Ever wondered what it’s like to live a day in the shoes of an interior designer? Spoiler alert: those shoes are usually covered in paint splatters, dust, or the occasional rogue swatch of fabric. But for the sake of glamour, let’s pretend they’re chic little block-heeled mules.

7:00 AM: Coffee, Emails, and Existential Throw Pillow Questions
Like most designers, I start my morning with coffee. Strong coffee. Because there’s nothing like waking up to three urgent emails asking whether “eggshell white” will clash with “linen white.” (The answer: probably not, but yes, I’ll lose sleep over it.)

woman, morning, emails, night, glasses, brunette, robe, laptop, bun, home, office

9:00 AM: The Hunt Begins
No two days are alike, but one thing’s for sure: I’ll be running around town hunting down the perfect rug. Clients say, “Just something neutral,” and suddenly I’m in aisle 47 of HomeGoods, questioning whether a gray-beige rug is too gray or too beige.

woman, shopping cart, store, flannel, jacket, shirt, boots, jeans, bun, brunette,

11:00 AM: Power Tools & Paint Chips
Designers are part artist, part therapist, and part construction manager. One moment I’m soothing a client’s fears about a bold wallpaper choice, the next I’m sweet-talking a contractor who thinks “shiplap” is a curse word. By now, I’ve also collected approximately 942 paint chips. Will I ever use them? No. Will I keep them forever? Yes.

woman, brunette, stressed, pressured, nail polish, blue, orange, brown, fluffy

1:00 PM: Lunch (a.k.a. Pinterest Scrolling)
I say I’m having lunch, but really I’m pinning kitchens I don’t live in and scrolling through “cozy living room ideas” like my life depends on it. Sandwich in one hand, mood board in the other. Multitasking at its finest.

woman, tea, pen, quill pen, tea cup, donut, desk, phone, food, hand, nail polish, oreo, books, bookshelf

3:00 PM: Client Meeting Mayhem
This is where the real fun begins. Clients say things like:

“We love minimalism, but can we also have lots of stuff?”
“We want a bold pop of color, but not too bold… and not really color.”
“Can you make it look like this photo I found on Instagram?” (The photo: Versailles.)

interior designer, swatches, bulletin board, woman, pink sweater, laptop, chair, desk, sticky notes, water, water bottle

5:00 PM: The Big Reveal (Sort Of)
I may not be on HGTV (yet), but reveals are my favorite. Whether it’s a new sofa or a fully redesigned space, seeing clients light up is what makes the endless trips to Target (and returns to Target) worth it.

women, brunettes, staging, placing, setting up, bookshelf, books, decor, candles, white shirts, jeans, baskets

7:00 PM: Collapse, Repeat
Finally, I kick off those chic-but-questionably-practical shoes, grab another cup of coffee (because why not?), and collapse on the couch—staring at my own living room, which ironically hasn’t been updated in years. Classic designer move. (Let’s be real our night doesn’t end at 7 p.m. but it would be nice.)

tired, woman, brunette, robe, kitchen, dining room, family room, sofa, coffee table, remotes, mess pillows, comfy

Moral of the story?
Interior design isn’t just about pretty things—it’s about problem solving, creativity, and occasionally bribing a delivery guy to carry a sofa through a doorway that is clearly two inches too small.

But hey, someone’s gotta make the world a more beautiful (and well-pillowed) place.

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