Interior Design Business: Is It Okay Sharing Someone Else’s Content on Instagram?

I follow several interior designers on Instagram and I noticed that some of them use other people’s content to fill up their channel. I am not talking about people who simply steal the photos, pretending that it’s theirs but those who would share content mentioning the original source and marking it as “inspiration”. In this post today I want to go deeply into this topic and explain why I think that it is not okay to do that. Also, I want to give several content ideas to interior designers who just start their careers and don’t have photos of their completed projects yet.

So here are several reasons why I think that sharing someone else’s content on Instagram is not a cool thing to do:

1. Unlike Facebook, Instagram was not designed for sharing the content of others from the beginning. There is not even a “share” button, and initially, the platform stated that it is a violation of their terms to share anything apart from your own photos. Later on they became less strict on that, however, you need to get permission from the original source (simply crediting is not sufficient).
2. Ethical side. Imagine yourself on the other side of the fence. If you are the client who has hired the interior designer based on beautiful Instagram portfolio, wouldn’t you feel cheated discovering that all these beautiful interiors were created by another person? In fact, it is very easy to check whether the interior designer has done his own projects or not. Usually, designers who really work on the project from start to finish will post lots of pictures “in between”. You will probably see collages, moodboards, 3d renderings, and even technical drawings. Also, you can check the real owner of the photo by using google image search. I have found this way my own pictures. One of them was used by the manufacturer of the chair, who even photoshopped my photo to put his product inside!
3. Another ethical side. Imagine you are the interior designer who completed the project, and then someone else is posting your photo on his account (sometimes even forgetting to mention you as the original source or writing something like “found on Pinterest” in the caption). Wouldn’t you feel  annoyed? Those who worked on the project from start to finish, know how much effort and stress it takes to complete it. So when it’s finally over, making professional photos and hopefully getting published in the magazines is the moment of glory that any designer would anticipate. So posting the photos of someone else’s work on your Instagram is basically stealing a little bit of this glory for your own advantage.

What to post on Instagram if you are just starting your interior design career?

There are plenty of interesting content ideas that you can share with your followers even without having completed projects. Here are some of them:

• Moodboards and collages. This is how the concept of any interior design project is born. Beautifully layered fabrics and materials can catch as much attention as the photo of the finished interior. You can show off the combination of colours, textures, forms or your selection of furniture and accessories.

• Styling shots – you can always find a cute corner in your own house and try your skills as an interior stylist. Here are some tips on how to style a picture for Instagram.

• 3D Renderings – you don’t need to have the actual client to show off your design skills. Make a 3D Visualization of the virtual space or your own apartment. This can be even more interesting and exciting, because you won’t be limited by budget or client’s brief.

• Hand drawn sketches. In fact, this is one of the most admired abilities, so if you are able to create beautiful sketches why not to share it with your followers?

• • Photos from trade fairs and exhibition. The fact that you attend trade events speaks of you as a professional who is following trends and industry news. It’s a great thing to go to design exhibitions to get some inspiration and stay updated on what’s going on in the field. Probably you will be tempted to take thousands of photos and videos, which will be a great content for your Instagram posts and stories.

• • • Photos of anything that inspires you. Artists and designers are like sponges who absorb all surrounding information and transform it into a source of inspiration. The colours of sky during sunset, the unusual shape of a flower, beautiful architecture or interesting artwork – anything can be a starting point to create a design concept. So why not to share with your readers things that inspire and drive you? it is always interesting to follow how ideas are born and evolve.

• • • Photos of you! This is a very important part of growing your Instagram account and connecting with your followers on more personal level. People love to follow real people, so posting your photos and sharing some personal information is a great way to connect with your readers.

What do you think about using someone else’s content on Instagram? Let’s discuss it in the comments!

By the way, have you read my interior design books? Check them out: