"Is an online interior design school right for you?"

Taking advantage of an online interior design school can be the perfect choice if a traditional college route doesn’t fit your lifestyle framework. Maybe you want to keep your current job while you pursue the beginning of a new career, for example.

That was my situation when I decided to begin some interior design course work. I wanted to continue working my current job while I studied, so an online approach was the perfect solution for me.

There are various online programs to choose from. The one I chose and recommend is The Art Institute Online. Their training format is set up incredibly well.

What I loved most about their interior design program was the fact that classes were not at a specific time. I could work on my courses any time of the day or night while still having interaction with my classmates. It’s really an awesome program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design.

There is something you should understand, though. Just because a program is delivered online does not make it a breeze. At least that’s not what I discovered through my experience. It requires self discipline, especially when coupled with a full time job. I had to devote quite a bit of time working through class projects and assignment each week. The interaction with my instructors and classmates encouraged me to excel beyond what I thought was possible, though. I learned a lot!

The curriculum includes course work on drawing which is very important for developing realistic interior design sketches with proper representation of line and perspective. I started my drawing class demonstrating no special ability. Yet, only six weeks later I was able to sketch part of my own home's interior (shown here). It may not be a Picasso, but coming from a guy that could barely do better than draw stick figures at the start of the course, I think it’s great! Vigorous study, practice and classmate critiques are key elements of the program that helped me go beyond what I imagined I could do.

The interior design program at The Art Institute Online covers a wide range of interior design fundamentals and skill development in subjects that include color theory, drawing, computer aided drafting technology, history of furniture, lighting, space planning, specialty design, textiles and the list goes on…culminating in the development of a thesis and doing an internship. Exciting stuff! All along the way you are building a portfolio of design projects.

Based on my experience, I highly recommend The Art Institute if you want to take advantage of an online interior design school. You can request free, program specific information from them by clicking on the logo below.

It's always great to look at more than one option when you are considering an online interior design school. Next to the Art Institute Online, one of the best interior programs I am aware of is Westwood College Online. Click the logo below to receive complimentary information on their specific program, then do a side-by-side program comparison. It never hurts to be more informed, especially when the information is free!

Pursuing an interior design degree through online studies is a great way to realize your dreams without completely disrupting your current career or life situation. I found it to be the perfect solution for me!

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