Part Time Certificate Residential Interior Design KLC School of Design

Interior Design

Certificate in Residential Interior Design - Part Time

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Award: Certificate in Residential Interior Design
Duration: 1 academic year, part time (September or January intake)
School: KLC School of Design
Campus: London

Learn the essentials of residential interior design, style, and sourcing and advance your career in the world of interior design on this part-time industry-respected certificate course.

This part time, one-year course is the perfect option for those with busy life commitments who want to become a professional residential interior designers in an immersive, but flexible way. Tailored to help students develop their personal creativity and encourage them to start thinking like an interior designer, this part-time course is a great option for those looking to fast track their route to employment.

Course structure

Alongside engaging and carefully formulated lectures and workshops, the course is enhanced with regular inspirational talks from leading designers and industry experts as well as showroom visits and trips to the V&A.

In between easy-to-follow inspirational lessons and fundamental skills workshops, students undertake a number of learning research projects and sourcing assignments in the first half of the course. This gives them a good foundation of knowledge as they work towards commencing their first concept design project where they have an opportunity to put skills learned into practice.  The course then culminates in an exciting final live project where students are able to work with an actual client, pitching their design exactly as they would in a real-life job.

Students will leave the course ready to work in the residential interior design industry with all the key decorative and technical skills to design, style and source for kitchens, bathrooms living and sleeping areas of the home. Others may wish to combine previous knowledge and workplace experience with their new skills to open up exciting entrepreneurial opportunities.

Course units

Projects and Assignments

Design Project 1 - Residential bedroom and bathroom

Design Project 2 - Residential kitchen, dining and living space  

Research Project 1 - Evolution of Style project and test 

Research Project 2 - Sourcing Assignments x3.
 

Syllabus

Design Process
Taking the brief, research and conceptual work
Design analysis and development
Design implementation and evaluation. 
Colour, Texture and Styling
Theory and psychology of colour
Suitability, composition and application of textiles and trimmings, wall and floor coverings and materials and finishes
Upholstery
Window treatments
Accessories, art and antiques
Styling

Decorative Schemes and Sourcing
Putting together a successful decorative scheme, incorporating patterned and plain fabrics, paint finishes and wallpaper
Sourcing furniture and accessories for a given brief
Sourcing from different trade suppliers
Writing a professional design statement

Introduction to Technical Understanding
Introduction to the principles of design to include scale, proportion, ergonomics and space planning
Introduction to lighting
Introduction to building construction
Introduction to kitchen and bathroom design

Communication Skills
Drawing from survey notes
Drawing plans, elevations, sections, furniture layouts and lighting plans
Graphics
Freehand sketching
Introduction to EstiPC / EstiMac
Visual presentation skills to include concept, presentation and sample boards
Rendering techniques
SketchUp
AutoCAD (taught on PC)
Evolution of Style
French and English interior styles from the 17th to early 21st Century
Influential interior designers and decorators

Professional Practice
Specifying, ordering, estimating and invoicing
Record keeping and business administration
Preparation of fee proposals
Setting up trade accounts and the use of trade showrooms
Time management and working to budget
Planning permissions
Contracts and insurance requirements
Working in the industry and introduction to BIID
Portfolio preparation
Advice on finding work in the industry

Please note that students cover the same content and receive the same qualification whether they take the full time or part time study option. 

Contact hours

Part Time, 2 days a week (10.00am - 4.00pm). Plus, a minimum of 5 hours of self-directed study per week is required to complete the course. During projects, many students voluntarily spend more than the minimum.

Entry requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

  • No previous art and design experience is required.
  • Applicants must be 18 or over

English Language Requirements

  • Good command of written and spoken English is required for all applicants.
  • If you reside in the UK, but English is not your first language, you may be asked to undertake an approved English language test.

Student gallery

    •
    West Dean London Campus

    London campus

    Facilities

    Alumni
    Funding your studies

    Funding

    Work placements & careers

    Our extensive links with designers, suppliers, manufacturers, specialists and professionals within the interior design and garden design industries allow us to offer our students unmatched opportunities to work on live design projects, placements and employment opportunities.

    As part of our commitment to offering industry-ready qualifications, our students are offered guidance on CV preparation, portfolio presentation, professional practice and upon graduation; our careers service also helps graduates find internships, job placements, and freelance appointments through out Alumni Careers Newsletter. 

    Read more

    KLC School of Design at West Dean

    KLC School of Design

    Our KLC School of Design offers industry-leading interior design degrees and garden design courses with unrivalled teaching, flexible learning and ongoing career support

    KLC School of Design

    Fees & funding

    2025/26 Course Fees - UK & International Students

    • £10,900

    We may routinely increase our course fees from year to year for one-year courses as well as courses lasting two or more years and may review and change such course fees without notice.

    How to apply

    Entry onto the course is by interview only. Applications for this course can be made by submitting a completed application form and emailing it to [email protected].

    Computer-aided design is a key part of this course; therefore applicants must be computer literate and able to confidently use their personal laptop.

    Apply Now

    Ask a question

    Need more information? Have a question? Speak to our course advisors

    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: +44 01243 818 300 and select option 1 

    Send an Enquiry

    Related courses

    Our online Certificate Interior Design course is accessible on all your devices 24/7 via KLC's bespoke virtual learning environment (VLE). Through this online web portal, students have constant access to dynamic course materials developed by industry experts. Broken down into four sections, the course layout is clear and easy to use with practical step by step instructions. 

    Online Certificate in Residential Interior Design
    West Dean Professional Knowledge Network

    West Dean Professional Knowledge Network

    Join industry-leading theorists and practitioners in a series of talks that will offer insights into key topics and areas that are shaping the future of arts, design and conservation

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    News

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    KLC School of Design 25th September 2024

    Interior Design student wins competition with Jacaranda

    Earlier this year Interior Design students had the opportunity to design a rug collection from concept materials to colours in a competition hosted by Jacaranda Carpets. The winner, Bobbi Fitzpatrick who was an Applied Interior Design Diploma student, celebrated the rugs going into production. "Having admired Jacaranda since my first degree in Textile and Surface Design, winning this indus...

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    KLC School of Design 1st July 2024

    Garden Design alumni wins three awards at Gardens World Live

    Garden Design Diploma graduate, Dan Hartley, has recently been awarded Platinum award, Best Construction award and Best Show Garden award for his Eco Oasis Garden at Gardens World Live at NEC Birmingham.

     

    The eco-friendly, contemporary country garden focuses on environmentally friendly elements and is managed organically. It features naturalistic planting, log pil...

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    News 8th May 2024

    Graduates named top Designers by House & Garden

    A number of graduates from Interior and Garden Design programmes have been included in the House & Garden Top 100 Interior Designers and Architects, and Top 50 Garden Designers lists for 2024.

     

    Top 100 Interior Designers and Architects

    The much anticipated and hotly debated annual list showcases those considered to be the best interior designers and ...

    Find out more
    Awards 22nd February 2024

    Interior Design student wins prestigious furniture competition

    Congratulations to Online BA Honours Interior Design student Robyn Tilley, winner of the BA Honours live Project 6 design competition. This exciting live project saw students collaborate with bespoke furniture maker Augustus Brandt and Decorum Est to design a multifunctional console/dressing table. Robyn’s winning design is a stunning example of innovation and functionality - her ...

    Find out more
    Awards 1st December 2023

    Students announced as Finalists in Society of Garden Designers Awards 2023

    Congratulations to Garden Design Diploma students Sophie Knittel, Julia Hill, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones and Joshua Millard who have been announced as finalists in the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2023!  With a judging panel consisting of industry-leading garden designers including Sarah Morgan, David Stevens, and Tom Massey, the student awards are a celebration of outstanding proje...

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    KLC School of Design 27th July 2023

    KLC School of Design Graduation 2022-2023

    KLC School of Design held the 2022-23 Graduation and Awards on the 15 July in the Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour, and it was a great success as students, tutors and a whole host of design industry professionals, as well as family and friends, attended the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the 2022 and 2023 interior design graduates. KLC School of Design has always been incredi...

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    Foundation 7th July 2023

    Making makes the difference: Our new brand

    We are delighted to introduce our new brand design for West Dean following our integration with KLC School of Design and the expansion of our courses. The new style embodies the power of making and the maker, across arts, craft, conservation and design. It is a celebration of mark-making as well as the mark our students make on the world. We are very proud of it, and hope you like it to...

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    Events 23rd May 2023

    RHS Chelsea Flower Show success

    Congratulations to all involved in making RHS Chelsea Flower Show such a success for 2023!

    Garden Diploma Course Leader, Horticultural Consultant & Show Garden Specialist Humaira Ikram was invited with her planting team to work with Cleve West on the incredibly important and Gold Medal winning Centre Point Garden about youth homelessness. Current Garden Design Diploma...

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    Events 3rd May 2023

    KLC School of Design Connect's Inspirational Talk with Katharine Pooley

    KLC School of Design Connect was delighted to host an Inspirational Talk with Katharine Pooley and designers in her team, Hannah Durojaiye, April Hudson and Sarah Jane.

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    Events 14th March 2023

    KLC Connect Designers Evening at Waterworks

    KLC Connect is an initiative which aims at introducing and connecting students to the interior design community. Launched in 2017, KLC Connect is designed to facilitate the transition from studying to employment. During these events, students have the chance to meet and talk with interior designers, industry experts and suppliers.

    KLC hosted another successful Designers Evening at the...

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    Tutors

    Ally Wates DipAD

    Certificate Course Leader
    Ally Wates originally trained as a theatre designer, moving into decorating and then attending KLC as a Diploma student.

    Daniela Cava BA(Hons) PGCertHE FHEA

    Daniela La Cava, BA(Hons) PGCertHE FHEA is our course tutor who is an experienced Interior Designer, holding a First Class BA Honours in Interior Design.

    Natalie Arnold

    Natalie Arnold is a multi-faceted artist, illustrator and designer. After graduating with a degree in Interior Architecture BA (Hons), she worked in the commercial design industry while continuing to practice her fine art.

    Ariela Cassinelli BA Arch MSc.Arch

    Ariela Cassinelli is our Subject Lead Interior Design at KLC School of Design with 13 years of practical experience working in London, Miami, Lima and Tel Aviv.

    Jelena Radelj, interior design tutor

    Jelena Radelj

    Jelena Radelj  is a trained Architect and Interior Designer with 22 years of experience working in London, Milan and Zagreb. Jelena has five years of teaching experience as a supporting Interior Design Tutor at KLC School of Design.