Is Squarespace or WordPress Better for Interior Designers?
If you’re considering a new website for your interior design business and have anxiety about which platform is the best option to showcase your amazing designs, tell your unique story and attract your ideal clients… I totally get it!
I’ve been there myself, and have also guided many clients to choose the platform that works best for their businesses. I’ve also designed websites using almost every platform, and have stuck with Squarespace and Wordpress for portfolio-focused websites for a reason.
Choosing the right platform that works for you is crucial, and a business investment that you’ll rely on for years to come.
Squarespace and WordPress are two popular options, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. I want to provide an in-depth comparison of these platforms to help you determine which is best suited for your needs as an interior designer.
Cost
WordPress: WordPress is generally less expensive in terms of subscription costs. The platform itself is free, but you'll need to pay for hosting, which can be very affordable depending on your provider. Additionally, many themes and plugins are available for free or at a low cost.
Squarespace: Squarespace charges a monthly subscription fee that includes hosting. While this fee is higher than the typical hosting cost for WordPress, it includes many built-in features that would require additional plugins on WordPress that require subscription payments. They have a few tiers of fee options depending on your business needs.
Themes and Plugins
WordPress: WordPress excels in the variety and customization of themes and plugins. With thousands of options available, you can tailor your website to match your unique style and functionality needs.
Popular themes for designers often include extensive customization options, while plugins like Elementor can add powerful drag-and-drop design capabilities. Wordpress also has many options for scheduling app plugins such as Amelia, Booking Calendar and Simply Schedule Appointments.
Squarespace: Squarespace has a more limited selection of themes and plugins. However, the themes available are professionally designed and optimized for aesthetic appeal, which is essential for showcasing interior design work. Squarespace’s built-in features are often sufficient for most interior designers, such as the Acuity scheduling tool for appointments.
Ease of Use
WordPress: WordPress can be more difficult to update and manage, especially if you're not familiar with web development. Adding portfolio projects and customizing your site may require some technical know-how or the assistance of a developer, and you need to regularly update and maintain the site.
You also need to setup hosting for your Wordpress website, which requires some technical skills.
Squarespace: Squarespace is much easier to use and to maintain than Wordpress. You don;t have to worry about updates or maintenance, and hosting is as easy as buying and paying for the yearly subscription of the website and a domain.
Squarespace is known for its intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy to use even for those without technical expertise. The platform is user-friendly and continually updated with new features to enhance usability.
Email Marketing
WordPress: WordPress offers advanced email marketing capabilities through various plugins. However, these plugins can come with additional costs and complexity.
Squarespace: Squarespace includes built-in email marketing features, for an extra fee. While these features are somewhat limited compared to dedicated email marketing platforms, they are much less expensive and offer enough functionality for most interior designers to grow an email list and an audience of ideal clients.
SEO Capabilities
WordPress: WordPress provides advanced SEO capabilities with plugins such as Yoast SEO, which can help optimize your website for search engines more effectively. These tools offer comprehensive options for those looking to improve their SEO performance.
Squarespace: Squarespace offers easy-to-use SEO tools that are integrated into the platform. While not as advanced as WordPress's offerings, they are sufficient for many users and simple to manage.
E-Commerce
WordPress: To sell products online with WordPress, you will need to install and configure an e-commerce plugin such as WooCommerce. This can add complexity to your site but also provides extensive customization options.
Squarespace: Squarespace allows you to easily upgrade to sell products online with built-in e-commerce capabilities. This feature is straightforward to use, making it an excellent option for designers looking to products to their site without the hassle of additional plugins.
Which Platform is Best for YOU?
Both Squarespace and WordPress offer robust solutions for interior designers, but the best choice depends on your specific needs and technical comfort level.
Choose WordPress if:
You want to keep subscription costs low.
You need extensive customization with themes and plugins.
You require advanced SEO capabilities.
You are comfortable with a steeper learning curve or have access to a developer.
Choose Squarespace if:
You prefer an intuitive, easy-to-use platform with drag-and-drop functionality.
You need integrated appointment scheduling and basic email marketing features.
You want straightforward SEO tools and built-in e-commerce capabilities.
You appreciate having hosting, themes, and features included in one subscription.
By weighing these factors, you can select the platform that will best showcase your interior design portfolio and meet your business needs.
Need more help deciding? Book a free consult with me and I can learn more about your business, and offer my advice for which platform suits your needs best.