While the “aesthetic” Instagram feed is fading in popularity, there is one industry where the overall look of your grid matters – and that is interior design. In such a highly visual space, your Instagram functions as a portfolio for potential clients to view and appreciate your work. Wondering how to plan your Instagram feed as an interior designer? Keep reading for interior design Instagram feed ideas and insight into my process as a social media manager for interior designers.
Planning Your Instagram Feed: Start With Your Goals
Yes, visuals matter! But when it comes to planning your Instagram feed, you don’t want to start with the photos. Instead, begin the process by looking at your goals with Instagram and your business as a whole.
Are you using Instagram to show off your portfolio? Or are you hoping to attract more leads to your interior design business? Do you want to build connections with vendors and contractors who could refer work to you and vice versa?
The answers to these questions, along with your capacity for posting and the other pieces of your marketing funnel, will determine the direction you take with your Instagram account.
P.S. If attracting new design clients is one of your goals for your Instagram, bookmark this blog post.
Deciding on Content Topics
We’re not at the visuals just yet – now it’s time to look at what you’ll be talking about on Instagram.
Your projects are an obvious choice, but I also recommend sharing content around
- your design projects
- your expertise and background in design
- your thoughts on the design industry and trends you can/can’t get behind
- your personal life and stories outside of design
For our ABC Social Media Management clients, we like to mix in a sales-focused post every 3-4 posts, while the rest of the time we share content geared towards one of the following (general) goals:
- Reach & growth
- Engagement & relatibility
- Connection and trust-building
Like in this case study of one of our clients who we’ve worked with for (almost) two years!
Need more ideas? Check out this blog with post ideas and this one with story ideas for interior designers!
Using a Visual Planner to Map Out Your Photos
Now we get to the visual part of your feed: Deciding which photos go with your post topics and reviewing the order you’re sharing those photos!
For some content topics, it will be obvious – for example, if you’re sharing a project spotlight or a photo for the team. But if you’re talking about your design process or featuring a particular room you enjoy designing, you have more options to choose from. One my favorite ways to make sure our clients’ grids look aesthetically pleasing and show off their well-rounded portfolio is to use a mock IG Grid I created in Canva:
As I plan out posts I upload the photo I’ll be using so I can see how everything flows (and make sure we don’t repeat projects too close to one another, or have three bedroom shots in a row).
Steal this template to use for yourself (it’s free!)
What If I Don’t Have a Ton of Content?
When you’re starting out it might feel daunting to come up with content to share. But don’t fall into the trap of using other designer’s photos! You can always turn to iphone photos and stock photography to fill the gap. And as you work on more projects, it’s so important to invest in professional photography and videography to show off your hard work.
Don’t miss this blog post where I share more of my recommendations on how to create more content without violating someone’s copyright.
Final Thoughts: Interior Designer Instagram Feed Ideas
There is no one way to design a great Instagram feed. And if the thought of visually planning your feed stresses you out, you can just go with the flow! But if you want your grid to have an elevated look reflective of your design work, using this simple template I share here and taking the time to thoughtfully plan out your content topics will go a long way.
