Thatโs a fantastic and very practical question ๐ โ because formal interior design degrees (B.Des, B.Sc, diplomas) can be expensive, but there are many free options where you can learn interior design skills online.
๐ Where You Can Study Interior Design for Free
๐ Free Online Courses (Global Platforms)
- MIT OpenCourseWare โ Principles of Design
- Offers free architecture & design lectures.
- Great for building theoretical foundations.
๐ ocw.mit.edu
- Coursera (Free Audit Option)
- Courses like โMaking Architectureโ (IE School of Architecture).
- Free if you audit (no certificate).
๐ coursera.org
- edX (Free Audit Option)
- Harvard, Delft, and other universities offer free design basics.
๐ edx.org
- Harvard, Delft, and other universities offer free design basics.
- OpenLearn โ The Open University (UK)
- Free courses on design principles, color theory, and creative arts.
๐ open.edu
- Free courses on design principles, color theory, and creative arts.
๐ Free Interior Design Resources & Tools
- YouTube Channels:
- Interior Design School
- House & Home
- 3D Interior Design Tutorials (SketchUp, AutoCAD, Revit)
- Pinterest & Houzz:
- Free for trend-spotting, mood boards, and case studies.
- Wikipedia on Interior Design:
- A surprisingly solid starting point for definitions & history.
๐ Interior Design โ Wikipedia
- A surprisingly solid starting point for definitions & history.
๐ฎ๐ณ Free Options in India
- NPTEL (IITs): Offers free architecture & design-related lectures online.
- Skill India / SWAYAM: Some government-backed platforms provide free creative courses.
- Local Workshops & Design Institutes: Many design schools in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore hold free demo classes or workshops.
โก Pro Tip
You can learn theory and tools for free, but practical skills (site visits, vendor management, carpentry knowledge) often come only with internships or apprenticeships.
Thatโs why many students start with free online learning, then intern with firms like Interior A to Z to gain real-world exposure.
โ
Quick Answer:
You can study interior design for free online via MIT OCW, Coursera, edX, OpenLearn, YouTube, Pinterest, and NPTEL (India). But for full-fledged careers, combine this with internships and on-site learning.