Key Takeaways

In 2022, Morris took interior design classes and started her business on the side.

A 2024 layoff motivated Morris to go all-in and lean into designing for historic properties.

She saw about $48,000 in take-home pay year one and expects about $100,000 in 2026.

This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Abigail Morris, founder of Chicago-based full-service interior design studio Abigail Morris Interiors . In 2022, Morris started her interior design business on the side, building it as she continued her full-time career in corporate tech. After being laid off at the end of 2024, Morris went all-in on her business. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Abigail Morris Interiors. Abigail Morris.

I’ve been doing interior design in some form or other my entire life without really realizing it. Mostly in giving unsolicited advice growing up — I always had strong opinions on colors and fabrics and things like that.…