Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design KLC School of Design

Interior Design

Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design

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Virtual Open Day - Thursday 17 October 2024, 5-7pm - Register now
Award: Certificate in Residential Interior Design
Duration: Self-paced study
School: KLC School of Design
Campus: Online
Course fees: £1,000 (12mths course access). Flexible payment options available. We also offer flexible study options, up to three years, for an additional fee. If you would like to spread out your study or have any questions, contact us at [email protected] or call +44 (0)1243 973050

Learn interior design with our online Certificate course and gain a professional, industry-recognised qualification while studying at your own pace.

Structured into four comprehensive sections and delivered through a combination of video demonstrations, narrated presentations with subtitles and self-assessed quizzes, this self-study course will support you with the knowledge and skills to create design propositions for existing residential spaces. From the principles of spatial planning and surface design to object curation, styling, and professional practice, you'll learn how to turn your creative passion for interior design into a career.

With 24/7 access to the course materials through our online learning platform, this course is designed to fit around busy work and home schedules. On average, students who commit 12 hours a week to study can complete the course in 12 months. Students have 12 months of online access to all of the course content.

Course structure

This course is designed to support students in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to create design propositions for existing residential spaces. 

Throughout the course, you will not only develop your ability to undertake creative design proposals and learn drawing techniques, but also gain a comprehensive understanding of business development, project costing, and sourcing skills. This broad curriculum, coupled with an understanding of colour, lighting and textiles, will prepare you for a successful entry into the industry.  

End-of-section projects will progressively build skills and knowledge for a final large-scale project that combines everything learned. These projects will also provide you with a portfolio of work to present to future employers.

Course units

Section 1 

  • Visual Inspiration and Sketching 
    • Visual inspiration and influential designers 
    • Sketching 
  • Surveying and Technical Drawing 
    • Plans and elevations 
    • Taking a survey 
    • Scale 
    • Drawing a plan 
    • Drawing an elevation 
    • Drawing irregular room 
    • Surveying and drawing bay windows 
    • Technical drawing conventions 
  • AutoCAD
    • AutoCAD
    • Shortcuts 
    • Exercises 
  • Colour 
    • Colour Explained 
    • The Power of Colour 
    • Colour in Interior Design 
    • Writing Colour Rationales 

Section 2 

  • The Design Process 
    • The Design Process and your Project Journal 
    • Concepts and sample boards 
  • Textiles and Textile Use 
    • Textiles 
    • Trimmings 
    • Blinds 
    • Curtains 
    • Upholstery 
    • Textiles research 
  • Sourcing 
    • Sourcing directory 
    • Window treatments 
    • Window treatment specification 
    • Textiles rationales 
    • Estimating quantities 
  • Sections and rendering 
    • Drawing sections 
    • Rendering 
  • Materials and surfaces 
    • Paint 
    • Flooring 
    • Wall treatments 
    • Hard materials 
    • Sustainability and the environment 
    • Accessories  

Section 3 

  • Lighting 
    • Introduction to lighting 
    • Lighting principles 
    • Lighting room-by-room 
    • Lighting design 
    • Lighting symbols 
  • Planning and perspective drawing 
    • Design principles 
    • Space planning 
    • Perspective drawing 
  • Construction and mechanical systems 
    • Building construction 
    • Heating, ventilation and acoustics 
  • Bathrooms and kitchens 
    • Bathroom planning  
    • Bathroom design  
    • Inspirational bathrooms  
    • Kitchen planning  
    • Kitchen design  
    • Kitchen trends  
    • A brief history of the kitchen  
    • Kitchen suppliers  
    • Kitchen materials and inspiration 
  • 3D Modelling 
    • SketchUp 
  • Scheme, cost and specification sheets 
    • Scheme sheets 
    • Cost sheets 
    • Decorative specifications 
  • Evolution of style 
    • The evolution of style lecture series  
      • Revolutions in power and taste 
      • History and imagination 
      • Influences from the East 
      • Modern living 
    • Design evolution and trends 1 – Overview & 17th Century 
    • Design evolution and trends 2 – 18th Century 
    • Design evolution and trends 3 - The French Styles 
    • Design evolution and trends 4 - 19th Century 
    • Design evolution and trends 5 – 20th Century 
    • Design evolution and trends 6 – Modernism and beyond 
    • History of window and bedroom treatments 

Section 4 

  • Professional practice 
    • Fees and charging 
    • Calculating fees 
    • Invoicing 
    • Professional practice, insurance and contracts 
    • Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) 
    • Construction design management (CDM) 
  • Presenting your ideas to clients 
    • Client presentations 
    • Furniture books 
  • Beginning your career 
    • Interior design careers 
    • Creating a portfolio 
    • Example portfolios 

Study hours

This course is designed to allow you to study at your own pace; working around your other commitments. On average, students who commit 12 hours a week to study can complete the course in 12 months.

Entry Requirements

No previous experience in interior design is required for this course.
Students should have basic computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, and web/internet skills) and be confident using a computer.

English Language
A good command of written and spoken English is required.

It is recommended that students have a reliable, high-speed internet connection. A broadband connection is necessary to access the videos and online training sessions effectively in this course.

Student gallery

    •

    Recent Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design graduate Monica discusses studying the course whilst living in Hong Kong & Dubai, insights into setting up her own Interior Design business, and why she chose KLC School of Design to help her change career.

    Recent Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design graduate Monica discusses studying the course whilst living in Hong Kong & Dubai, insights into setting up her own Interior Design business, and why she chose KLC School of Design to help her change career.

    Recent Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design graduate Monica discusses studying the course whilst living in Hong Kong & Dubai, insights into setting up her own Interior Design business, and why she chose KLC School of Design to help her change career.

    West Dean London Campus

    London campus

    Facilities

    Alumni
    Funding your studies

    Funding

    Fees & funding

    Course fees are the same for UK and international students

    • £1,000 (12 months course access)

    On average, students who commit 12 hours a week to study can complete the course in 12 months, but we also offer flexible study options, up to three years, for an additional fee. If you would like to spread out your study or have any questions, contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)1243 973050

    This course offers flexible payment options:

    • Pay via instalments: enrolment fee of £200, followed by ten monthly payments of £80. To pay via instalments, please call +44 (0)1243 818310 or email [email protected]
    • Pay in full: please use the payment link below to pay in full for this course and gain immediate access.

    We may routinely increase our course fees from year to year for one-year courses as well as courses lasting two or more years and may review and change such course fees without notice.

    How to apply

    Once payment has been made, your login details will be sent via email.

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    Course tutors

    Ally Wates DipAD

    Ally Wates originally trained as a theatre designer, moving into decorating and then attending KLC as a Diploma student. Ally is our Certificate Course Leader at KLC School of Design.

    Daniela Cava BA(Hons) PGCertHE FHEA

    Daniela La Cava, BA(Hons) PGCertHE FHEA is our course tutor who is an experienced Interior Designer, holding a First Class BA Honours in Interior Design.

    KLC School of Design at West Dean

    KLC School of Design

    Our KLC School of Design offers industry-leading interior design degrees and garden design courses with unrivalled teaching, flexible learning and ongoing career support

    KLC School of Design

    Related courses

    Our part time Certificate in Residential Interior Design has been producing quality employable graduates to the interior design industry for over 15 years. This part time, one-year course is the perfect option for those with busy life commitments who want to become a professional residential interior designers in an intensive, but manageable way. 

    Certificate in Residential Interior Design - Part Time
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    News

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    KLC School of Design 1st July 2024

    Garden Design alumni wins three awards at Gardens World Live

    Garden Design Diploma graduate, Dan Hartley, has recently been awarded Platinum award, Best Construction award and Best Show Garden award for his Eco Oasis Garden at Gardens World Live at NEC Birmingham.

     

    The eco-friendly, contemporary country garden focuses on environmentally friendly elements and is managed organically. It features naturalistic planting, log pil...

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    News 8th May 2024

    Graduates named top Designers by House & Garden

    A number of graduates from Interior and Garden Design programmes have been included in the House & Garden Top 100 Interior Designers and Architects, and Top 50 Garden Designers lists for 2024.

     

    Top 100 Interior Designers and Architects

    The much anticipated and hotly debated annual list showcases those considered to be the best interior designers and ...

    Find out more
    Awards 22nd February 2024

    Interior Design student wins prestigious furniture competition

    Congratulations to Online BA Honours Interior Design student Robyn Tilley, winner of the BA Honours live Project 6 design competition. This exciting live project saw students collaborate with bespoke furniture maker Augustus Brandt and Decorum Est to design a multifunctional console/dressing table. Robyn’s winning design is a stunning example of innovation and functionality - her ...

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    Awards 1st December 2023

    Students announced as Finalists in Society of Garden Designers Awards 2023

    Congratulations to Garden Design Diploma students Sophie Knittel, Julia Hill, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones and Joshua Millard who have been announced as finalists in the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2023!  With a judging panel consisting of industry-leading garden designers including Sarah Morgan, David Stevens, and Tom Massey, the student awards are a celebration of outstanding proje...

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    KLC School of Design 27th July 2023

    KLC School of Design Graduation 2022-2023

    KLC School of Design held the 2022-23 Graduation and Awards on the 15 July in the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour, and it was a great success as students, tutors and a whole host of design industry professionals, as well as family and friends, attended the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the 2022 and 2023 interior design graduates. KLC School of Design has always been incredi...

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    Foundation 7th July 2023

    Making makes the difference: Our new brand

    We are delighted to introduce our new brand design for West Dean following our integration with KLC School of Design and the expansion of our courses. The new style embodies the power of making and the maker, across arts, craft, conservation and design. It is a celebration of mark-making as well as the mark our students make on the world. We are very proud of it, and hope you like it to...

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    Events 23rd May 2023

    RHS Chelsea Flower Show success

    Congratulations to all involved in making RHS Chelsea Flower Show such a success for 2023!

    Garden Diploma Course Leader, Horticultural Consultant & Show Garden Specialist Humaira Ikram was invited with her planting team to work with Cleve West on the incredibly important and Gold Medal winning Centre Point Garden about youth homelessness. Current Garden Design Diploma...

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    Events 3rd May 2023

    KLC School of Design Connect's Inspirational Talk with Katharine Pooley

    KLC School of Design Connect was delighted to host an Inspirational Talk with Katharine Pooley and designers in her team, Hannah Durojaiye, April Hudson and Sarah Jane.

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    Events 14th March 2023

    KLC Connect Designers Evening at Waterworks

    KLC Connect is an initiative which aims at introducing and connecting students to the interior design community. Launched in 2017, KLC Connect is designed to facilitate the transition from studying to employment. During these events, students have the chance to meet and talk with interior designers, industry experts and suppliers.

    KLC hosted another successful Designers Evening at the...

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    KLC School of Design 7th March 2023

    The success story by Studio 3 Creatives, founded by KLC Alumni

    Studio 3 Creatives, founded by KLC Alumni, featured in The Sunday Times for Barnes Refurbishment
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