Top 10 Instagram Reels Best Practices for Interior Designers
Instagram Reels have become one of the most effective ways to boost visibility, engagement, and brand awareness on the platform—especially for interior designers. With their short-form, high-impact format, Reels let you showcase projects, offer tips, and bring your brand to life in a fresh, mobile-friendly way.
Here are best practices to make your Reels work harder for your design business:
1. Post Consistently
Consistency is key to staying top of mind—and on the algorithm’s radar.
Best Practice: Aim to post Reels at least 2 times per week and stick to a set schedule. Regular posting helps build momentum and keeps your content in front of your audience.
2. Keep It Vertical
Instagram prioritizes vertical video with a 9:16 aspect ratio (full-screen mobile).
Avoid horizontal or square videos—they may appear pixelated or poorly cropped, which can hurt both visual appeal and reach.
3. Lead with a Strong Hook
You’ve got just a few seconds to grab attention. Start with a strong hook—a compelling visual, question, or statement that encourages viewers to stop scrolling and watch.
Examples:
“Before & After you have to see…”
“Most common mistake in small space design.”
“Wait until you see this tile transformation!”
4. Add Captions
Many users watch Reels without sound, so captions are essential. Studies show that 50% of users prefer watching video on mute, and captions improve both accessibility and engagement.
5. Share Reels to Your Stories
Reels often outperform Stories in terms of reach, but Stories can drive traffic to your Reels.
Share a snippet or cover a key moment with a sticker to spark curiosity and encourage users to tap through to your post.
6. Choose the Right Music
Instagram favors content that uses either original sound or music from its library.
Business accounts can’t use copyrighted music from recording artists, so use royalty-free tracks directly from the Instagram music library for best results. Or change your business type to Entrepreneur and you’ll have more music options to choose from.
7. Use Instagram’s Built-In Editing Tools
Instagram’s algorithm rewards creators who use in-app features like:
Filters
Text overlays
Camera effects
Transitions
These features make your content more dynamic—and Instagram wants to see you using them.
8. Try Creating Reels in Canva
Not all Reels need live video. Tools like Canva make it easy to turn still images into engaging video content. You can animate photos, add music, and design branded transitions—perfect for showcasing mood boards, project reveals, or material palettes.
9. Make Your Reels Loop
Instagram favors Reels with higher view counts.
One smart strategy: Make your video loop seamlessly so viewers unknowingly watch it more than once. More views = better reach.
10. Use the Right Hashtags
Hashtags help your Reel appear on Explore pages, in search results, and in the feeds of people following those tags.
Choose hashtags that reflect your niche and attract your ideal audience. Start with:
#designinspo
#homedesignidea
#interiordesignersofinsta
#interiordetails
#housetour
#interiordesigninspiration
Stick to 5–10 relevant hashtags per post for optimal performance.
Reels Can Be a Game-Changer
Used thoughtfully, Reels can help interior designers:
Grow a loyal following
Show off your process and personality
Increase project inquiries
Attract media attention
Position your brand as an industry leader
Whether you're showcasing a dramatic before-and-after, offering design tips, or giving a peek into your creative process—Reels let you tell your story in seconds.