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7. Buy Once, Buy Well
Patricia Butler, interior designer at Patricia Butler Interiors in Kentucky, is guided by the words of two design visionaries. “First, ‘Fashion fades, only style remains the same,’ which is a quote from Coco Chanel. It reminds me to be true to myself,” Butler says.
“The second is, ‘Buy the best and you will only cry once,’ from interior designer Miles Redd. I love this one for its practicality.
“Years ago, I saw two torchieres that I desperately wanted but were just outside my budget,” Butler says. “So I purchased two from an online discount company. When they arrived, I was terribly disappointed in the quality. I tried to return them, but the return would have cost more than what I had paid. Eventually, after waiting and saving, I purchased the original torchieres. Moral of the story: It is better on your pocketbook to wait and save for the real deal.”
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8. Curves and Sculptural Forms
Curves are making a strong comeback, whether in furniture, cabinetry, tile or mirrors. Fluted finishes, curved sofas and bubble silhouettes soften hard angles, add sculptural interest and create a sense of calm. These rounded forms also bring visual flow and comfort.
“Furniture and decor are taking on more sculptural shapes,” designer Whitney Ray of Wyeth Ray Interiors says. “From curved sofas to asymmetrical mirrors and stone tables with softened edges, these forms add visual interest while evoking a sense of calm and connection to nature. This trend bridges art and function, often blurring the line between furniture and sculpture.”
In this Los Angeles living room by Mark Design, curvy furniture, organic-shaped mirrors, a ribbed coffee table and arched console accessories highlight the trend. The shapes, palette and boucle sofa fabric also contribute to the room’s organic modern style.
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Is your yard a little too sunny for comfort? The right mix of shade sources not only can cool things down and make your outdoor spaces more inviting, but also can enhance the overall design of your landscape. To help you find the best approach, eight landscape experts share their take on the pros and cons of shade options ranging from quick fixes to long-term investments.
A few themes stand out in their advice: Umbrellas are hard to beat for instant shade and flexibility, pergolas and other structures deliver the most reliable coverage for outdoor living, and planting a shade tree is the best investment for natural shade.
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7. Lawn and Garden Care Service
A lawn and garden care service can take care of mowing, to be sure, but even if you prefer to cut your own grass, there may be some tasks worth hiring a pro to take care of. A gardener can help set up and maintain a drip irrigation and sprinkler system, trim hedges, prune rosebushes, and even handle seasonal leaf and snow removal. Or you may want to look for a gardener who designs gardens from scratch or has a specialty, like creating drought-tolerant landscapes or edible gardens.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
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Sakai shares his top tips for other small-business owners moving into a leadership role:
Be prepared to let go of hands-on tasks. “For me, the hardest part [of moving into management] was stepping away from designing floor plans,” he says. “I loved doing them. But by offloading that task, I freed myself to focus on what the firm needed, which was strategic leadership and growth.”
Invest in solid processes while staying nimble. “It’s crucial to build and refine systems and processes for consistency of quality as your business grows,” Sakai says. “But they must be flexible to adapt to industry trends and new challenges. We’ve spent a lot of time developing quality-control processes and checklists. But we evolve them constantly to stay relevant — otherwise, you risk become outdated.”
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. “If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing,” Sakai says. “Growth comes with discomfort. It’s important to allow yourself and your team to step back sometimes, but also to push forward when the time is right.”
Be transparent. “We’re transparent with everything — our financials, goals and client fees,” he says. “Transparency builds trust internally and with clients, fostering a culture of collaboration.”
Think long-term. “When you’re managing a project, you’re thinking about the next hour, the next day,” Sakai says. “As CEO, I’ve learned to think in 10-year chunks and frame day-to-day problems within the broader context of the firm’s reputation and goals.”
Empower others. “Always train your replacement,” Sakai says. “When someone can replace you in your current role, you can evolve into something new. Growth isn’t about holding back — it’s about building others up.”
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
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Przygoda-Montgomery also believes that a thoughtful layout and comfortable seating are essential for creating an inviting landscape, especially if the space will be used for entertaining. “If there’s not a comfortable place to sit or a surface to set down a drink, guests won’t linger long,” she says.
Przygoda-Montgomery, who designed the shaded patio in Oro Valley, Arizona, seen here, says that a way to assess whether your yard is guest-ready is to actually host something. “If people are left standing awkwardly or are unsure where to gather, it’s a sign that the space needs better flow and a better furniture arrangement,” she says.
How to Create an Inviting Outdoor Seating Area
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Time-Saving Templates
“Using templates is one of the best time-saving techniques I’ve used in my various businesses over the years,” says contractor Travis Logan of Handyman Rescue Team in Seattle.
“I first started using templates, or scripts, in my early sales career after college,” he says. “By using proven sales scripts and rebuttals, I could quickly and easily replicate the success of those who came before me, since they were fine-tuned and honed over the years through actual customer interactions.
“Now, having templates ready to go eliminates the need to type out individual responses, since we have established wording and scripts for new-customer replies, existing-customer follow-ups and post-project review requests,” Logan says.
“This frees up time to spend on other critical administrative, operational or managerial tasks.”
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Industry Overview
Awareness of AI already is widespread across the construction and design industry, with nearly 7 in 10 professionals (69%) reporting familiarity with the technology. Just 23% say they’re not very familiar, and only 8% have had no exposure at all, underscoring AI’s rapid emergence as a topic most pros are actively tracking.
The industry overview section of the report combines data from firms offering residential services, commercial services or both in construction and design. These include remodelers, builders, interior designers, architects, design-build professionals, and specialty contractors and trades such as electricians, plumbers and roofers.
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8. Deborah Gliksman, Urban Oasis Landscape Design, Los Angeles
Focus on natives. Some of Deborah Gliksman’s favorite shrubs from California are the tall ‘Dark Star’ ceanothus (Ceanothus ‘Dark Star’, zones 8 to 10) and the smaller ‘Valley Violet’ ceanothus (Ceanothus maritimus ‘Valley Violet’, zones 8 to 10). Gliksman also recommends ‘Aromas’ sage (Salvia ‘Aromas’, zones 8 to 10), bush anemone (Carpenteria californica, Zone 9), ‘De La Mina’ Cedros Island verbena (Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’, zones 8 to 10), globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua, zones 6 to 9) and St. Catherine’s lace (Eriogonum giganteum, zones 9 to 11). “They’re all stunning shrubs,” she says.
For perennials, Gliksman often uses yarrow (Achillea millefolium, zones 3 to 9), monkeyflower (Mimulus spp.), penstemons and Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana, zones 6 to 10). For ground covers, she loves ‘Silver Carpet’ aster (Corethrogyne filaginifolia ‘Silver Carpet’, zones 8 to 10), ground currant (Ribes spp.) and seaside daisy (Erigeron glaucus, zones 8 to 10).
What not to plant. Gliksman advises against using invasive plants. Besides possibly taking over your garden and even your neighborhood, she says, they can compete with native species and threaten biodiversity.
Your turn: What are your favorite low-maintenance plants to grow in your garden? Tell us in the Comments.
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Once you have your plan for the day, it’s a good idea to work out an effective timeline. “I block out time in meaningful chunks, so I know I can achieve something and make progress in whatever area I’m working on at that time,” Higgins says.
Take into consideration factors that influence the best time for each task. This could be the need to work around the schedules of clients or contractors, but it could also be influenced by how your productivity ebbs and flows throughout the day. If you’re a morning person, perhaps schedule tasks that require concentration earlier on, for example.
“I find using an online [calendar] keeps me organized, not just for appointments, but tasks too,” interior designer Ann Cope says. In addition to setting aside blocks of time to work on your business, she also recommends scheduling breaks away from the desk.
6 Proven Time Management Tips for Home Professionals