Program Overview

Introduction to Interior Design for Beginners

The Interior Design for Beginners course is a short program designed to introduce students to the principles and techniques of interior design. This course is ideal for those looking to develop an existing passion and understanding of interior design, providing the tools and techniques to decorate their own spaces and potentially kickstart a future career in interior design.

Course Details

• Level of Study: Short course
• Course Fee: ｣510
• Start Dates: 22 January 2026, 16 April 2026, 13 July 2026, 10 August 2026
• Duration: Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm (one week) or Thursday evenings 6 pm - 8.30 pm (for ten weeks)
• Study Mode: Part-time
• Campus: City Campus

What You'll Study

The course covers topics including understanding clients, spatial planning, lighting design, colour theory, furniture selection, and textile selection. Students will develop skills through hands-on projects and exercises that simulate real-world design scenarios, learning how to survey, produce scale drawings, sketch interiors, create mood boards and sample boards, and make 3D digital models to present and communicate their ideas effectively.

Course Objectives

• Understand the importance of being a creative and conceptual thinker and how to translate ideas into a practical spatial design
• Appreciate the importance of materiality in a space
• Learn how to develop an interior design scheme with the use of colour, furniture, and materials
• Consider the importance of sustainability within the design environment and how to design a greener future
• Understand the impact of scale in a design, through the application of colour and the use of furniture and furnishings
• Plan an interior design space whilst thinking about the customer journey and user experience
• Develop methods and techniques that explore what is required to take on a design project
• Research and question different sectors within the interior design environment that might lead to rethinking and reworking of existing norms and experiences in a design project
• Develop industry skills within a supportive and creative learning environment
• Prepare and develop a portfolio
• Discuss what is required to start your own interior design business
• Learn the basics of using computer software to produce digital models and visuals

How You're Taught

The course is delivered through a combination of university-style lectures, engaging studio activities, and individual tutorials with the tutor. By the end of the course, students will have a solid foundation in interior design principles and techniques and will be able to create well-designed spaces that meet the needs and preferences of specific spaces and clients.

Tutor Profile

The course is taught by Edward Welham, a registered Interior Designer and Co-owner and Lead Designer at Welham Architects. Edward has a Masters in Interior Architecture and Design from Nottingham Trent University and lectures on the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Interior Architecture and Design at NTU.

Careers and Employability

The course is designed to prepare students to succeed in the design industry, from designing their own home to working with clients and being part of a larger interior design practice. On successful completion of the course, students will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance their CV.

Campus and Facilities

Students will be based in the School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment on the City Campus, with access to spacious IT suites equipped with industry-standard software, including SketchUp and Chaos Enscape, and the university library.

Entry Requirements

• Level: Beginner
• Entry Requirement: No design, drawing, or software experience is required, although basic computer skills and familiarity with Windows operating systems and file management are necessary.
• Age Requirement: Students must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.

Fees and Funding

• Course Fee: ｣510
• What's Included: The course fee covers the cost of studies, including most materials to create designs and other benefits such as the use of the modern library and free use of IT equipment and software on the campus during the course.
• Additional Costs: Students will need to bring their own drawing materials, sketchbook, interior design magazines, smartphone or camera, and a collage of images/interior design styles they like.