How To Choose an Online Interior Decorating School

So, which learning environment is right for you?

On the one hand, you might feel that you’d benefit from the structure of an in-person course, in addition to the chance to build relationships with classmates and tutors. If so, then in-person schooling is probably the preferable route.

However, maybe you’re looking for a more affordable option that’ll allow you to study (and graduate) at your own pace. If this is the case, then an online interior decorating school would be the better choice for your goals.

These days, there are a LOT of scammers out there whose only purpose is to cheat you out of your hard-earned money. For this reason, when looking at online interior decorating schools, be sure to check and see that the institution is properly accredited. Meaning, that it’s been evaluated by an outside agency and determined to meet certain educational standards.

When choosing an online interior decorating school, take a look at the company’s website.

Does it look like the real deal? How easy is it to navigate – and find the info you’re searching for? Are the school’s policies, procedures, course details, and contact information easy to find?

An online school’s website will tell you a LOT about that institution as a whole. For instance, it’s poorly designed and/or lacks need-to-know info, that’s a big red flag to watch out for!

The best online interior decorating schools out there will have qualified instructors who are experts in their field. They’ll possess the experience and expertise needed to be teaching your course – and they’ll also be appropriately (and reputably) certified.

When choosing the right online interior decorating school for you, the next thing you’ll want to do is see if they’re active on social media. Frankly, any business that isn’t on social media nowadays loses quite a bit of credibility… And this is especially true with online schools.

After all, social media is a great way for  them to showcase their culture, community, success stories, etc.!

QC Design School is VERY active on social media! We love connecting with our students and grads, as well as sharing help career advice, tips, blog posts, and other useful resources. Plus, we’re always looking for an excuse to post pictures and videos of our happy students/alumni and the beautiful design work they’ve done!

Interested in checking us out on social media?

Let’s be real: it’s extremely off-putting when you try to get a hold of a company’s support team and are only met with radio silence. When it comes to online schools, the ease with which you can contact a real-life person will tell you a LOT about what your student experience will be like.

For instance, say that their Support Staff are impossible to get a hold of, are prone to ghosting, and/or have a terrible attitude. Then we strongly suggest that you do NOT enroll with that online interior decorating school!

Here’s yet another awesome perk of becoming a student at QC Design School: our Support Team is quite literally the best! Firstly, they’re available 7 days a week by phone, email, and live chat – depending on your personal preference. Secondly, they’re always quick to respond to any inquiries or issues you might have.

When you’re looking at online interior decorating courses, make sure to check out the curriculum of the class itself.

Will it cover everything you’re hoping to learn? Has the program been designed by experienced design experts? Does it cater to beginner interior decorators, experienced decorators, or both?

QC Design School offers a self-paced, online Interior Decorating certification course that covers all of the following topics:

Obviously, you want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when you sign up for an online interior decorating course. That said, you should NOT have to break the bank in the process!

Truth is, there are plenty of affordable options out there. You just have to look for them!

Take QC Design School as a prime example. All of our online programs are some of the most affordable out there (while still staying competitive, of course). Furthermore, we offer a low monthly payment plan option – thereby allowing you to spread out the cost of your course over 2 full years!

MYTH: You won’t be able to get any hands-on experience through an online interior decorating school.

FACT: The best online interior decorating schools out there will guarantee that you get plenty of practical, real-world training!

Why is this such a key thing to look for in your online course? Because otherwise, it defeats the purpose of your training! After all, what’s the point in taking any class – much less paying for it – if it won’t actually prepare you for the real world?

If your goal is to start your own interior decorating business, then it’s important to find a course that also offers business training as part of its curriculum. After all, there’s a lot more to being a successful decorator than just knowing how to place things in a room!

When graduating from an online interior decorating school, you should be proud of your accomplishment! What better way to show off your new skill-set – and certification – than by displaying it for the entire world to see?

As we mentioned earlier, QC Design School is a well-respected, accredited institution. As such, when you graduate from our Interior Decorating Course, you’ll receive a globally-recognized International Design and Decorating Professional (IDDP) certification!

What’s more?

Next, let’s move onto the red flags you should be avoiding. Choosing the wrong school can be a very costly mistake, both in terms of your time and money… And we know you don’t want that!

As we mentioned earlier, one of the many benefits of QC Design School is our accreditation. However, there are many online interior decorating schools out there that are not accredited. And while this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a bad school, it’s still something to be wary of.

Usually, if an online school isn’t properly recognized, it could be an indicator that:

If you come across a school, it doesn’t meet this criteria, and you’re feeling concerned, know that this is a totally valid response! Again, this is exactly why we encourage you to do the proper research before enrolling.

Another substantial red flag is to watch out for is a negative reputation, online or otherwise. For example, do they have more negative reviews than positive ones? Do the complaints about the institution seem to be endless?

Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that every interior decorating school – whether it be online or in-person – is going to have at least a few unhappy students. That’s just a fact of life. That said, though, if the majority of what you see online is negative, then that’s a glaring red flag you shouldn’t ignore.

In order to choose an online interior decorating school that’s right for you, it’s important to avoid any place that makes overly inflated promises. For instance, if a school claims they can turn you (and your skill-set) into that of a professional interior decorator in less than a month, then that’s probably not realistic.

Of course, we’re not saying that it’s impossible to become a certified interior decorator quickly. Obviously, some people pick things up faster than others and will be able to finish their course in less time (especially if done online). But generally speaking, it’s going to take more than just a month to acquire all the skills needed for long-term success in the professional design industry.

Let’s preface things by saying that this rule doesn’t necessary apply to all design courses. For example, some online schools may offer short workshops and/or quick modules that you can purchase à la carte. When it comes to these types of programs, it makes sense that they may be offered at a considerably low price.

Rather, what we’re referring to are extensive interior decorating certification courses offered for a ludicrously low tuition rate.

As a general rule of thumb, if a school’s tuition fees are suspiciously low, there’s a reason for that. And usually, it’s not a good one. Good-quality interior decorating courses will typically cost a few hundred dollars, at the VERY least.

And if you’re looking for a high-quality program, you’ll be looking at paying around $1200 on average. (Although, as we mentioned earlier, this is still much cheaper than in-person courses – and you’ll have more payment options at your disposal, too!)

Of course, it obviously goes without saying that there are always exceptions to the rule. However, if an online interior decorating school is claiming that they can fully train you (from no experience, to the level of a professional) for less than $100, that’s a MASSIVE red flag!

Another red flag to watch out for is any online interior decorating school that tries to make you pay extra for your certification. No matter the circumstance, this is a seriously shady move!

The fee for your certification should be included within the cost of tuition – full stop. By the time you’re ready to graduate, you’ve earned that certification! So, if an institution is trying to make you pay additional and/or hidden fees in order to actually get it, you’re being scammed.

When choosing the best online interior decorating school, make sure they offer more than just textbook learning. Yes, it’s obviously important to have a foundation in theoretical design knowledge. However, you also want to make sure you’re getting hands-on training and real-world experience, too.

Now that you know how to choose the best online interior decorating school, it’s time to start your journey to becoming certified! So long as you remember to do your research, ask around for recommendations, and make sure that the course you choose is properly accredited, you’ll be golden!

We also highly recommend bookmarking the following resources to aid you in this exciting venture:

We hope you enjoyed reading this article on how to choose an interior decorating school that’ll best suit your needs and career aspirations. With the right research and must-have criteria checklist, we guarantee you’ll find the course that’s right for you!

Do YOU have any questions or comments about choosing the best online interior decorating school? Let us know in the comment section below. We love hearing from you!