Top 10 Online Interior Design Courses for Beginners

Many of us have dreams of becoming interior designers, but simply do not have the time. Also, with the high tuition expenses of conventional education, online education is becoming a more popular alternative every day. As a matter of fact, many evidence is showing that online learning could be just as effective as real life, face to face education. Luckily, you do not have to postpone your dreams till you magically have the money or time to pursue it. Here, we have gathered 10 online interior design courses for you busy bees out there who want to learn the basics of interior design from the comfort of your own homes.

Also, practicing interior designers who would like to further expand their knowledge, check the advanced courses on the list.

“Design is not just what it looks like; the design is how it works.”– Steve Jobs

Courtesy of the Yellow Cape Cod.

These are non-degree courses and do not require a bachelor degree or any prerequisite courses. All you need is your laptop, a passion for interior design and some commitment. However, if you’re interested in getting a bachelor or master’s degree in interior design from a highly ranked university, check this article: “Top 10 Interior Design Schools around the World”.

Color Mood Board – Courtesy of Collages El Rincón de Pilar

1.The Interior Design Institute

Courtesy of Interior Design Institute

Accredited by the UK register of learning providers, the BBB and the International Accreditation and Recognition Council, this particular interior design course is very advanced. It is one of the most professional and high-quality online courses in interior design. focusing on the practice of interior design, this course teaches you many technical skills you need as a designer.

This intensive online course is compiled of 12 modules; each requires an interactive assignment. The course is designed to be self-paced. It could take you approximately 24 weeks to finish the course if you study 4-6 hours per week. However, if you have a lot on your plate, you might take about one year to finish it. This is the most common case with previous students.

2. Udemy Online Interior Design Courses

Courtesy of Michael Neatu

Udemy offers a wide array of courses to choose from, and they vary from beginner level to advanced levels. The great thing about the Udemy courses is that they are not time-consuming at all and can fit into almost anyone’s schedule. One of the best online interior design courses in Udemy is the “Interior Design 101” by Micheal Neatu. The course is 17.5 hours which include 84 short lectures. Unfortunately, you cannot audit courses for free on Udemy; however, you can benefit from the huge discounts offered on different occasions, all year around.

In “Interior Design 101”, the instructor focuses on the sketching and graphical drawing skills required for the practice of interior design. You will learn how to draw in an architecturally correct manner and express your ideas in a professional way.

If you want to become a pro in architectural sketching, check out these killer tips sketching like an architect.

3. Inchbald School of Design, Design Your Living Space Online Course

The Inchbald School of Design offers many academic professional interior design courses that may even take up to 3 years. Luckily, they also offer a 3-month short online course for interior design titled “Design Your Living Space”. This course focuses on interior decoration. It gives you an overview of how interior design can be practical and functional yet aesthetically pleasing.

A mood board. Courtesy of Kathy Kuo

You will learn how to compile an inspirational mood board, how to sketch plans and elevations of your space, in addition to making sample boards for the finishing materials and furniture. The course’s fees are £1260 including VAT (1710$ USD).

4. Lynda Interior Design and Visualisation Courses:

Courtesy of Lynda

Can you imagine how your mood board and ideas can be transformed into a fully functional space? 3D visualization, software rendering, and drafting are key skills for interior designers who would like to see their ideas coming to life. With all the different lighting effects, materials, and furniture, mastering interior design software is necessary for people who wish to pursue a career in interior design.

This is why Lynda offers a selection of Revit, Rhino, 3Ds Max and Sketchup courses for visualization of interior spaces. Lynda is a leading online learning tool and their courses are short and to the point, where each video tutorial lasts from 1 to two hours maximum.

Read more:  

• Photoshop Architectural Rendering: 10 Photoshop Channels For Architects & Designers
• Photoshop Architectural Rendering: 10 Websites you should visit weekly

5. New York School of Interior Design (NYSID)

Founded in 1916, NYSID is a non-profit, accredited college with a specialization in interior design education in particular. They offer both degree programs and non-degree programs. They aim to provide the same real-life high-quality learning process on the online platform. The same professors you would meet face to face are the ones who conduct the online courses and give assignments and make discussions.

In NYSID, you receive a broad knowledge of interior design software applications—both 2D and 3D, building codes, safety requirements, in addition to textiles, materials, space planning, and even sustainability.

6. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

This program, in particular, is for people who are keen on taking interior design seriously. If you are looking for an online bachelor degree, you can easily apply to their bachelor of science in Interior Design program (15 quarters).

However, if you’re interested in a shorter degree (4 quarters), then the Diploma for Residential Planning is a perfect choice. This program is a one year program which will make a competent professional interior designer out of you. The course contents include drafting, interior design history, space planning of a residential space, textile and material knowledge in addition to the professional ethics of the interior design profession in the business world. Read the program’s offerings for more details.

7. New York Institute of Art and Design (NYIAD):

Accredited by the Designer Society of America, this course will provide you with almost everything you need to know about interior design as a professional. The time frame for this course is about 16 to 18 months in which you have daily access to the course materials. They also let you finish at your own pace.

The best part is that you access the student forum and receive one on one feedback from professionals in the field. Accordingly, you do not feel like you are missing out on the benefits of face-to-face learning. Finally, after you finish your course, you get a Certificate of Completion from NYIAD.

Additionally, the institute offers courses on Feng Shui Interior Design.

8. British College of Interior Design (BCID)

Courtesy of BCIDThe Professional Interior design course could take from 12 weeks to 24 weeks. If you’re a really slow learner, they allow for up to 2 years. This course will put you on the path to know how to work as a full-time or part-time interior designer.

9. National Design Academy:

The National Design Academy (NDA) offers fully accredited courses in interior design. These include diplomas, bachelor degrees, and even masters degrees. They offer a student helpline, very flexible dates (you can learn at whatever pace you want), a personal tutor that you can reach at any time, video tutorials for visualization software and many samples of previous students’ work which can be used as a reference.

10. Decorating Studio Free Online Interior Design Classes:

This course is very clear, simple and suitable for beginners. The content includes 6 classes that teach you how to choose a color scheme, furniture, accessories, in addition to treatments for doors and windows. It also provides a collection of decorating ideas and furniture pieces. However, be aware that interior design is NOT the same as interior decoration. In fact, in some countries, they call Interior Design as “Interior Architecture”.

Moreover, note that this basic course does not go deep into the technicalities of interior design. It is more of a very basic guide for beginners who are interested in interior design. The best part is that it is absolutely free of charge. and you do not even have to register!

 

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