Interested in starting a career in interior design? Or maybe you would like to learn the skills to be able to decorate and renovate your own home? Whatever your goal, our Interior Design & Decoration course is the perfect way to get started.
We'll help you develop your creativity, and show you how to use colour, texture, fabric, style, furnishings, accessories and lighting in a way that reflects your own personal taste and that of your clients, too. You will also learn how to present your ideas to clients and tips on how to get started in your own business. By the end of the course, you should have produced your initial portfolio to show prospective clients or employers.
Our Interior Design & Decoration course aims to give you the skills and self-confidence you need to pursue a satisfying new career in this industry, whether it is working with a design firm or starting your own interior design business and working from home! Plus, as your course is delivered by correspondence, there are no timetables to adhere to so your study can fit around your current lifestyle. Entering this exciting and rewarding industry and start enjoying the wonderful lifestyle it can offer - enrol today!
Design
Successful rooms "work" for people. We show you how to evaluate a design project, taking into account the necessary thought processes that form an essential part of the planning process. No matter how small or large the project, and no matter how tight or generous the budget, careful planning is the key to success. To gain a successful outcome for a client, it is important to achieve a true understanding of the client's needs and expectations. What a client says they want, and what they actually DOwant and expect, can be two completely different things. We work through the questions you need to consider and take you through to the design proposal.
Colour
Interior design is a visual art and the strongest visual element for sighted people is colour. It is necessary to understand the basic theory of colour before successfully creating and applying it to real projects. We examine the history of colours, mixing, palettes and patterns. Once you understand the basics, plus learn about the psychology and cultural issues, you can start to experiment with creating beautiful and harmonious colour schemes. You will learn that colour has logic, reason and magic!
Basic Drawing
Drawing is an essential tool to communicate our ideas during the design process, and it is true when they say "a picture paints a thousand words". The designer's aim is not to create amazing artworks, but to put thoughts onto paper in a clear and logical way. We will provide you with the knowledge to express simple drawings to support your designs.
Style & Furniture
Style is an inseparable component to a successful outcome. Style is far more than personal taste. It is the unique ingredient that separates an average achievement from a success story. The information in this unit will enable the student to become more discerning about style and use it successfully in their interiors. An interior designer is spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting furniture for a project. We run through the practical application and show you how to choose pieces intelligently.
Perspective
This unit concentrates on the use of perspective drawing and the ways that a designer can utilise this skill. This module builds on the information of basic drawing techniques learnt in module 4. Gaining competency in this skill will be a feather in your cap and is a great communication asset.
Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings and decorative finishes are the icing on the cake! This unit will cover fabric selection, window treatments, bedroom furnishings plus carpet, rugs and accessories.
Presentation
In this module we will show you additional techniques to build on your drawing skills to enable you to embellish your drawings with shading, colour and texture for use in your presentation boards. An awareness of the basic techniques will lead you to explore other presentation techniques in order to develop your own design style.
Materials & Fittings
In Module 9 we focus on flooring, walls, ceilings and lighting. With all these elements, we look at form and function but also the practical issues including safety and maintenance. Most interior design "make-overs" deal with surface finishes rather than structural changes, so it is important for a designer to be aware of the type of products that are available to obtain the best results under the required set of circumstances.
Kitchen & Bathroom Design
You will learn how to fit out "dream" kitchens and bathrooms and how to use space and lighting in order to achieve that WOW! factor. The way the client intends to use these rooms is paramount and we provide the planning checklists for you to utilise. The range of materials for these rooms is constantly evolving and your assignments will have you researching the many options available so that you can be as up-to-date as the market in order to advise your clients of suitable choices.
Design Practice
If your dream is to run your own business and be your own boss, we give you some ideas to consider before taking that next step, including research suggestions to broaden your knowledge of the design industry in your local area. Few accomplishments are more satisfying than building your own business and many opportunities can be found in both small towns and large cities. Remember, "There is nothing more constant than change". For designers this is a very good thing!
