Format
4 required courses (100 hours)
Delivery
Online | Learn more
Duration
Complete in 8 months, or up to 3 years
Become a professional interior decorator and learn how to design spaces that are both functional and visually compelling.
In this online certificate program, you’ll develop practical skills in space planning, colour theory, lighting, and furniture selection. Learn how to make informed design decisions that balance aesthetics, function, and budget while creating cohesive interior spaces.
Whether you’re starting a new career or building on your passion for home design, this program prepares you to confidently plan, design, and present interior decorating concepts.
Guided by experienced instructors, you’ll work through real-world scenarios and apply your learning in hands-on assignments. In your final course, you’ll complete a comprehensive design project that includes a space plan, furniture layout, and client presentation—demonstrating your ability to bring a concept to life.
This program is ideal for aspiring interior decorators, career changers, and design enthusiasts looking to build practical, job-ready skills.
Highlights and benefits
Complete a full interior decorating project | Develop a space plan, furniture layout, and client-ready presentation
Make confident design decisions | Apply colour, lighting, and materials to create cohesive spaces
Work with real-world scenarios | Balance client needs, aesthetics, and budget constraints
Build client-ready skills | Learn how to communicate and present your design ideas effectively
Learn from industry professionals | Gain practical insights from experienced instructors
Flexible online learning | Study from anywhere and progress at your own pace
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
Career opportunities
- Interior decorator (self-employed or consultant)
- Interior decorator within a design firm
- Sales roles in furniture, fabric, or lighting, etc.
- Commercial decorating
- Home staging and residential decorating
Course schedule
Tentative course schedule
| Fall (Sept. - Dec.) |
Winter (Jan. - April) |
Spring/Summer (May - Aug.) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Decorating Fundamentals | ONA | ONA | ONA |
| Colour Theory and Lighting | ONA | ONA | ONA |
| Window Treatments, Textiles, and Finishes | ONA | ONA | |
| Space Planning and Scheduling | ONA | ONA |
Legend
BL: Blended Online & Classroom/Lecture
CL: Classroom/Lecture
FT: Fast Track
ONA: Online Asynchronous
OND: Online Asynchronous, Self-Directed
ONS: Online Synchronous
ONB: Online Sycn/Async Blend
Check the “Courses and fees” tab for more information.
The schedule above is subject to change. Courses start on various dates within each semester. Fall schedule and registration available in June. Winter schedule and registration available in November. Spring/Summer schedule and registration 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 or 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 course have a prerequisite. Students must start with Decorating Fundamentals. The Space Planning and Scheduling course will be completed last in the certificate.
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 4-5 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 software, 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 and elevations to scale. We first teach you how to do this by hand, because the skills of measuring and drawing a room to scale must be fully understood before being able to transfer a floor plan, and architectural features 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 you learn SketchUp via online tutorials if you plan to work in the industry. You 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 learned to draw a floor plan to scale.
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 have completed the certificate?
While having a professional certificate will certainly put you in a favourable position when looking for employment, there are so 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?