8 Online Interior Design Courses to Help You Upskill at Home
Mastering the art of interior design goes beyond shopping for a lamp you saw splashed across social media or filling your space with the latest TikTok trends. It takes a certain creative flair, an eye for detail, a lot of skill and plenty of practice to fill a space so it's not only aesthetically beautiful but also functional, evokes meaning, portrays personality and works within any given budget.
Here, we've rounded up the best interior design courses you can enrol in across Australia. Regardless of whether you're a beginner who wants to upskill and find out how you can maximise your home's potential or you're serious about pursuing a career in the interior industry, there's something here for everyone. It's all about having fun and getting in touch with your creative side.
8 Best Online Interior Design Courses
1. Interior Design Online
Want to do a Renovating Masterclass? Thought about becoming a Colour Consultant? Or interested in taking a short course in Photoshop or InDesign? Interior Design Online offers a wealth of world class long and short courses, targeted at helping anyone access accredited design education, regardless of their geographic distance or work and family commitments.
2. TAFE Interior Design Courses
If you're serious about pursuing a career in interior design, TAFE has the course for you. Taught by industry professionals, you'll learn everything about working collaboratively on commercial and residential projects, and what it takes to run your very own business. For those only wanting a taste of the industry, TAFE also offers a short course (still led by industry professionals and designers) that will help turn your passion into a practical skillset.
3. Interior Design Institute
The Interior Design Institute offers two courses — the Certificate Course (maximum of 12 months) and the Diploma of Interior Design (maximum of 18 months) — and the opportunity to delve deeper into specific Advanced Modules available at an extra cost. There are no fixed start dates so you can start whenever works best for you.
4. Sydney Design School
The Sydney Design School is renowned for training graduates who have gone on to win national and international design awards across multiple categories, so you know the level of education will be top-notch if you decide to enrol in one of their courses. The School also offers an Interior Decoration Workshop, available for any interiors enthusiast who wants guidance on how to decorate their living room with confidence — a true investment, if you ask us.
5. International School of Colour and Design
There are three online short courses — Styling Essentials, Colour Essentials and Surface Design Essentials — which will provide you with the foundation knowledge and terminology you need to feel confident in each area of expertise. The courses are led by industry partners including Home Beautiful and Haymes Paints, and offers a great way to test the waters to see if it's the right area you perhaps want to study further.
If you're already certain of your career choice, their Certificate IV in Interior Decoration and Diploma of Interior Design are nationally accredited courses, which will have you graduate with all the skills and knowledge you need to lead a successful creative carer.
6. Design School
Design School was launched in Melbourne in 2016 by Interior Designer, Visual Merchandiser and The Block TV star Jenna Densten (you can tour inside of her and her partner's incredible family home here). What we love about the Design School is that they offer you a variety of different teaching options for the Certificate IV in Interior Decorating, to suit your needs — in-person classes, online or a hybrid of the two. Whatever you choose, you're guaranteed to receive hands-on learning the School is known for.
7. Coco Republic Design School
Anyone who has searched for home decor will know — or have heard of — Coco Republic. The Australia luxury furniture and homeware brand has built an esteemed reputation built on quality goods and services, with that expanding into their bespoke Design School. Here, they offer three different online courses — Interior Decoration Essentials 101, Styling Essentials 101 and Colour For Interiors 101. Each only requires 6-8 hours per week, which you can complete over a period of 12 months.
Coco Republic's Design School also offers on-campus courses and masterclass for those after a more hands-on teaching experience.
8. Renovating For Profit
Renovating For Profit offers interactive online courses by Australia's 'Reno Queen' Cherie Barber. Barber has gained a cult-like global following through renovating over 130 properties and training more than 200,000 students. Her aim is to share her knowledge on how to renovate for profit. Choose from one of four courses — Cosmetic Renovations, Create Your Perfect Kitchen, Airbnb and Small Developments.
Looking for more ways to upskill? Here are 10 of the best floral design classes in Australia.
