Decide if your goal is to explore the field of interior design out of curiosity--or maybe you just want a bit of training so you can be more informed as an employee in a design studio. If you want to learn a few skills but don't want to make the commitment of working toward a degree, there are online programs that can help you do this. There are also four-year college programs online. Both will enable you to work in the field of interior design, but some of the longer programs will prepare you for licensure in the field.
Four-Year Degrees Online
If you've decided on a career in interior design, it's a good idea to investigate a four-year college degree program. These programs will often require you to spend at least some of the time on campus, so be sure to consider the realities of your day-to-day life before choosing this option.
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) website has listed the online four-year or extended-training programs that meet their requirements for students to become members. Each of these online programs offers an extensive program in interior design that will prepare students for a NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) Examination. Passing the exam will earn you a certificate that states you have achieved a level of competency in the field of interior design. See Resources below for links.
Interior Design Courses Online
In the heart of Manhattan, the Sheffield School of Interior Design offers distance education in interior design. Students also work directly with design professionals in one of the three programs offered: interior design, wedding and event planning and feng shui. Sheffield courses are excellent for preliminary interior design study, but will not prepare you to take the NCIDQ exam, allow you to acquire a license or get hired as a designer at a design firm, according to ASID.
Ashworth College in Norcross, Georgia, also has an online interior decorating course, consisting of 18 lessons and a career-search supplement.