of your work
You design beautiful spaces, and your website should feel like it belongs to someone who does. That starts with your brand: your logo, colours and fonts working together on every page.
If your brand feels a little dated, or doesn't quite match the work you're doing now, it's worth sorting that out before or alongside a new site. In my process, we build your brand first in weeks 1 to 3, then design your website around it in weeks 3 to 6. That way everything feels like one polished whole.
6. Easy ways to get in touch
Make it simple to reach you. Your contact page should have a short form, your email and phone number, and the areas you serve. I also like a small "let's talk" section in the footer of every page, so no one has to hunt for it.
Mention your service area clearly, for example "Serving Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga and the GTA." It's helpful for clients, and it helps local people find you in search.
7. A site that works beautifully on a phone
Lots of people will find you on their phone, maybe while scrolling Instagram or right after a friend texts them your name. Every site I build is mobile friendly, and before launch I check how your photos, menus and buttons look on a small screen.
Little things that make a big difference
Photos that are sized properly, so pages load quickly
Simple page names: Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Contact
A link to your Instagram, so people can see what you're working on right now
Descriptive photo file names, like "white-oak-kitchen-oakville.jpg" instead of "IMG_4521.jpg"
A short, friendly line on each page telling people what to do next
Ready for a site that books clients?
If you're reading this and thinking your website needs some love, I'd be happy to help. I work with interior designers and home professionals across Oakville, Burlington and the GTA, and my brand and website process takes about 6 weeks from our first chat to launch day.
Let's start with a free 15-minute call to talk about your business and where you'd like to go. No pressure at all.