Thoughts on Interior Design Specialization – Residential vs. Commercial?

[Ayan Rahat]

Hey everyone,

I’m curious to hear your experiences or insights when it comes to interior design contracting in the UAE (or anywhere really) — particularly in how contractors or studios choose to specialize in certain niches like villas, offices, clinics, or hospitality.

I run a luxury-focused interior design firm in Dubai and over the years, we’ve naturally evolved into working more on villa interiors, custom office fitouts, and high-end apartment designs. But lately, we've seen a growing demand for niche sectors like clinic and salon interiors, which come with very different requirements — especially in terms of compliance, space planning, and user experience.

So I’m wondering:

• Do most contractors/designers here choose to focus on one niche, or do you keep it broad across sectors?
• Is specialization better for building long-term client trust and authority, or does it limit project opportunities?
• How do you see the future of interior contracting evolving, especially with smart technology and sustainability being more in demand?

Would love to hear from anyone working in interior fitouts, or managing multiple project types.

Thanks in advance!
– Ayan

[NotAllThere]

Wrong kinds of contractor. We're mostly freelance IT workers or engineers.

[Paddy]

Hey everyone,

I’m curious to hear your experiences or insights when it comes to interior design contracting in the UAE (or anywhere really) — particularly in how contractors or studios choose to specialize in certain niches like villas, offices, clinics, or hospitality.

I run a luxury-focused interior design firm in Dubai and over the years, we’ve naturally evolved into working more on villa interiors, custom office fitouts, and high-end apartment designs. But lately, we've seen a growing demand for niche sectors like clinic and salon interiors, which come with very different requirements — especially in terms of compliance, space planning, and user experience.

So I’m wondering:

• Do most contractors/designers here choose to focus on one niche, or do you keep it broad across sectors?
• Is specialization better for building long-term client trust and authority, or does it limit project opportunities?
• How do you see the future of interior contracting evolving, especially with smart technology and sustainability being more in demand?

Would love to hear from anyone working in interior fitouts, or managing multiple project types.

Thanks in advance!
– Ayan

Do something about the slums