Practical interior design training, taught live online
Develop your eye for residential interiors and the practical skills to bring a client brief to life. This 11-week online interior design diploma combines live masterclasses, recorded lessons and guided assignments for beginners and aspiring professionals.
Explore space planning, colour, lighting, materials and furniture layouts. Learn to present your ideas using SketchUp and Canva, with guidance from working interior design professionals.
Whether you want to develop your own home, move into a creative career or begin a freelance design business, the course brings together design foundations and the practical business skills of working with clients.
Is this diploma right for you?
The Residential Diploma is designed for people who want to develop creative and technical foundations in designing homes and living spaces.
- Beginners developing an existing interest in interiors.
- Career changers exploring professional interior design.
- Aspiring freelancers who want to build a portfolio and work with clients.
- People who want to approach their own home projects with greater confidence.
Residential design is the focus. The course also introduces how residential and commercial projects differ.
What you’ll learn on the diploma
Build your understanding through design theory, practical software work and guided assignments. These are the learning areas covered by the Residential Diploma.
Interior design foundations
Explore the history and evolution of interior design, the differences between residential and commercial approaches, and how people’s needs shape living spaces.
Space planning & furniture layouts
Develop layouts, furniture arrangements and circulation plans that respond to a client brief and the way a space will be used.
Colour, lighting & materials
Bring together colour theory, lighting, textures, materials and soft furnishings, with attention to the finishing details of a residential scheme.
SketchUp & Canva
Use these tools to develop technical layouts, visualisations and client presentations, supported by guided learning and practical challenges.
Client briefs & presentations
Interpret a client’s needs, communicate your design ideas clearly and practise presenting a professional residential design proposal.
Professional practice
Explore client relationships, pricing your services, marketing and the business skills involved in developing an interior design practice.
How online learning works at LCS
Join weekly live masterclasses
Learn with industry professionals through weekly live sessions, supported by recordings that you can revisit or catch up with if you miss a class.
Put ideas into practice
Use the learning materials, templates and weekly challenges to develop your design approach. Practical work includes SketchUp, Canva, client briefs and presenting your ideas.
Build your portfolio and professional approach
Develop work for a portfolio while practising the creative, communication and business skills used with residential clients.
Connect with fellow students through the course’s private WhatsApp group.
A career change, in a graduate’s own words
Melanie Lovell: from finance to interiors
In her LCS graduate interview, Melanie describes enrolling in the Interior Design Diploma in 2024 while still working in finance, following 18 years in that industry.
She explains how weekly live sessions, homework assignments and live SketchUp tutorials helped her stay motivated. The interview also describes her move into residential and e-design projects.
Read Melanie’s full career-change interview“The weekly live sessions created a classroom-like experience, allowing for real-time interaction with other students and support from practising interior designers.”
Melanie Lovell, LCS Interior Design Diploma graduate
See where LCS graduates take their skills
Explore different ways graduates have used their Residential Diploma training.
Katy Smith
In her LCS graduate testimonial, Katy describes completing the Residential Diploma and running an online interiors shop specialising in home and garden products, alongside sharing interiors content.
Bethany Brown
Bethany’s LCS graduate profile describes her Residential Diploma training and her business, Bethany Brown Interiors, offering residential design, e-design and home styling services.
Learn with practising interior designers
Aless Clifton
Head of Interior Design
“Residential interiors are where it all began for me—it’s the perfect starting point.”
Aless Clifton, Head of Interior Design
Aless’s course introduction explains the focus on design approaches, human needs, lighting, finishing touches and effective client communication.
The diploma combines live teaching with downloadable resources, templates and practical work, helping you apply what you learn to residential design.
Meet the LCS tutor teamUnderstand your qualification
On successful completion, the course awards:
- The London College of Style Interior Design Residential Diploma, quality assured through A.C.E.
- CPD Certification for 40 hours of continuing professional development.
The course also includes complimentary student membership of the British Institute of Interior Design after successful completion.
A.C.E. is London College of Style’s own quality assurance framework. It is not a qualification issued or regulated by a government body or national qualifications framework. Read how A.C.E. quality assurance works.
Course fees, payment options & enrolment
The course listing below shows the published fee, including VAT, and the next start date. Pay in full or choose three equal interest-free instalments. A payment or instalment is required to secure your place.
Check the fee and availability for your chosen intake when applying. Read the payment and cancellation terms, or ask admissions about payment options.
Course dates and live sessions
Use the next start date shown in the course listing above. The published timetable lists weekly masterclasses on Wednesdays at 10:30am (GMT – London). All masterclasses are recorded so you can catch up if you miss a session.
Check the timetable for your selected intake before booking.
Your questions about the online diploma
Can I join as a complete beginner?
Yes. No prior design qualification is required. The diploma welcomes beginners and people with transferable creative experience. You must be 18 or older and meet the published English and digital-literacy requirements.
How long does the diploma take?
The Residential Diploma runs for 11 weeks online, with weekly live masterclasses, recorded content and practical challenges.
Can I study around work or family commitments?
Recordings let you catch up with live teaching. Allow around 1.5 to 2 hours for each live masterclass, plus time for course materials and project work. The amount of independent study varies by assignment and your pace.
What practical work will I do?
The published course covers client briefs, layouts, design concepts and presentations using SketchUp and Canva. Learning includes guided challenges and portfolio development. Some tasks encourage research such as reviewing materials or sourcing fabric swatches.
What software and equipment will I use?
SketchUp and Canva are used for layouts, visualisations and presentations. The published entry requirements specify basic digital literacy and access to a laptop or tablet. Ask admissions about software access and device suitability for your intake.
Is the course residential or commercial interior design?
This diploma focuses on homes and private living spaces. It introduces differences between residential and commercial projects. Explore the current LCS interior design courses if you are comparing pathways.
What qualification will I receive?
On successful completion, you receive the LCS Interior Design Residential Diploma, quality assured through A.C.E., and CPD Certification for 40 hours of continuing professional development. Read the college’s explanation of A.C.E.
Can I spread the course fee?
The published payment options include paying in full or three equal interest-free instalments. Review the payment terms and the options shown at checkout for your chosen intake.
Could this help me start a freelance interior design business?
The course includes client communication, pricing and marketing alongside design skills. The published graduate stories describe different routes into residential work and e-design. Read Melanie Lovell’s account of changing career.
Where can I read more about learning interior design online?
For an introduction to remote learning and practical design skills, read Can I Learn Interior Design Online? You can also contact LCS with questions about this diploma.
Take your next step in interior design
Talk to LCS about the Residential Diploma, entry requirements, the next intake or how online study could fit your circumstances.