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Interior Decorating (Certificate)

A designer sitting on a couch reviewing textures
Credential:
Durham College Certificate
Code:
IDCR

Durham College Certificate

Program Description

Durham College offers an Interior Decorating Certificate, recognized by the Decorator & Designers Association of Canada (DDA Canada), focusing on residential interior decorating. We make it easy for you to learn more about decorating, or to study for that new career by providing part-time classes during the evening.

Some courses are only available online.

Interior decorators can work part-time or full-time. You will gain satisfaction by making your creative vision into a reality. You can help businesses, homeowners and apartment renters to beautify their spaces or you can exercise your creativity by working on specialty projects like yachts, bed and breakfasts and day spas.

A trained interior decorator can also work as part of a bigger design team in areas such as architect's offices, interior design offices, engineering offices, property management offices, retailers, boutique stores, restaurants, art galleries and museums, hotels, condominium corporations, model homes and home builder's décor studios.

Students currently enrolled in this program are invited to apply for student membership in the Decorator & Designers Association. Graduates of the program are invited to apply for accredited membership on the Decorator & Designers Association website.

For more information on interior decorating, visit the Canadian Decorators' Association website at www.ddacanada.com

Certificate Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
    OR
    Grade 12 equivalency certificate achieved through College academic upgrading
    OR
    Mature Student Status (19 years of age or older)

  • You must maintain an overall average of 60% or a GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate
  • A minimum of 25% of courses must be completed through Durham College.

Program Of Study

Students are required to print or save a copy of the Program of Study when beginning the program. This document contains critical details about program progression and graduation requirements specific to the academic year in which your program was started.

Click to access the Program of Study for the current academic year.

Students who began this program prior to the current academic year may contact the Centre for Professional and Part-Time Learning office at ppl@durhamcollege.ca or 905-721-3052 to obtain your Program of Study and graduation requirements.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be equipped to:

  • Prepare and present professional decorating plans that meet client needs within a variety of residential settings by integrating knowledge of materials and finishes, design principles, colour theory, lighting applications, furniture history, project budgeting and current trends
  • Prepare and present design boards that utilize manual drafting and drawing, computer-aided illustration, and other 2D and 3D illustration/presentation techniques as appropriate
  • Apply effective business practices to client interactions, promotion, marketing and sales activities, and small business management tasks
  • Collaborate with appropriate industry professionals which may include vendors, contractors, building professionals, and other design specialists
  • Apply creativity and current trends to all aspects of a design project

Career Options

Potential career and industry options may include:

  • Architect offices
  • Boutique stores
  • Condominium corporations
  • Decor studios
  • Engineering offices
  • Galleries and museums
  • Hotels
  • Interior design offices
  • Model/builder homes
  • Property management offices
  • Restaurants
  • Retail stores

Program Related Questions? Call 905.721.3052

If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please visit the Centre for Professional and Part-Time Learning OSAP Eligibility webpage.

Currently offered

Course Title Location/
Delivery Method
DRFT 1352Basic Drafting-Interior DecoratingOshawa
BUS 1380Business Practices - Interior DecoratingOnline
COLR 1381Colour TheoryOnline
DECR 1381Fundamentals of Lighting for Interior DecoratingOnline
HIST 1380History Of FurnitureOnline
DECR 1350Materials And FinishesOshawa