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Have you started the Side Hustle Challenge yet? If not, now is a great time to get started!
One of the things we talk about in the challenge is all the different side hustles that are out there. The Side Hustle Spotlight series are interviews with people who share their side hustles, how they got started, and how their side hustle has helped them achieve their travel dreams. Side hustles are not one size fits all, so these spotlights give a glimpse into the pros and cons of those side hustles.
Previous Side Hustle Spotlights
- Jessica- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Jeremy- Reserves and National Guard
- Jenifer- Seasonal UPS Delivery Driver
- Rod- Pizza Delivery
- Jennie- Etsy Shop
- Breanne- Piano Teacher
Our next interview is with Alyson. She is a stay-a-home mom to two energetic kids who are always keeping her on her toes. When she’s not chasing toddlers around, she dabbles in interior design, photography, and cake decorating.
What is your side hustle?
Interior design/staging homes to sell.
How long have you been doing it?
About 2.5 years
How many hours a day/week did you spend on it in the beginning?
Maybe a couple more hours a week more than I do now as I was still figuring out the most time efficient way to do things.
How many hours a day/week do you spend on it now?
During the busy season (spring and summer), up to about 15-20 hours a week. During the slow season (fall and winter), only about 5-10 hours a week.
Is the money you earned worth the time you spent on it? Why or why not?
Absolutely. Interior design/home staging pays pretty well on an hourly basis, but even if it didn’t, it’s a job that I truly love doing and I can’t say the same thing about any of the jobs I’ve had where I worked for someone else. I had always had an interest in home design and I was already spending hours a week browsing design blogs, keeping up on design trends, learning to DIY for my own home, so to transition to getting paid and doing it as part of my job was a dream come true.
How long did it take to earn your first paycheck?
About a month.
Are there any requirements or restrictions that might keep others from starting this side hustle?
I believe you need to have somewhat of an eye for aesthetics and design to begin with, but with a lot of research (and/or courses), I think most people could make some money off of this if they wanted to!
Did you do any training or take any courses before you started?
No formal training or classes, just a lot of studying from design blogs, social media, etc.
How do you bring in new clients?
Currently, most of my clients actually come from word of mouth but social media is a huge help! I get a lot of inquiries just by posting photos on Facebook and Instagram!
Were there any other costs associated with starting your side hustle?
I first got started in this business by writing a blog post and showing some before/afters of my own house that we had done a lot of DIY projects on and decorated. But besides the costs of the projects/decorating on my house, there really weren’t any start up costs.
What do you like best about what you do?
Well as I mentioned, I’ve always loved interior design (literally, from the time I was about 8 or 9 and telling my parents how to decorate their house), so turning one of my favorite creative interests into a job was a no-brainer. But besides that aspect, I love the flexibility of being able to make my own hours and still be at home with my kids most of the time. I also LOVE seeing the finished product. Seeing before/after pictures of houses I helped to design is the BEST feeling.
What is your least favorite part?
I think we all have our own ideas and opinions of how we would like our own home to look. Sometimes I have to remind myself to think objectively, not about what I would want or choose for the house, but how to work in the client’s style in a way that will still look good. Some clients can be very picky about exactly what they want and I don’t get as much freedom to do my job, but I’m still responsible for the finished project looking perfect for them.
On a similar note, when I stage houses to sell, I have to keep in mind what the target market would want, not what I like. Current home trends in the real estate world are slightly behind what’s trending in the design world, so I have to make the tough choice between taking a risk and going with the newer trends or playing it safe and not always loving the finished look quite as much.
Would you recommend this side hustle to others?
Yes, if you have an eye for aesthetics and love design! It’s one of my favorite things to see a client go from just tolerating their home, to loving the space they’re in.
Any tips or words of encouragement to share with my readers?
I had never really even thought about turning my love for design into anything until I started getting approached for it. If you have something you’re good at, just go for it! Make a website and do a little research about SEO (search engine optimization). Social media is HUGE for small businesses these days. Make an account and post often!
