Penn Foster Interior Decorator distance learning course helps students to develop their natural talent for interior design. The Program provides all the necessary books, equipment, lessons and learning aids. Besides, it provides Certified Interior Decorator membership information, unlimited instructional support, access to student services by phone, mail, fax and website.

This is at-home learning program. It includes seven Instruction Sets. Students get paid six-month Certified Interior Decorator professional membership upon successful completion of certification exam.

Instruction Set 1
     Decorating Today. Here you can study the history of interior decorating; meeting and interviewing clients; characteristics of a successful interior decorator; employment opportunities.

Instruction Set 2
     Meeting Client’s Needs. The course studies how to determine the client’s needs, preferences, goals and budget priorities; develop a decorating plan, including measurements and room graphs to scale.
     Elements and Principles of Design. Here you will learn to identify the elements of design: line, form, color and value, texture, pattern, light, and space. Besides, the course explores the principles of design: balance, proportion, and scale; emphasis and unity.

Instruction Set 3
     Principles of Color. This course discovers the properties of color; how to use color in interior decorating; planning a color scheme; using the color wheel.
     Identifying Furniture Styles and Periods - explores different furniture styles - traditional, provincial, contemporary, modern - from the 17th to the 20th century; identifying styles and integrating each into your rooms.
     Decorating with Furniture. Here you will study how to arrange rooms according to function and use; creating the best traffic patterns; positioning furniture on a floor plan; recognizing quality workmanship and construction in furniture.

Instruction Set 4
     Floors – studies the importance of floors in room decor; carpeting; rugs; wood floors; durable floors; how to select the appropriate floor treatment; measuring, scaling, and using a floor plan.
     Walls – learns how to treat walls in decorating; wall coverings, including wallpaper, paint, murals, mirrors, paneling, and tile; drawing scaled elevations.
     Windows. Here you can study different types of windows; planning and choosing window treatments - curtains, draperies, shades, and blinds; window treatments for special situations; measuring for window treatments; drawing windows on elevations.
     Decorating from Building Plans. The course teaches to identify decorating problems when reading blueprints; types of housing plans; evaluate house plan layouts; discuss specific decorating problems and solutions, room by room.

Instruction Set 5
     Fabrics. With this course you will find out how to use natural and synthetic fabrics: silk, cotton, linen, wool, special fibers; selecting the right fabric texture; identifying weaves.
     Lighting and Accessories. The course explores the three types of lighting; lighting and the color scheme; making use of lamps and lighting fixtures in decorating; using wall and table accessories; tips for arranging accessory groupings.
     Design of Special Purpose Rooms – studies how to plan home offices, home fitness centers and home theaters; select furniture based on anthropometric and ergonomic principles; coordinate floors, walls, upholstery, equipment and lighting for these three types of special purpose rooms

Instruction Set 6
     Skills and Methods of Selling. Here you will learn how to qualify a client; how to “approach” a customer; how to present merchandise; develop a follow-up system; how to prospect for clients.
     Starting the Own Business. This course studies the basics of residential and contract decorating; developing a design program; working with clients, subcontractors, tradespeople, custom fabricators, and suppliers; advertising, charging clients, and getting paid; keeping financial records.

Instruction Set 7
At the end of the Program students are supposed to complete Graded Project (Decorating a Living Room) and to take a final examination.

Program tuition fes - $965