Interior Design & Decoration Foundations Course

Unlock your creative potential to design beautiful, functional spaces.

Whether you’re looking to redesign your home or take the first step toward a career in interior design, this course offers a practical foundation in the principles of interior design and decoration. By learning from a panel of experts featuring some of Australia’s leading interior designers, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to create stunning, functional spaces that reflect your personal style or meet client needs.

This course will introduce you to the core principles of design, including spatial planning, lighting, and material selection, ensuring your designs are both visually appealing and practical.
You will learn how to work with various styles and materials, developing the ability to create cohesive and functional designs that cater to diverse needs and preferences.
By the end, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to start designing spaces with confidence, whether for personal projects or as a foundation for further study in interior design.

This course has been reviewed and endorsed by The Interior Design Association.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Interior Design & Decoration Foundations course, you will have learned:

• How to apply design principles to create functional and visually appealing spaces.
• The ability to plan space layouts that meet both aesthetic and safety standards.
• Skills to use lighting effectively to enhance the mood and practicality of a space.
• Techniques for selecting and combining colours to set the desired atmosphere.
• How to experiment with materials and finishes for unique, durable, and sustainable designs.
• The ability to choose and arrange furniture and accessories to improve a space's look and function.
• An understanding of different interior design styles to create cohesive and engaging spaces.
• Problem-solving skills to develop innovative design solutions tailored to clients' needs.

Once you complete the course, you will be issued a Digital Badge and a Certificate of Completion.

Course content

What will be covered in this Interior Design & Decoration Foundations course?

During this course, a panel of industry experts will guide you through the following topics:

• Design Fundamentals: Explore the key principles of design, including balance, contrast, and harmony.
• Spatial Planning: Learn how to plan functional and visually engaging layouts for different spaces.
• Lighting: Understand how lighting affects a room’s ambience and how to use it effectively in your designs.
• Colour: Learn the fundamentals of colour theory and how to create the right mood using different colour schemes.
• Materiality: Discover how to select and combine materials to enhance both the look and durability of your designs.
• Furniture & Styling: Learn how to choose and arrange furniture and accessories to create well-styled, cohesive spaces.

Course activities & (optional) assignments

• Knowledge Checks: After each lesson, you’ll complete a short quiz to assess your understanding of the key concepts.
• Activity: Create a Mood Board: Develop a mood board based on a design concept for a real or hypothetical interior project.
• Activity: Draw a Floor Plan: Analyse an existing interior space and create a scaled floor plan showing a functional layout.
• Final Project: Concept Presentation: Present a comprehensive interior design concept, including a design brief, mood board, and schedules for furniture, lighting, finishes, and accessories.

This course will take approximately 30 hours to complete.

Intended audience

Who is this Interior Design & Decoration Foundations course for?

• Homeowners or renters looking to redesign their living spaces with style and functionality.
• Beginners interested in learning the core principles of interior design and decoration.
• Professionals in related fields like architecture or real estate looking to expand their design knowledge.
• Aspiring interior designers looking to establish a solid foundation for future work in the industry.

Course materials

This is an online course that is delivered by an education partner specialising in industry-led short courses.

You will need access to either a computer, laptop, or tablet with an internet connection. No other prerequisites are required.

This self-paced course fits around your schedule, featuring:

• Engaging video lessons and insights from industry experts
• Quizzes and activities to help solidify your understanding
• Self-paced learning on the user-friendly platform, with instant support from its AI-powered Learning Assistant

Student Reviews

Featured Experts

This course features a panel of industry experts specialised in interior design and decoration:

• Paul Coulson: Principal of design agency Earthborne By Design and ex-President of the Interior Design Association, Paul has over two decades of experience in interior design, with a strong focus on sustainability and eco-friendly projects.
• Cushla McFadden: Co-founder and Director of Tom Mark Henry, a leading Australian award-winning interior design studio who creats influential spaces for Australia’s design enthusiasts. 
• Jade Nottage: Director at Tom Mark Henry, bringing innovative design solutions with a client-focused approach.
• Pia Watson: Director of Studio Soleil, an award-winning boutique design agency specialising in bespoke residential, hospitality, retail and wellness projects.
• Nick Garnham: Director at Jardan, with over 25 years of experience creating responsible furniture and lighting with a unique Australian aesthetic.
• Robyn Levin: Creative Coordinator at Jardan, specialising in interior styling, merchandising, and event design.
• Dawn Powell: Design Director at Designing Interiors, managing creative spaces for both residential and commercial projects.
• David Ritter: Director at Atelier Ten, specialising in environmental design optimisation and sustainability strategies.
• Grainne Devlin: Creative Director at Design & Co, with expertise in spatial planning and interior architecture.