Define your goals before choosing interior decorating classes.
It's important to define your goals before you select interior decorating classes to make sure you receive appropriate training. Although people often don't distinguish between interior decorators and interior designers, the professions are different. Unlike interior designers, decorators aren't required to be knowledgeable about building and safety codes because they only handle a room's decor without making structural changes, such as knocking out walls. Furthermore, many United States states and some Canadian provinces have licensing requirements for interior designers.
Online and College Classes
The American Society for Interior Designers (ASID) website notes that online classes offered by the Sheffield School and other educational institutions may give a student a good introduction to interior decorating practices. However, the ASID adds that such courses likely won't allow you to be licensed in most states as an interior designer. The ASID also notes that working for most interior design or architecture firms would require more training than these interior decorating courses provide. Colleges in your state may offer continuing education courses on interior decorating as well. These courses are typically geared toward adults who have already completed a degree or are looking for personal enrichment.
ASID Membership
Rhodec International offers an interior decorating course that it touts as "more than sufficient to enable you to consider taking on small commissions or to advise friends and family." Prospective students also can take Rhodec's diploma course, which meets the requirements for an ASID student membership. An ASID membership can help aspiring decorators remain abreast of industry developments.
Business Training
Some businesses offer interior decorating training and certification programs that are designed to help aspiring decorators run their own businesses. Use What You Have Interiors is one example. It offers a home study course as well as training in New York to become a certified interior redecorator. Students learn to help clients use most of the furnishings they already own to create more appealing rooms. Training costs range from $2,000 to $3,500. Some decorating franchises, such as Decorating Den, also have training courses for franchisees. However, the investment required for a decorating franchise can be $80,000 or more.
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