Interior Decorating
QC Design School’s online Interior Decorating course allows you to channel your passion for home décor into a successful decorating career.
Learn how to design custom interiors from the ground up. Discover a variety of historical and contemporary design styles, as well as classic and modern design materials. In step-by-step videos, you’ll learn how to create professional floorplans and furniture arrangements. You’ll also study color theory and its uses in home decorating.
Through hands-on and theory-based assignments, you’ll learn how to work with a variety of budget types and client personalities. You’ll also receive full business training so you can launch your own business!
Upon graduation, you’ll receive an industry-recognized certification and the designation of International Design & Decorating Professional (IDDP). With your certificate and professional title, you’ll be ready to start your own business or work for an existing design firm right away.
This Course Is Best For You If:
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You have an interest in home design and interior decorating
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You want to start your own business as an interior decorator
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You are a creative professional looking for an exciting career change
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You are interested in developing a hobby or part-time career in interior decorating
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You already work in the design & decorating industry
Course Curriculum
UNIT A
Principles of Design
Learn about the elements and principles of design in the home. Discover what the decorating process looks like, from attracting clients to completing your designs. Learn all about color theory and popular design styles.
- The World of Design and Decorating
- The Role of an Interior Decorator
- The Design Process
- Developing Color Palettes
- Color Psychology
- Applying Color
- Contemporary Design Styles
UNIT B
Design Materials
Study basic and modern design materials that can be used in different areas of the home for a wide range of purposes, from ceramic and stone to glass and metal. Learn about historical and international design styles, as well as the various wall treatments and textiles you can use to define each room.
- Basic Design Materials (Wood, Stone, Brick, Plaster & Stucco, Ceramic)
- Modern Design Materials (Concrete, Glass, Metals, Plastics)
- Classic Design Styles (Historical & International)
- Designing with Textiles
- Mixing Prints & Patterns
- Fibers & Textile Construction
- Wall Treatments (Ceilings, Painted Wall Treatments, Wallpaper)
- Early American Styles (Colonial, Georgian, Revivals, Victorian)
- Global Design Styles (Chinese, Japanese, Islamic, Mexican, Southwestern, Scandinavian)
UNIT C
Lighting & Accessorizing
Study how types of lighting and fixtures help to create different atmospheres. Compare window treatments and learn how they can enhance your designs. Learn to customize interiors by showcasing accessories and arranging artwork, and gain professional accessorizing tips from award-winning designer, Jane Lockhart!
- Lighting Function & Bulbs
- Types of Lighting (Ambient, Task, Accent)
- Window Treatments
- Curtains & Drapes
- Shutters, Shades & Blinds
- Choosing & Displaying Accessories (Plants, Artwork)
- Early 20th Century Design Styles (Adirondack, Arts & Crafts Movement, Art Nouveau, Modernism, Art Deco, International)
- Late Modernist & Early 21st-Century Design Styles (1950s-2010s)
UNIT D
Floorplanning & Furniture Layouts
Step-by-step videos teach you how to draw professional floorplans and create furniture arrangements. Practice drawing floorplans with scale dimensions of a room so you can create sketches for clients. Learn how to create furniture layouts that account for balance, traffic, and visual weight within a room.
- Understanding Floorplans
- Types of Drawings
- Measurements & Scale
- Drawing & Presenting a Floorplan
- Space Planning
- Furniture Selection
- Balance & Visual Weight
UNIT E
Designing Bedrooms, Kitchens, and Bathrooms
Explore special considerations for designing bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. Learn about the professional contractors involved in renovations, and find out how to redecorate without a full remodel. Develop all the skills you need to create stylish and functional spaces.
- Planning the Bedroom Design
- Bedroom Components (Beds & Bedding, Lighting, Floors & Furniture)
- Kitchen Essentials (Components & Storage)
- Kitchen Remodels
- Kitchen Style & Layouts
- Bathroom Layouts
- Bathroom Electrical & Lighting
- Toilets, Bathtubs, Showers, Faucets
- Bathroom Storage & Accessorizing
UNIT F
Final Project
Complete a final project where you pull everything that you’ve learned together to create a custom-designed space for a hypothetical client. Show your tutor all of the skills you’ve learned, and prepare to launch your career!
- Client Profiles
- Site Evaluation
- Rough Sketches
- Professional Floorplan
- Layout Options
- Presenting Your Concept
- Setting a Budget
UNIT G (Optional)
Business Training Series
Once you’ve completed units A-F of your Interior Decorating course, you have the option to complete a specialized business unit. Created specifically for interior decorators, you’ll study a variety of topics including:
- Starting Your Own Business
- Writing Your Business Plan
- Financial Statements
- Marketing and Promotion
- Working with Clients
- Contracts and Billing
- Consultations
- Working with Contractors
- Building Your Portfolio
Sample Assignment
QC’s step-by-step program will take you through every aspect of the interior decorating process. Hands-on assignments are created to put you in the decorator’s seat. You’ll analyze real-world scenarios that will develop your creative and professional skills as an interior decorator.
In this sample assignment, you’ll refer to your texts on historical design styles to outline your concept for a vintage or retro-style room. Choose your style, create a color palette, add wall treatments, and accessorize the space.
You will receive a Course Guide with easy-to-follow instructions on uploading your assignments to the Online Student Center and downloading your tutor’s evaluation and audio feedback. Additionally, QC’s helpful Student Support Team is ready and willing to guide you through your assignments and answer any questions you have along the way. Connect with the support team by phone, email or Live Chat – whichever you prefer.
“I have gained so much with the courses at QC Design School. It’s helped me gain confidence and knowledge as [a designer] and looking forward to more certificates ahead. The staff and teachers have been great and they have been so helpful through the courses I’ve enrolled in. Thanks, QC.”
Lorraine PutzInternational Design & Decorating Professional
Learn from Industry Experts
When you enroll with QC Design School, you’ll be matched with an industry professional currently working in the field who will review your work and provide you with in-depth feedback and advice on every assignment. These accomplished tutors have years of experience in the decorating industry and are eager to share their professional insight to help you succeed.
Your personal tutor will provide you with in-depth audio feedback on each assignment to let you know what you did well and how you could improve. Use this feedback to guide you through the next unit in your course.
Flexible Payment Plans
Your Tuition Includes
- Online lessons and instructional videos
- Lifetime access to digital course materials in the Online Student Center
- Access to student support 7 days a week
- A complete business training series
- Your certificate upon graduation