Learn Interior Design Online

Interior Designers Institute offers online and in-person classes that have actual teachers you can engage and interact with as well
as other design students. Online classes are live classes with personalized attention and are not just self-taught programs
like many other online design schools. After completion of all of the sections of the 12 week course
you will receive a Certificate of Interior Design.

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The Avocational Certificate Course may be taken for personal enrichment, and to learn to design one’s own home. You’ll tour Southern California’s hottest design centers with people in the know as your guides. Guest speakers offer first-hand knowledge with inside tips and personal experience. This fun and exciting Course is one you won’t want to miss. The Course introduces the student to the planning of interiors through drafting the space on paper and final concepts. The student is taken through the steps of designing a home from initial spaceplanning, furniture selection, window treatments, fabrics and flooring materials. When registering student selects preferred class schedule: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9am-11:30am, Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am-11:30am (in-person), OR Tuesdays & Thursdays 6pm-8:30pm (online). Student may select Hybrid option on registration page. Students may elect to take each session separately and when both sessions are completed will earn the Certificate of completion. The Course totals 100 hours and is taken on a pass/not pass basis. Although many students completing the Certificate Course have obtained jobs and have started their own interior design businesses, students should not expect to become employed as interior designers. An option that students enrolled in the Certificate Course have is to take the course to see how they like the subject and how well they do.

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Certificate-course

Upon successful completion of the Avocational Certificate Course, comprising of both lectures and the Studio Workshop, students may choose to continue to the career oriented Associate of Arts Degree in Interior Design. All students meet with a schedule advisor, to register for the A.A. degree level classes and $100 registration fee is due upon registration. Student is officially enrolled in the career-oriented Associate of Arts Degree Program in Interior Design.

The Avocational Certificate Course is comprised of both the Lectures and the Studio Workshops listed as follows:

Lectures

BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS

Instruction in the steps to remodeling a kitchen or the designing of a kitchen in a new home. Materials used in kitchen design from wallcoverings to laminates are reviewed. Included in the discussion are how to work with a kitchen design consultant and the costs involved.


THE LUXURY BATHROOM

Remodeling and designing of both new and old bathrooms are reviewed. Materials, costs, estimates and spaceplanning are also discussed. A discussion of the pros and cons of using a bathroom design consultant is included.

GREAT WINDOWS AND WALLS

Study both modern and traditional window treatments, including architectural and fabric window treatments. Explore the vast variety of wall coverings available on the market. Papers, upholstered walls, reflective surfaces and other wall surfaces are discussed.


FIELD TRIP–STONEMILL DESIGN CENTER

Tour the Stonemill Design Center to study sources of purchase. Students will tour sources for furniture, floorcoverings, wallcoverings, etc. Also, time is allocated for students to visit showrooms of their choice. Tour will be outside regular class time with date to be announced.

FIELD TRIP–LAGUNA DESIGN CENTER

Tour the design center in Laguna Niguel to study sources of purchase. Students will tour sources for furniture, floorcoverings, wall-coverings, etc. Also, time is allocated for students to visit showrooms of their choice. Tour will be outside regular class time with date to be announced.


MAGIC OF COLOR

Study various color schemes and color psychology used in designing a home. Color trends in the market and materials used are discussed.

THE NATURAL AND HEALTHY HOME

Designing sustainable and healthy interiors that are good for our environment and allergy and toxin free. Students will learn what makes a healthy and natural home, as well as materials and design resources used in the process.


HISTORY OF THE CHAIR

Slide presentation and discussion of historical and contemporary styles of chairs from the 1900’s to current. Emphasis is placed on the primary furniture styles used in today’s interior design.

OUTDOOR SPACES

Designing the new outdoor room and how to bring the indoors out. Emphasis is on creating a warm ambience by selecting the right furniture, accessories, lighting and materials. Use of fireplaces, fire pits and cooking centers are included.


THE HIGH-TECH HOME

A family’s lifestyle at home is enhanced by the benefits of technology. Students will learn how to weave the latest technology into the home for entertainment, lighting, automated window coverings and communication. Whether for a home theater, family room, home office, kitchen or patio, students will learn how to personalize these spaces with innovative and unique automated systems.

INDOOR PLANTSCAPING

Plants are an integral part of the home. Selection of plant types, containers and plant size are all part of this class. Use of healthy indoor plants to create an allergy-free and greener interior environment are discussed.


DESIGN RESOURCES

Students learn sources and pricing for all types of residential products from floorcoverings and lighting to accessories and furniture.

FLOORS THAT ROCK

Study the various types of floorcoverings available and the costs involved. Calculation of floorcovering estimates is also taught.


HOME STAGING

Students learn how to stage a home so that it appeals to prospective buyers. Techniques are taught to highlight the strengths of the home while downplaying its weaknesses. Colors, room arrangements, accessorizing and appropriateness of style are studied with budgetary confinements in mind.

PRINCIPLES & ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

Study the basic principles used in design. A lecture class utilizing photographs so students may visualize practical applications of design elements.


PLANNING THE SPACE

Students learn the fundamentals of judging a space through the use of the principles and elements of design.

Studios

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

Introduction to the drafting tools and materials used in spaceplanning. Techniques of sketching and measuring are taught.


DRAFTING AND SPACEPLANNING

A residential floor plan is assigned and the student is given a set of requirements and taught the procedures for meeting them. Architectural symbols and blueprint reading are reviewed. Students are taught manual drafting, spaceplanning and traffic patterns and will have their spaceplans printed as part of their final concept.

COLOR SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Study the psychological and emotional impact of color, as well as future color trends and the use of color in an interior. Selections of fabrics and materials are used to demonstrate color theory and application. The main goal is to teach the student all possible color schemes and systems used in interior design.


FURNITURE SPECIFICATIONS

Students will commence specifying furniture for the spaceplan they have completed in “Drafting and Spaceplanning”. Furniture selection, and furniture sources are key topics to be covered.

TEXTILE SPECIFICATIONS

Emphasis of this class is on textile selection based on appropriate fiber content and cost and the many types of textiles on the market today. The student will begin to specify materials for furniture pieces and windows in the spaceplan previously drafted and designed. These textiles will then be prepared and mounted on final presentation boards.


CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Students are taught many different design styles and required to focus on one for their project. A design profile is completed by each student.

FINALIZING THE CONCEPT

Students will be taught material board selections and construction. Students will complete a set of material boards representing their final design solutions.


DESIGN CONCEPT

Students share their design solutions using their material boards. The instructor and students collaborate on the design solutions and celebrate the culmination of their design experience.