A career in interior design is more than just knowing a thing or two about colour and style. Often, it takes great communication, technical, project management and motivational skills to stay on top in the field. Interior design and interior decorating programs at Ontario colleges can help you develop the drive and passion to be constantly learning, so you can outrun the competition.
If you see yourself as an interior designer or decorator, here’s what you need to know. More
Interior Design and Interior Decorating Courses
Technical training will include classes on form, space planning and ergonomics, using sophisticated computer-aided drafting tools such as AutoCAD. These will teach you the fundamentals of preparing drawings, layouts and presentations that you can take to your clients.
On the creative end, classes like global influence, environmental awareness and the relationship between people and their spaces can help you recognize or create interior design trends. They’ll help you explore your own unique creativity as well as identify historical design patterns that can be applied to modern or contemporary interior design. These classes will vary from college to college.
General Interior Design and Interior Decorating Program Requirements
Many Ontario colleges offer complete programs or dedicated interior design schools to give you a leading edge in the industry. Often, all that is necessary to enter one of these programs is an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, including a Grade 12 English and mathematics course, with a sufficient minimum average. Visual arts courses are often recommended.
Interior Design and Interior Decorating Jobs and Salaries
Interior design and interior decorating programs at Ontario colleges can open up a number of career avenues, depending on your interests. Just a few possible specialties include:
- Home interior design
- Commercial interior design
- Office / corporate interior design
- Architectural interior design
Interior design salaries vary, depending on which specialty you choose and where you practice. Working with interior design firms could mean higher wages in the beginning of your career, before branching off on your own as an interior design consultant or business owner. While salaries may start as low as $26,000 a year, with a reputable clientele or pay-per-project work, you may see a starting salary of $40,000 or more.
Ontario Colleges Offering Interior Design and Interior Decorating Programs
Use the left-column navigation to refine your search by College, Program Availability, Program Start Date and more, or see the table below for a complete list of interior design and interior decorating programs at Ontario colleges. Less
