Category: Uncategorized

Bringing Your Business (and Accounting) Up to Speed

Our success as a small business is inextricably tied to our interest in finance and bookkeeping. When we first started Bedrooms, Designed, we knew that one business aspect was more important than the rest: balancing the books. You might say, well, I’m good at doing my own taxes. Why should I have anything to worry about?

In theory, this shouldn’t be a source of stress. The two of us worked at a bank before launching our business—we know how to do taxes, and we know how to do other people’s taxes. However, doing your business taxes, personal taxes, and payroll taxes on a biweekly or monthly basis is, well… it’s pretty tough. Add that to the baseline stress of managing your business—assuming you get over the hump of starting your own design business—and you have a tricky situation on your hands.

For most every small business owner, we have one piece of advice: DON’T do your own taxes. Running a small business is a lot of work, especially when you begin to hire additional workers. Between figuring out your own salary, their paychecks, and when you should be paying quarterly and annually, you’ll run into the same problem that kicked you into starting the business itself—a lack of balance.

Sarah and I invested in wage reporting software early on, and we haven’t looked back. Now that we have around a dozen designers and individuals working for us, our software can function as a wage withholding tool; calculating and printing paychecks would normally be a full-time job, but it’s as easy as imputing data when you find the right software. Bedrooms, Designed would not be the thriving business it is today without smart accounting and software choices. Take it from two former bankers: it’s worth the investment.

Current Bedroom Trends

Trends go in and out of style faster than design studios can work. Our designs are rooted in simple, classic décor and trends that have withstood years of use. Below are a few of our favorite ageless trends, as well as a few that might scream “2018” louder than the rest.

 

Surrealism—Wild patterns, extravagant materials, and surprising furniture will lend your bedroom a dash of much-needed character. Statement pieces, creative tiling, and geometric patterns in an array of colors are the best way to reach this desired result.

 

Mid-century—This is one of our favorites, as it has been around since… well, since the mid-20th century. Combining clean lines with overall white tones to enhance the furniture’s wooden features is the best way to achieve this classy look.

 

Industrial—Another perennial design, industrial bedrooms are characterized by tiled walls, slim-legged metallic furniture, and heavy brown tones. An easy look to achieve with a massive payoff.

 

Minimalist—This is the one everyone is talking about: easy, clean, and simple to maintain. Opting for sleek and understated furniture, in combination with white (or off-white) linens, lamps, and curtains will easily make your bedroom a place of rest and relaxation.