Format
9 required courses (145 hours)
Delivery
Online | Learn more
Duration
Complete in 2 years, or up to 4 years
Interior decorating is the profession of designing and decorating interiors with colour schemes, flooring materials, furniture, artwork and accessories.
Create amazing interiors by applying principles from the basics of design to colour theory. As you explore the fundamentals of design, gain the skills and knowledge to decorate any room with style and confidence. Whether you’re looking to indulge your love of home decorating or gain skills to apply to a career, our dedicated instructors with experience in the design industry support you in developing practical, hands-on decorating skills.
Develop your creativity and eye for design while learning best business practices. Learn how to take function, esthetics and budget into consideration when selecting materials such as window treatments, countertops and flooring. In your final project, present a decorating plan that highlights your new skills, including drawings, documentation and developing an overall concept.
Highlights and benefits
Earn a recognized credential | Enhance your career prospects
Become career-ready | Prepare for a career as an interior decorator
Enhance your life | Develop your personal and professional skills
Real-world knowledge | Learn from experienced industry professionals
Online delivery | Enjoy the flexibility of online learning and complete this program from anywhere
Interior Decorating General Interest Courses
Interested in learning more about interior decorating before taking the full program? Check out our individual interior decorating courses. Beginners are welcome in all classes unless a prerequisite is listed.
View individual courses
Information session
Interested in learning more about our Interior Decorating Extension Certificate? Speak with program staff and instructors, and have your questions answered. Join us for a free virtual information session on Wednesday, January 14, 2026,12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. MST.
Register nowCourse schedule
Course schedule by semester
| Fall (Sept. - Dec.) |
Winter (Jan. - April) |
Spring/Summer (May - Aug.) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Interior Decorating, Part 1 | ON | ON | ON |
| Introduction to Interior Decorating, Part 2 | ON | ON | ON |
| Interiors Past and Present | ON | ON | ON |
| Colour and Light in Interior Decorating | ON | ON | ON |
| Perspective Drawing | ON | ON | ON |
| Materials for Window Treatments and Soft Furnishings | ON | ON | ON |
| Materials for Surface Finishes | ON | ON | ON |
| Role of the Interior Decorator | ON | ON | ON |
| Interior Decorating: Advanced Topics | ON | ON | ON |
We strongly recommend completing the courses in the order presented above.
Legend
BL: Blended (Online & Classroom)
CL: Classroom
FT: Fast Track
ON: Online
IDS: Independent Study
P: Practicum
This schedule is subject to change. Courses start on various dates within each semester. Fall schedule and registration is available in June; Winter schedule and registration is available in November; and Spring/Summer schedule and registration is available in March.
Frequently asked questions
Who is this program intended for?
This program is intended for individuals who want to work as an interior decorator professionally in a retail furniture or lighting store, an interior design firm, for a homebuilder / construction company, or in residential or commercial decorating. Individuals may also take this program for personal interest.
What type of career options are available if I complete this certificate?
Graduates may work as interior decorators in retail sales, residential or commercial decorating, self-employment, etc.
Note: additional education and training may be required for some positions.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
Some courses have a prerequisite; therefore, it is recommended that you take the courses in the order they are listed on the program webpage. You may take XIDA 10009 Interiors Past & Present and XIDA 10002 Perspective Drawing at any time.
How will I be graded in each course?
Each course has several graded assignments. These assignments vary per course; however, they are all designed to assess the outcomes of each course. These assessments include, but are not limited to, individual assignments, discussion board posts, and group projects.
How many hours am I expected to work on each course?
You should plan to access your D2L course site at least 3 times per week. Depending on the course, you can expect to spend approximately 5-6 hours per week reading material, completing learning activities or assignments, and attending Google Meet sessions.
Are there any supplies I need to purchase?
Yes, students will need to purchase:
- 1/4"" graph paper
- HB pencil
- black fine tip marker
- architect scale ruler (3 sided) - imperial measurement, not metric
- white drafting eraser
- minimum 12"" metal ruler
- 25 foot metal measuring tape with imperial measurements
Is attendance required for Google Meet sessions?
We recommend you attend the Google Meet virtual sessions; however, they are not mandatory. Attending Google Meet sessions allows you to get to know your instructor and classmates and provides you with the opportunity to learn and ask questions about content and assignments.
What is the difference between Interior Design and Interior Decorating?
In general, interior design covers information on designing and planning the space itself (such as where walls and electrical outlets will go, where appliances will go in a kitchen, etc.). Interior decorating focuses on decorating an established space with colour, furnishings, surface finishes, window treatments, decor items, furniture layouts, etc.
Will I learn digital drawing, such as AutoCAD or SketchUp in this program?
Our interior decorating courses focus on the skills students need to become a decorator. These include, drawing floor plans to-scale, and drawing elevations to-scale. We teach you how to do this by hand, because you will need to know this skill to be able to transfer it to a computer-based design program such as AutoCad or SketchUp. Students may wish to take advantage of a variety of free resources to learn SketchUp on their own to create digital drawings, but this is not included in our program. Instructors recommend students learn SketchUp via online tutorials if you plan to work in the industry. Students can also purchase the student SketchUp software at a discounted price while taking our program.
There is no software required for our courses; however, you are welcome to use a software such as SketchUp for assignments (sketchup.com) once you have completed the two introductory courses.
How many courses can I take at a time?
You can take as many courses as your schedule will allow as long as you meet the prequisite requirements.
Will I get a job once I'm done the certificate?
While having a professional certificate will certainly put you in a favourable position when looking for employment, there are many other factors to consider for each individual that it would be impossible to pre-determine your employment success. Our graduate statistics have shown that a significant percentage of past students have experienced a measurable increase in salary, responsibility, and/or activity after completing our programs.
Will Mount Royal help me locate career opportunities?
No, Mount Royal does not have a system in place to assist students with career opportunities upon completion of our certificate. However, there are periodic job postings advertised on our website.
Additional information
Refer to CE Student Information for more information.
Program questions?