Ideas & Opportunities

Do you have an eye on how furniture should be arranged in a home? Have you always dreamed of becoming an interior designer but never pursued it and opted instead for a 9 to 5 corporate job?

It’s never too late to start doing what you like best. And if shifting careers is too daunting for you, do it on the sidelines. You can still style homes and even earn extra for it. All you have to do is just get the word out there and start!

What will I be doing?
Arranging furniture and adding accessories in various spaces in a home for pictorials

What will I need to start?
Issa Villar studied architecture and styles homes for Real Living magazine, and she says a degree is not necessary but you must understand the principles of interior design. Graduates of the visual arts and those with an eye for beauty and talent in creating appealing spaces may also style homes

Who will my customers be?
Home and lifestyle magazines, newspapers, advertising firms, and homeowners who want their furniture and home accessories rearranged to create beautiful and practical spaces

How much should I charge?
Gwyn Guanzon has been styling homes for five years, and he receives a fixed rate of P2,500 per editorial work. He charges P5,000 per layout for advertising pictorials depending on where the photos will come out (brochures, posters, print ads, etc.), but if you’re styling for a photograph to come out on a billboard, you may charge as much as P30,000 per setup

How much will I make?
Home stylists are rare, and if you’re able to build a portfolio and a good reputation, you can make much. Guanzon gets four to eight editorial projects monthly and 15 bookings in December.

The interview originally appeared in the March 2006 issue of Entrepreneur Philippines.