What I’m Doing Differently in My Interior Design Studio This Year

New Year’s resolutions are often disclosed with a warning of near-inevitable bathos - a knowing grin that acknowledges how likely one is to stick to their promises, personal or professional. Come February, if you’re still pursuing goals set against the backdrop of fireworks and popping bottles, I think we can all consider that a ‘win.’ For business owners and their senior teams, the start of a new year is a natural moment for reflection, too. The early months of the year sometimes offer a rare pause between projects, and a chance to step back from the day-to-day and consider what’s working, what could be refined, and where the studio is heading next.

For Holly Matthews, Studio Director of North London-based interior design studio Mia Karlsson Interior Design, the start of a new year is about setting clear goals, reviewing lessons from the past year, strengthening the processes behind the scenes, and improving the client experience.

In this Q&A, Matthews shares what she’s doing differently in 2026, from revamping early-stage cost transparency and defining the roles within a project team more clearly, to building a more streamlined studio workflow that supports bespoke design. She also reflects on the lessons that 2025 has taught her and her team, the importance of conversation over documentation, and why greater transparency across the wider interior design industry would benefit everyone.

Do you usually make professional New Year’s resolutions? What have they been in the past?

We don’t tend to set traditional New Year’s resolutions as a studio. Instead, we review wins and learnings continuously as projects complete, and we refine our process in real time so we’re always improving.

That said, the first couple of weeks of January - when things are a little quieter - are invaluable for stepping back and looking at the bigger picture, what we want to build on, what we want to change, and where we’d like the business to go next.

In previous years, our wider goals have included prioritising UK-based suppliers where possible, committing to fairs, showroom visits and supplier events so the team stays current, welcoming regular supplier presentations into the studio to keep creativity high, strengthening our social and PR output, and investing more time at the very start of the client journey so expectations are set well from day one. Alongside that, there are always operational goals too - team structure, studio space needs, and being intentional about the types of projects we want to win.

What kind of goals will you be setting for 2026?

A key focus for 2026 is helping clients understand, early on, what a well-rounded project team looks like, who needs to be involved, when, and why. We’re often a client’s first point of contact, which we love, but we want to be even clearer about our role versus others that may be required as a project develops - whether that’s planning, heritage input, an architect, project management, a Principal Designer, and so on.

There’s a real balance to strike. We never want to overwhelm people before a project has even begun, but we do want clients to feel properly supported and informed so there are no gaps later. Building and maintaining a trusted network of specialists - and bringing them in at the right moment - is a big part of strengthening that client experience.

Another goal (and I suspect this is industry-wide) is improving early-stage cost clarity. We already build budgets at the outset, but we’re working towards an even more reliable way of forecasting total project costs before contractor selection. The aim is for clients to make great design decisions with confidence, without worrying about surprises further down the line.

What hasn't been working in 2025 and have you learned any lessons?

One of our biggest lessons from 2025 is that even the clearest documentation in the world can’t replace a good conversation. You can set out the process and costs beautifully on paper, but you can’t assume it’s been absorbed unless you’ve talked it through.

The same applies to technical drawings. Even when clients feel comfortable reviewing them, it’s our responsibility to walk through key drawings in detail, making sure everyone is genuinely aligned on what’s being signed off, and what will ultimately be built. That extra time upfront pays dividends later.

Are you focusing on any broader business goals in the new year? Such as sustainability, profitability, or creative fulfilment?

Sustainability remains central to how we source, what we choose, how we specify it, and who we work with. Alongside that, our broader goal is efficiency. It’s important to us to build a studio workflow that’s streamlined behind the scenes, while keeping the design outcome deeply bespoke.

We’re proud that every project feels individual and personal, but we want the process that supports that creativity to be consistent and robust. Ultimately, that improves the client experience, supports profitability, and gives the team more space to do their best work.

Is there anything about the broader interior design industry that you would like to see change in 2026?

I’d love to see greater transparency across the industry, particularly around process and pricing. There can be a lot of gatekeeping, which makes it harder for people to learn from one another. I understand the desire to protect a competitive edge, but I’ve also seen how powerful knowledge-sharing can be, especially at events and panel discussions.

When people can ask honest questions and receive practical, candid answers, it raises standards for everyone - and ultimately strengthens the industry as a whole.

What I’m Doing Differently in My Interior Design Studio This Year

Do you usually make professional New Year’s resolutions? What have they been in the past?

What kind of goals will you be setting for 2026?

What hasn't been working in 2025 and have you learned any lessons?

Are you focusing on any broader business goals in the new year? Such as sustainability, profitability, or creative fulfilment?

Is there anything about the broader interior design industry that you would like to see change in 2026?

Anya Cooklin-Lofting

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