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There’s big money in home decor – $747.75B to be exact – and it’s got room for your niche. It’s time to turn your eye for interior design and fresh ideas into a home decor brand.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to start your own home decor business: from choosing a niche and products to setting up your store and growing an audience.
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Understanding the home decor industry
The home decor retail industry is huge and among the fastest-growing, as people invest in functional, visually appealing spaces. Opportunities range from minimalist designs that offer quick personalization to high-end, luxury interiors.
Main trends in the home decor industry:
- Personalized decor is driving sales
Buyers want products that reflect their identity. Custom prints, monograms, and meaningful designs are major factors in purchase decisions. - Wall art, plants, and accent furniture sell the most
Personality-driven decor – greenery, canvas prints, and sculptural pieces – ranks high for home shoppers. - Online shopping is the default
Nearly 30% of home goods in 2024 were bought online, and that share continues to rise as customers seek convenience and variety.
Understanding trends isn’t just for inspiration – it’s how you stay relevant, price smart, and design products people actually want. Trends shift, tastes change – keep up, and your brand remains competitive.
How to start a home decor business: Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Develop a solid business plan
When you’re first learning how to start an online home decor business, start with a clear, comprehensive business plan. Create a roadmap outlining your business goals, strategies, and the steps to reach them.
Key elements of a business plan:
- In-depth research: Use tools like Statista or Google Trends to analyze the home decor market, competitors, customer trends, and market gaps.
- Target audience: Define who you want to reach (online shoppers, homeowners, interior designers, etc) using customer segmentation tools like SurveyMonkey or Typeform.
- Business objectives: Use tools like LivePlan or Bizplan to set financial goals for your first year with pre-designed templates for easy budgeting and projections.
- Budget and initial investment: Estimate startup costs with budgeting apps like Mint or financial planning software like QuickBooks. Cover everything from sourcing products to building a business website and running marketing campaigns.
Additionally, tools like Trello or Monday.com help you organize your steps and stay on track during the launch process.
Step 2: Choose your niche and products
You can’t sell everything. The home decor business market is huge – find a specific product to define your brand and establish a solid customer base.
Whether you specialize in decor items for small apartments or luxurious home furnishings for larger spaces, determining your niche is your way to happy, returning customers.
Popular home decor niches:
- Wall art and framed prints
- House plants and botanical decor
- Accent pieces like candles, vases, and pillows
- Furniture and larger home furnishings
- Personalized glassware
After choosing your niche, source high-quality products to meet customer expectations. Work with reputable suppliers so your items are well-made and long-lasting. Durable, high-quality customized home decor will build trust with customers.
Proven home decor bestsellers:
Stand out in the competitive home decor space with in-demand products. Use the Printify Catalog to find popular, relevant items you can start selling immediately – without the risk of holding inventory.
1. Candles and aromatherapy
Scented candles remain top sellers in wellness, holiday, and gifting niches. They’re small, affordable luxuries people buy to treat themselves or others. Personalize scented candles with custom labels for seasonal collections or self-care messages.
2. Wall art
Wall decor is a home styling staple. Canvases, posters, and tapestries are bestsellers year-round, especially paired with trending aesthetics like minimalism, boho, or modern abstract. A classic canvas print makes a reliable core product, while indoor wall tapestries appeal to younger buyers seeking bold, affordable statement pieces.
3. Decorative drinkware
Drinkware is both functional and decorative. Glassware like whiskey tumblers or custom mugs are big hits for man caves, bar carts, or housewarming gifts. The custom whiskey glass pairs well with vintage or masculine-themed designs.
4. Throw pillows and soft goods
Pillows are high-converting decor items – they’re practical, easy to mix-and-match, and perfect for seasonal updates. The square poly canvas pillow offers a generous design area ideal for showcasing patterns, quotes, or art that fits your niche and brand.
5. Small-format photo displays
Minimalist home offices and gift buyers are drawn to sleek, space-saving decor like photo blocks. They’re popular for personalized gifts, pet portraits, or milestone moments. Design a custom photo block to tap into this trend.
These categories are consistent top performers across the industry, and with Print on Demand, you can test and iterate fast.
High-quality product images on your website are the first thing your customers see.
Order product samples to take real-life photos and accurately capture the colors, textures, and details. Engaging visual content gets people hooked.
Step 3: Set up your online home decor store
A strong online presence is non-negotiable. Your business website and eCommerce platform will be the cornerstone of your online home decor business.
How to set up your online store:
- Choose an online sales channel: Pick a platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Etsy. Use Printify to sync products with zero upfront inventory.
- Design your store: Keep your layout clean and product images front and center. Marketplaces are simple to set up, but offer less customization than your own store.
- Create product listings: Highlight key features and benefits clearly. If you’re stuck, look at top-performing competitors and adapt what works.
Add payment and shipping options: Offer secure checkout and flexible shipping to match buyer expectations – fast, easy, and reliable.
To attract organic traffic, incorporate relevant keywords like ‘home decor business,’ ‘home decor store,’ and ‘decorative items’ throughout your online store.
Use SEMrush and Ahrefs to identify high-performing keywords, or try Etsy’s search bar to see trending phrases.
Optimizing your SEO strategy will improve rankings and drive more visitors to your online store.
Step 4: Market your decor business
When your store goes live, it’s time for effective marketing strategies to reach your target market and drive them toward your interior design goodies.
Simple marketing strategies that work:
- Social media marketing: Showcase your products on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Add relevant hashtags, join trends, and post regularly.
- Influencer collaboration: Partner with creators who align with your brand. A few hand-picked gifts can unlock authentic exposure and trust.
- Email marketing: Build your mailing list and keep it engaged with product launches, sales, and behind-the-scenes updates.
Content marketing: Share value-driven content – DIYs, styling tips, and trend roundups – to attract and connect with your audience.
Professional product photography converts. Original, well-lit images help customers picture your products in their homes, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.
Maintain an active online presence. Create a strong profile through digital marketing and sell your brand on social media platforms to attract and engage potential clients with your home decor.
Step 5: Manage inventory and fulfillment
Strong inventory management keeps your home decor business running smoothly. Monitor your product levels to avoid stockouts and shipping delays.
Key tips for managing inventory:
- Use software: Tools like Ordoro or Zoho Inventory will track inventory real-time and update it across all your sales channels. That way, you won’t accidentally sell out-of-stock items and cancel orders.
- Work with reliable suppliers: This will ensure that your products are always in stock and orders are fulfilled on time.
To avoid dealing with inventory completely, start a home decor store with a print-on-demand service like Printify. This way, your only focus will be on your brand and designs – grow your business, design products, and our partners will print, package, and ship your decor items.
Building a strong brand and customer base
When you launch a home decor online store, your brand identity is what sets you apart. Speak to your potential customers in their own terms, matching their tastes, preferences, and lifestyle.
Create a consistent brand voice and visual appeal
Create a consistent brand voice and visuals that reflect your values and product aesthetics. Whether your brand is about sustainability, luxury, or minimalism, aligning your message with your audience’s interests will build trust.
Drive sales through beautiful visuals
High-quality and consistent product images across your website and social media reinforce your brand identity. Great visuals help shoppers picture your products at home and keep them coming back.
If you’re not a skilled designer, find design services online – Fiverr is a great place where to hire artists that can help with creating visuals without breaking bank.
Provide stellar customer service
Whether you’re starting a physical store or an online one, excellent customer service – during and after a sale – is critical to your business.
Add a personal touch: Show interest in your buyers, help them with any issues, or simply ask for feedback. Online stores with high ratings and lots of reviews attract more buyers.
Customer satisfaction encourages repeat business and establishes a good reputation. In the long run, a great business idea only works if it’s backed by great execution and an engaged audience.
Advanced marketing techniques for your home decor business
Making your home decor business idea come to life takes more than just great product listings and a polished website.
When you’ve done the market research, found your customers, and started selling, try these strategies to drive even more orders:
- Partnerships with local businesses: Collaborate with local businesses like real estate agents or interior designers to cross-promote each other’s services and reach new audiences.
- User-generated content: Encourage your customers to share photos of your products in their homes. Repost these images on your social media accounts or website, showing real-world use of your decor and building trust with potential buyers.
- Seasonal promotions: Run themed campaigns and promotions around holidays to encourage purchases.
- Online workshops: Host webinars on home decorating tips or trends to engage potential customers and showcase your products.
- Offer bundles: Pair items like candles and blankets for themed sets or gifting, and cross-sell by suggesting matching products during checkout to increase order value.
Market your home decor businesses year-round, but plan ahead so you’re ready for every major sales season. Go beyond Christmas or personalized gifts for her on Valentine’s Day. Build tailored decor collections for gifting and life milestones like weddings, baby showers, graduations, and housewarmings.
Showcase personalized keepsakes – like photo blocks, custom pillows, or even wrapping paper and gift bags – that make memorable gifts. Explore ideas for personalized housewarming gifts that can be adapted for any special occasion.
Additional tips for running a successful home decor business
As you continue to grow your business online, keep these additional tips in mind to increase your chances of long-term success.
Keep up with the trends
The home decor industry changes fast. Track trends so your products stay relevant and sell. Subscribe to magazines such as Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and Design Milk to gain expert insights.
Ways to stay on top of online trends:
- Use social media platforms like Instagram to follow hashtags like #HomeDecorTrends and #InteriorDesign and interact with niche influencers.
- Browse trending Pinterest Pins about home decor and create boards to visualize emerging styles.
- Check TikTok (e.g., #HomeDecorTok) to find fresh ideas and test what resonates using short videos.
Explore marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon to analyze best-selling home decor items and customer reviews.
Develop supplier relationships
Strong supplier relationships lead to better pricing, priority on restocks, and early access to new products.
Before comitting, research potential suppliers who share your brand’s values and product requirements:
- Decide what types of home decor products you want to sell, such as wall art, accessories, or furniture. This will help you narrow down your search for a supplier.
- Find manufacturers and wholesalers using platforms like Printify, Alibaba, ThomasNet, or Maker’s Row. Read reviews and ratings to determine their credibility.
- Attend trade shows to see products in person and build contacts.
Once you’ve found a reliable supplier, negotiate terms to benefit your home decor business:
- Discounts as your order volume increases. Suppliers will often offer better pricing for larger quantities, which will increase your profit margin.
- Discuss payment terms. Some suppliers offer net payment terms (e.g., pay within 30 days), which can help with cash flow management.
- Look into ways to reduce shipping costs. Suppliers may offer lower rates for larger orders or more cost-effective shipping methods.
To strengthen long‑term partnerships:
- Tell suppliers about your experiences with their products. This will encourage them to continue providing quality products and improve where needed.
- Prioritize suppliers that meet your business needs the best. Loyalty can result in better deals, first access to new products, and priority service.
- Acknowledge milestones. A simple thank-you note can go a long way.
Automate the processes for efficiency
Automation streamlines the busywork of your home decor business.
Use various automation apps to manage a wide range of processes, from email marketing to customer support.
- Mailchimp: allows you to send personalized email campaigns.
- Stock management apps like TradeGecko: automatically track stock levels.
- Localization tools: tailor your content and marketing messages for different regions.
- Customer support platforms like Zendesk: allow you to provide seamless support via automated responses and chatbots.
Done right, automation solutions raise response speed, cut manual work, and lift conversions – so your business runs smoother and grows faster.
Final thoughts on starting an online home decor business
Starting a home decor business online isn’t just possible – it’s powerful. With the right strategy, clear niche, and products people love, you’ll turn your design passion into a thriving brand. From planning and building your store to marketing it, every step takes you closer to a profitable business.
Got the ideas? Time to launch. With quality products, a distinct voice, and an engaging online presence, you’ll be decorating homes and turning a profit in no time.
And with platforms like Printify handling the sourcing and fulfillment, you can focus on what really matters: growing your brand and designing products your audience will love.
