Free Online Interior Design Courses

Discover how thoughtful planning and decorating principles shape a room, or explore the role of AI in developing design ideas. Our free online interior design courses at Oxford Home Study Centre offer four focused starting points, each with 20 hours of self-paced online study.

Choose an introduction to interior design, concentrate on living rooms and kitchens, or examine AI-assisted visualisation and room layouts. Enrolment, supplied learning materials and required assessments are free. Certificates are optional and available to purchase separately after successful completion.

Compare Our Free Interior Design Courses

Each course has a different purpose. Use the comparison below to find the subject that matches your interests, then open the course page to review its complete syllabus and learning outcomes.

All four courses have the same published study duration. Their differences lie in the subjects covered, rather than the number of hours. Study hours provide a guide to the learning commitment; they are not a fixed completion deadline.

Choose a Course for Your Learning Goal

Begin with interior-design foundations

The Interior Design Short Course introduces the profession and the principles behind a design scheme. Topics include function, mood and style, human dimensions, scale and proportion, balance and harmony, contrast and rhythm. It offers a useful starting point if you want to understand how practical needs and visual choices work together.

Focus on living rooms and kitchens

Room by Room Designing concentrates on individual spaces. Its published topics cover living rooms, practical planning, selecting a scheme, kitchens, planning the space and selecting surfaces. Choose this course if your main interest is an introduction to planning these rooms.

Explore AI-assisted interior design

AI in Interior Design Essentials introduces AI applications across design visualisation and personalised suggestions. AI Room Design focuses more closely on layouts, space use and automation for individual rooms. Both introduce concepts and applications; neither guarantees proficiency in every design platform.

Who Can Benefit from These Courses?

Our free interior design courses may suit beginners, homeowners considering personal projects, creative learners exploring a new subject and people preparing for further study. They can also interest professionals who want an introduction to AI applications in design. All four course listings are open to learners without formal entry requirements.

Online study lets you organise your learning around work, family and other commitments. Review the syllabus before enrolling so you can choose a course that addresses what you want to learn.

Free Study and Optional Paid Certificates

You can study interior design online for free through the courses in this collection. There is no course fee for enrolment, access to the supplied online learning materials or required assessments.

After successful completion, you may choose to purchase a QLS-endorsed Certificate of Achievement or a CPD-accredited certificate issued by the CPD Standards Office. You can purchase either certificate individually or both for the same completed course. Each has its own fee; review the current certificate options and prices before ordering.

Certification is entirely optional. These certificates record course completion and do not constitute an Ofqual-regulated qualification or professional licence.

Use Your Learning to Support Your Next Steps

A short course can help you understand design terminology, consider ideas more carefully and decide which subjects to explore next. Professional interior-design work may require further study, practical experience, software skills and a portfolio.

AI-generated layouts and visuals require human review. Check measurements, proportions and proposed materials before using an idea in practice. Projects involving structures, services, fire safety or accessibility require appropriately qualified input.

For more extensive study, compare our interior design certificate and diploma programmes. You can also explore free AI courses, browse free online courses with optional certificates in other subjects, or use the complete OHSC course catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many free interior design courses are available?

This collection contains four free short courses: Interior Design Short Course, Room by Room Designing, AI in Interior Design Essentials and AI Room Design.

How long does each course take?

Each course has a published study duration of 20 hours. Study is self-paced, so you can organise those hours around your schedule.

Which course should I choose as a beginner?

Start with Interior Design Short Course for an introduction to the profession and decorating principles. Choose Room by Room Designing if you are particularly interested in living rooms and kitchens.

What is the difference between the two AI courses?

AI in Interior Design Essentials introduces AI in design visualisation and personalised suggestions. AI Room Design concentrates on room layouts, space optimisation, personalisation and automation. Compare their module descriptions to choose the focus you prefer.

Do I need previous experience?

No formal entry requirements are listed for these four courses. Review the syllabus to check that the subject matches your interests and existing knowledge.

Are certificates included for free?

No. The courses are free to study, but certificates are optional paid purchases after successful completion. You do not need to buy a certificate to access the learning materials or complete the course.

Will completing a course qualify me as an interior designer?

These introductory short courses support learning and further study. They do not confer professional status or guarantee employment. Employers and clients may expect wider qualifications, practical experience and a portfolio.

Where can I find longer interior design programmes?

Visit our interior design course collection to compare the available certificate and diploma programmes, their syllabuses, study hours, fees and awards.