The Most Effective Way to Get Clients

Woah, we are nearly half way through my Interior Design Marketing Strategies series already and some of my best strategies that I want to share with you are yet to come!

This week I reveal one of the most effective marketing strategies that I’ve been doing in my Interior Decorating business since the beginning.

This strategy resulted in many residential client projects, including my Doctor’s Burlington home and my Dentists’ house in Toronto.

My Dentist first hired me to redesign the Dental office and was so impressed with my ideas and my organized processes, that he hired me to do work in his home even, before the commercial job was complete. See those gorgeous spaces in the professional photographs below.

What was this strategy and how has it slightly changed, but overall remained the same? Find out in Episode #5.

Before you go all out in utilizing these marketing strategies, it’s super important to make sure you are organized at the front end of your business and ready to confidently take on client projects.

If you are ready to invest in your business like your next client is going to invest in you, here are some valuable tools that will help you gain more confidence and increase your closing rate to booking further services.

My 3-in-1 Bundle

Get the BEST value and everything you need to get super organized and be well on your way to ROCK your Initial Consultation! Save over $80 when you bundle all these incredibly useful goodies into one.

Click here to see all that is included & watch a video for more information.

BUNDLE AND SAVE OVER $80! Find out how here.

Managing Expectations Starts Before You Meet

I can’t tell you how much video has propelled my career, even in ways that I never imagined.

Clients feel like they already know me when I walk through their door for the first time which makes building trust in the working relationship, a whole lot easier.

Leverage video for your Interior Design business. Find out more here.

My Biggest Selling Service -3D Designs

When I first began my business, I wasn’t offering 3D design services. In fact, I had no idea how to use any of the rendering programs available!

But over time, I self taught myself how to use Cheif Architect and quickly realized what an incredibly valuable tool this was for showing home owners design concepts we created for their home. It took me a few years to perfect my process for creating our PowerPoint presentations, but now it’s nailed down and I share it all here in this package.

ROCK your 3D Design Presentation Package! Click here to learn more.

If you don’t want to learn how to do these rendering yourself, you can always outsource this task and still implement my process for creating the package.

See this blog post here that I wrote with a little help from my design friends who offer this service to other designers.

Perfect for Pinning!

As promised, here’s some of the projects I landed from sending out regular newsletters locally, within my home town of Burlington, Ontario.

All Photos by Stephani Buchman. Toronto Client’s custom bathroom.

Cabinetry & Walls in Snowfall White by Benjamin Moore.

Closet / Lounge Area painted Gray Cashmere by Benjamin Moore

Custom walnut bed with shelving in niche behind.

Burlington home on the Lakeshore…

Custom slipcover & window treatments. Walls painted Pashmina by Benjamin Moore.

Custom slipcover & window treatments. See the full project here.

Custom kitchen design with half wall cabinetry

Got a question? Leave a comment below or contact me here.

I’m heading to Nashville!

Will I see you here? Find out more about the event via this link.

Colour Combinations with Blues

ASK ME ANYTHING!

There are so many fabulous colour combinations in the world of Interior Decorating that the possibilities really are endless when creating a design for any space in your home.

If you aren’t used to working with colour or are unsure of what colour tones will work together to create flow, I’ve got you covered!

There are definitely elements that guide your choice when creating a palette and things that cannot be ignored. I talk more about that in today’s video.

But first, I welcome you to comment below or email me here to Ask Me Anything (#AMA) about paint colours or interior design, as that’s exactly what inspired this week’s vlog.

Follow me on Instagram and DM me to Ask Me Anything!

A lovely reader commented on my Hale Navy post to ask me this question:

“Hi, Claire! I did my studio condo in Palm Beach in Hale Navy and used White Dove for the ceiling and trim. I love it! What do you think if I used the colour coral gable in the bathroom?”

pulled these three colours to see how they worked together. Watch my video below to see my response.

Here you can clearly see this striking paint palette combination of White Dove, Hale Navy and Coral Gable by Benjamin Moore.

Paint colour combination Coral Gable & Hale Navy & White Dove

This paint palette below was inspired by similar tones that you can see in the fabric.

Hale Navy blue colour combination with coral, brown and neutrals

Perfect For Pinning!

A little more feminine and fresh blue colour combinations are below.

Fresh blue paint colour combinations

Benjamin Moore blues

The below paint palette is inspired by my daughter Elise’s bedroom which I designed with her a couple of years ago. The wavy fabric was our inspiration piece for her room.

Elise’s Bedroom Colours

Do you love a painted ceiling? Comment below to let me know which room you have painted (or would paint) the ceiling in.

Light colour walls, dark painted ceiling and fun hits of raspberry

Floral fabric colour palette with peach, blues and brown

This floral fabric was the ‘jumping off point’ for our Oakville clients living room.

Although we didn’t tie in too much of the purple-blue found in the fabric of the custom pillow, that colour can be found in the striped pleated drapery. See more of this clients home here.

Wall colour is Shale by Benjamin Moore. See the entire project here.

Here is another fabric with a purply blue tone. Mixed with very different colours that are slightly more subtle.

Sophisticated and playful fabric

Another colour combination of the same fabric

Most of the paint palettes below have more of a masculine feel to them. Which one is your favourite?

Hale Navy & Smoke Gray & Van Deusen Blue & Berkshire Beige Comparison

Rich and dramatic paint colour combination

Benjamin Moore Blue Inspired Paint Palettes

Some of my favourite colours are shown here.

In the photograph below (taken by Stephani Buchman photography) the colour Classic Gray is not shown, but could easily tie in with this paint palette.

Hale Navy Dining Room Niche Wall & White Dove Walls. Photo by Stephani Buchman photography.

We created 2 palettes for the Geode inspired fabric shown below. Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams is shown and if you want to see my colour review of that gorgeous colour, click here.

Sea Salt Sherwin Williams with Hale Navy by BM

Blue combination with greens

The fabric shown above was used for a custom accent cushion in our Toronto client’s living room design. See more photos of their project in our portfolio here.

Toronto Custom Living Room Design by Claire Jefford

My colour review of Hale Navy post has not only my TNT (THE NAKED TRUTH) video but also a second video where you can find out exactly how I created the design for the living room above, as well as the dining area where we painted the niche and the ceiling Hale Navy.

Best White Trims to pair with Hale Navy

Hale Navy & Simply White

Hale Navy & Cloud White

Final pairing ideas for Hale Navy

Hale Navy & Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams

Hale Navy & Fawn Brindle by Sherwin Williams

Hopefully, you’ve found some inspiration here.

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

Convenience at your fingertips

Choosing Paint Colours

If you struggle with choosing paint colours, be sure to check out my Perfect Colour Palettes.

I now have over 50 individual guides to help inspire you.

Collections

I also offer collections that showcase a group of 10 colours from Benjamin Moore,

My Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection

Farrow & Ball

10 Classic Farrow & Ball Colours

and my newest addition, Sherwin Williams.

Sherwin Williams Collection of 10 popular neutrals

Psst! Love Colour? Take my new colour quiz to determine which colour palette suits you best!

Are you in my local area of Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Waterdown or in the surrounding GTA? If so, I’d love to help you in choosing the RIGHT paint colours for your home. Email me here and let’s do this!

Got a question for me? Ask Me Anything by direct messaging me on my Instagram

This worked for booking clients!

Interior Design Marketing Strategies

This was one of my favourite marketing initiatives that I tried in my Interior Design business, because I was able to meet a lot of people. Did you know that I’m a ‘people person?’

And not only did I get to meet a lot of people as potential clients, but I met other local business owners which was great from a networking perspective.

Despite the fact that it was a lot of work and that I was exhausted by the end, this was an extremely fun experience for me. Plus, I booked clients and built my email list too! How did I do this?

Watch the video below and find out!

Have you been an exhibitor at a home show or a similar show to what I participated in? What was your experience for getting clients?

If you are thinking about doing something similar and have a question, ask my by commenting below or here on my YouTube channel.

Follow along with my marketing video playlist here to see many more strategies that you can try for your Interior Design or Decorating business.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that I also have a Colour & Design YouTube channel with over 60 videos?

Creating video is a passion of mine (in case you didn’t know) and much of the focus on my Claire Jefford channel is on Colour. I’d love to see you there, you can check it out & subscribe here.

This is my most viewed video with more than 105k views! Hope to see you there.

Claire xo

Revere Pewter Transformed This Master Bedroom!

Okay, so it wasn’t just because of the paint colour that this large master bedroom went from drab to fab.

However, when we paired Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore with Cloud White & designed this space with exquisite fabrics, various textures and custom furniture, this room was indeed transformed.

In this video, you’ll not only see the dull ‘before’ photos of our Burlington clients’ master bedroom, but also the inspiring mood boards, as well as the 3D concept renderings we created for the space.

Plus, no makeover would be complete unless you saw the final reveal of the extraordinary after photos!

Can’t get enough of Revere Pewter? See more of our client’s bedroom design here in our portfolio or scroll down to see more, including other videos for your viewing pleasure!

If you would like all the information I discuss here plus additional colours to pair with Revere Pewter, I have the perfect companion. Take a look at my Perfect Colour Palette. A must-have for any colour enthusiast or design professional.

Got a question, comment below or DM me on Instagram here.

In this video, find out the undertone of Revere Pewter and the best white paint colours to use with it.

Below, I walk you through the design process. You’ll see exactly how I created this bedroom design as I go into details about the custom treatments such as the drapery, the built-ins and the beautiful bed with upholstered headboard.

Professional photos by Stephani Buchman Photography.

Custom Cabinetry in Cloud White by Benjamin Moore.

Custom upholstered headboard by Claire Jefford.

Bedroom painted in Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.

Clients’ Custom Master Bedroom, by Claire Jefford. Photo by Stephani Buchman

Pendants hung from above allow for more room on a bedside table.

Custom cabinetry painted CC40 Cloud White by Benjamin Moore.

Accessories on Cloud White Cabinetry.

Perfect for Pinning!

Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore with custom fabric

Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore with custom drapery

Cloud White Cabinetry CC40 Benjamin Moore

White Dove & Revere Pewter Colour Combination

Convenience at your fingertips

Remember, it only takes one mistake to take your home decorating project from divine to disaster. Don’t let the paint be what stresses you out!

Choosing Paint Colours

Revere Pewter is one of the Perfect Colour Palettes I have created to inspire you. I share with you the undertone, the best whites to pair with Revere Pewter and 10 gorgeous colours that go so well with this versatile neutral. Check it out here.

I now have 50 individual Perfect Colour Palettes to help inspire you.

Collections

I also offer collections that showcase groups of 10 colours. Revere Pewter is included in my Whites & Neutrals Collection by Benjamin Moore.

My Benjamin Moore Whites & Neutrals Collection

We also have the Farrow & Ball collection with 10 classic colours,

10 Classic Farrow & Ball Colours

And my newest addition, the Sherwin Williams’ Neutral Collection.

Sherwin Williams Collection of 10 popular neutrals

Perfect For Pinning

Psst! Love Colour? Take my new colour quiz to determine which colour palette suits you best!

When You Try & Fail

Not every marketing strategy for your Interior Design business is going to be a success and that’s okay! You will still learn from every experience and grow as a person (and as an entrepreneur) when you try different things.

But remember, just because one tactic didn’t work for someone else, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you, or vice versa. I don’t consider strategies where you tried and failed as wasted time, but rather I see these as opportunities to learn, share and grow.

In Episode #3 of my Interior Design Marketing series, you’ll see how I got my first client and why the project didn’t end so well.

To catch up on all my videos for marketing your interior design business, click here & binge watch my YouTube marketing playlist.

Need more specific advice to propel your business? Contact me here!

The Easiest Way to Create A Colour Palette

Today I’m sharing an easy way to create a colour palette that’s almost always guaranteed to have super satisfying results for any interior decorating project.

Sound too good to be true? I promise that this is the real deal!

Every interior design project needs to have a ‘jumping off’ point. By this, I mean either a striking piece of artwork, or an area rug with a distinctive look, or it could even be an intricate tile design in a bathroom, kitchen or front foyer.

My favourite way to get inspiration for colour and style when decorating a clients home, tends to come from fabrics. About 90% of the time when I’m curating a design, the fabrics are what I seek out first.

To create a beautiful colour palette for your next project, try colour matching a fabric like I show you in this video with the unlikely pairing of a new IKEA fabric with Farrow & Ball Paint colours.

Even if these colours are not your taste, there is no arguing that this is a pretty colour combination!

To watch the video, click on the image below.

If you decorate a space by randomly choosing furnishings & fixed elements without having an actual plan in place, it’s likely not going to come together in a way that gives you the look that you desire. You will probably also end up wasting a lot of money along the way, and that’s never a good thing.

By having a plan, you will save money and ease the stress of any renovation or decorating project.

If you love Farrow and Ball, be sure to check out my Farrow & Ball Essential Colour Guide Classic Collection with 10 fabulous colours from F&B.

Are you into these warmer colour tones that are coming back to interior design? Comment below to let me know if this is a paint palette you could live with and love in your home.

Farrow and ball paint palette created from IKEA LIEKNY fabric

More gorgeous colour combinations from Farrow and Ball below.

Farrow and Ball ‘Fresh’ Colour palette

Farrow and Ball ‘Camouflage’ Colour palette

Farrow and ball Modern colour palette

Want help planning and choosing colours for your next Interior decorating project so you don’t waste time or money? Contact me here and let’s do this!

If you liked this video, you may also like this one where I disclose my best decorating tip ever!

See you next time!

Got a question? Ask me anything! Comment below or direct message me here on Instagram.

How I Got My First Big Budget Client

You know when something delightfully suprises you when you least expected that it would?

(Like an electric blanket & a quality iron….yeah, as I get older these things are of utmost importance to me. LOL #kiddingnotkidding)

In today’s vlog, I’m sharing ideas for marketing strategies that cost very little, yet resulted in many great clients and opportunities. That is much more exciting, isn’t it?!

This marketing idea landed me my first ‘real’ client for a custom decorating project, with a healthy budget. How did this lovely interior decorating client find me? Watch my video below and I’ll tell you!

Here is episode #2 of my YouTube video series, Marketing for your Interior Design Business.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here for more proven strategies and helpful advice for running a successful interior design or interior decorating business.

Get more CLAIRE-ITY in your business by checking out what’s on offer in my on line shop here.

Got a question for me? Comment below or contact me here.

Claire Jefford xox

Unboxing Video Benjamin Moore Neutrals & Whites

It’s like Christmas all over again today! There are two reasons for this:

1) I’m sharing my very first (but definitely NOT my last) unboxing video with you.

2) Inside this box are tools for my business that I’m totally obsessed with!

There aren’t many things that give me more pleasure than colour and organization.

Well, I guess my family and new puppy bring me more happiness, but only marginally. HAHA! #kiddingnotkidding 😉

Follow our new puppy on Instagram! @mylifeascooperthedog

Today I’m unboxing 50 large painted colour boards, also known as the ‘Core Collection’, from my good friend and THE True Colour Expert, Maria Killam.

Maria has picked her top 40 neutrals and top 10 whites from Benjamin Moore and had them painted on 11×14 inch boards.

You’ll know from watching my paint colour review videos, that I love using these boards to compare colours & explain undertones.

Watch the video by clicking the image below or go to the video here on YouTube.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel here for weekly inspiration and advice on all things related to colour & interior design.

Whenever I meet with clients for a colour consultation, I always take my 125 large painted colour boards with me. In fact, I rarely leave the house without my bag of boards any time I have an appointment related to interior design or decorating.

I’ve been using Maria’s painted boards for 6 years and when I’m looking to coordinate a neutral with tiles or stone or fabrics, 95% of the time, I can find the best colour within these samples of her Benjamin Moore Core Collection.

Large painted boards with floor tile

Painted colour boards Benjamin Moore Core Collection, get your set here

Love my large painted colour boards and want your own set?

➜ Click here to shop the large colour boards now!

To gain even more colour confidence, Maria also teaches her systems on understanding undertones all across North America. I attended her Colour workshop in 2012 for the first time and then again in 2018. Not only is investing in this hands on workshop fabulous for gaining confidence in specifying colours, but the course is also a wonderful opportunity for networking and meeting other colour enthusiasts from all around the world.

I recently interviewed Maria about her colour course. If you are thinking about attending her class, watch the video here to learn more about what’s involved.

Maria Killam interview

Check out Maria’s schedule here to see when she may be coming to your area.

2018 Class From Maria’s Long Island Colour Workshop

Follow Maria’s outstanding and always helpful colour blog here.

Got a question for me? Comment below or DM me on my Instagram account here.

Claire Jefford xox

// DISCLOSURE: Thank you for trusting me with my truthful and reliable opinion on any future purchase you may make. I always disclose affiliate or sponsored information when it is the case. If you purchase Maria’s boards, I will earn a small commission from the sale. This doesn’t affect you in any way, the price remains the same regardless. Thank you for supporting me and entrusting me to be your go-to for all things Colour and Interior Design!

The Secret to Booking More Clients

In my new video series, I’m spilling the beans on my most effective strategies for getting yourself known in your local area and solidly booking your calendar with clients.

This comes up frequently in my private Facebook group and is almost always at the top of the priority list to discuss with designers who have invested in a one on one coaching call with me.

If you know me, then you know that I can’t help but be totally transparent. After all, it’s who I am. It’s also the only way we truly learn from each other. Otherwise, what’s the point right?

Not only do I share with you my secrets on this forever trending element of any interior design business, but I also disclose actual results and some strategies that continue to get me clients every single month.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here for more proven strategies and helpful advice for running a successful interior design or interior decorating business.

Got a question for me? Comment below or contact me here.

Claire xox