Interior Decorator

Career Diploma 9 months

Interior Decorating Classes

If you're creative and passionate about design, our online Interior Decorator Career Diploma can help you prepare to take the next steps toward starting a career you love. With self-paced interior decorating classes, you can earn your diploma from home on your schedules.

Learn the basics of interior decorating, from furniture selection and color, to lighting and accessories.
Can help prepare students to find a job in the field or start their own interior decorating business.
Our online programs are flexible enough for you to finish them at a pace that works for you, based on how much time you can dedicate to your coursework each week.

Accredited

Online

Self Paced

Cost of Program

$999

$1,199 Save $200

$59/month, Start for as low as $20

Enroll Now Request Info

1-800-275-4410 (9AM - 9PM ET)

interior decorator placing blanket on sofa.

What You Will Learn

How to identify clients’ needs by recognizing their basic physical and psychological needs, understanding the clients’ goals along with their budgets and priorities, and determining a client’s preferences in regard to furniture styles, colors, fabrics, textures, and patterns.
How to recognize various color schemes based on the color circle, how colors affect each other, and how the amount of light and various surfaces can affect color.
How to recognize the three types of house plan layouts according to their activity zones and room-by-room problem areas and the solutions.
How to establish an interior decorating business, including financial aspects, hiring, and how to build out a client list.

Full Program Goal & Outcomes

Interior Decorator Career Outcomes

Our Interior Decorating classes are designed with job readiness in mind. From the principles of design to how to start your own business, you’ll learn important skills to help prepare you for an entry-level job as an interior decorator.

State Licensing Requirements

Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in certain fields are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.

Interior Decorating Curriculum

7 Courses
28.7 continuing education units (CEUs)
13 exams
1 submitted project

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 9 months
Average time = 12 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework. The estimated completion times are based on completion times for learners enrolled in this program from May 2021 - April 2022, excluding withdrawals.

In our accredited Interior Decorator Program, you'll learn the fundamentals that are essential to becoming a successful interior decorator. Your online classes include:

The Elements and Principles of Design
Identifying Furniture Styles and Periods
Decorating from Building Plans
Starting Your Own Business

Show Full Curriculum

Optional Interior Decorator Work Experience

After successfully completing your classes with Penn Foster, you can choose to gain hands-on experience as an interior decorator through an optional work experience. Students interested in doing so are required to find their own site. Penn Foster doesn't assist students in finding these opportunities.

Interior Decorator Student Stories

Penn Foster’s Interior Decorator classes can help prepare you for the first step in your interior decorating career. This program has helped recent graduates learn at their own pace, find new jobs, and start their own businesses. Learn more about Penn Foster graduates' experiences and how Penn Foster worked for them.

View Student Success Stories

Sierra M.

Penn Foster Graduate, 2023

“It was such a good learning experience. I felt so comfortable and in my own head space and was so proud of myself when I finished!”

Looking for training for your workers?

Penn Foster currently works with hundreds of leading employers to meet their unique organizational needs.

Learn More

Interior Decorating Program Tuition

Take the first steps toward a new career with our online Interior Decorator Program. Simply choose from one of our low-cost customized payment plans below and get started today!

Option 1: Pay in full

Cost of Program

$999

$1,199 Save $200

Best price. Best value.
Pay the full cost today
No monthly payments

Enroll Now

Option 2: Monthly Auto Pay Plan

Cost of Program

$1,199

Pay $59 per month
Start for $20 down
All major credit and debit cards accepted

Enroll Now

Option 3: Monthly Mail Pay Plan

cost of program

$1,199

Pay $59 per month
Start for $39 down
Mail your payments

Enroll Now

Our Proven Interior Decorator Learning Model

Empowering students to reach their professional goals

Flexible

Start anytime
No exam due dates
Self-paced

Interactive

Digital study guides
Self-check quizzes
Instructor feedback

Connected

24/7 access to online resources
Online student community
Dedicated Learner Center

Supportive

Expert faculty
Dedicated student services
Robust learning resources

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Interior Decorating Program FAQs

What are the top qualities of a good interior decorator?

A good interior decorator is someone who has an eye for color and design, strong communication and customer services skills, and the ability to take charge of a project. Most interior decorators are also creative, able to imagine and implement a variety of design concepts to suit various client needs.

Where can I work as an interior decorator?

Interior decorators can work for licensed interior designers, building and construction companies, retail stores, or even start their own businesses. Many decorators will work in a variety of environments depending on the project they're working on, from decorating a residential home to playing a part in designing a retail space.

How long does it take to become an interior decorator?

You can train to become an interior decorator around your schedule with Penn Foster's online Interior Decorating classes. Depending on your experience and career goals, you may choose to pursue on-the-job training or certifications to strengthen your decorator resume.

Is interior decorating a good career?

Interior decorators play an important role in making the spaces we see and use every day comfortable and welcoming. Entry-level interior decorators can earn an average starting salary of $49,958 per year, according to national data from Payscale.¹

What's the difference between an interior decorator and an interior designer?

Interior decorators often require less training and don't necessarily need to be licensed or certified to perform their job, while interior designers require further education and certification. Decorators can choose to pursue becoming an interior designer as the next step in their career path.

¹Payscale. "Interior Decorator." Accessed October 4, 2023.

Statements found in Payscale are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country. Statistics found in Payscale are based on their data collection methodologies, which may or may not reflect your area.