About

Transforming your home into your dream environment can be done with much less time, money, and effort than you think. This Home Makeover course will introduce you to the basics of interior design so you have an overall plan in mind before you begin making changes.

To start, you'll learn the basics of decoration, refurbishment, and simple repairs. Learn how to approach projects, work with contractors, and keep to a budget. Discover how much work you can actually carry out yourself, saving significant costs. Avoiding outside labor means you can do even more with your savings.

Learn new techniques, skills, and tips to help you make changes to your home sooner than you think. Get started today and change your view for the better!

Requirements

International Open Academy courses are designed for anyone with an interest in learning. No formal qualifications are required to study with us. Our courses are suitable if you want to learn new skills, start a new career, or if you’re already working in a particular industry and wish to upgrade your talents and enhance your resume.

Lessons

Module 1: Why Renovate?

• Home Damage & Disrepair
• Asthma and Health Issues
• Insurance Considerations
• Improving Home Value
• Refurbishing for Resale
• Building Your Dream Home

Module 2: Considerations

• Planning
• Budgeting & Working out Costs
• Small Changes, Big Results
• Why Changing Your Mind Costs Money
• Property Tax and Cost of Insurance
• Different Types of Repairs and Refurbishment
• Using Timescale to Your Benefit

Module 3: Hiring And Working With Contractors

• Researching and Asking for Quotes
• Verifying Contractor Credibility
• Working with a Subcontractor
• Getting Started
• Contracts and Scheduling
• Valuation and Payment
• When Things Go Wrong
• Wiring and Plumbing
• Heating and Cooling

Module 4: Paperwork And Legal

• DIY Refurbishment
• Building Regulations
• Planning Permission
• Legal Requirements
• Contracts and Agreements with Contractors
• Health and Safety
• Environmental
• Keeping Records

Module 5: Design Inspiration And Ideas And Checklists

• Some Popular Types of Interior Design
• Traditional Interior Design
• Modern
• Modern Variations
• Art Deco
• Contemporary
• Gothic
• Industrial
• Minimalism
• Retro
• Vintage or Shabby Chic
• Design Inspiration from Different Countries
• Feng Shui in Interior Design
• Vastu Shastra
• Italian
• French
• America
• Spanish
• Japanese Zen
• Scandinavian
• Room by Room Refurbishment Checklist
• Floorplan
• Beautiful Walls and Ceilings
• Living Spaces
• Bedrooms
• Hallways and Transitional Spaces
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Conclusion

Module 6: Decorating

• Wallpapering
• Tiling
• Vinyl Flooring
• Painting and Selecting Color

Module 7: Walls

• Building Exterior Walls
• Building Interior Walls
• Knocking Down Walls
• Plasterwork

Module 8: Outdoor Projects

• Patios and Decks
• Driveways and Paths
• Landscaping, Planting and Irrigation
• Garden Structures
• Water Features

Module 9: Damp, Rot And Pests

• Wet and Dry Rot
• Pest Prevention and Eradication
• Condensation
• Prevention of Damp
• Treating Damp

Module 10: Home Security

• Door Security
• Window Security
• Burglar Alarms
• Fire prevention

Module 11: An Introduction To Using Feng Shui Indoors

• What is Feng Shui
• How Does Feng Shui Affect the Home
• An Introduction to the Forms What is Not Important in Interior Feng Shui
• Your Feelings as a Guide

Module 12: Feng Shui Basics For A Happy, Balanced Home

• Clutter and Chaos
• Chi and Balance
• Yin, Yang, and Tao
• Object Placement
• Finding Balance Module 3: Common Feng Shui Forms, Doors, and Windows

Module 13: Common Feng Shui Forms, Doors, And Windows

• An Introduction to Interior Forms
• Balancing the Forms
• The Main Door
• Additional Doors
• Windows

Module 14: Feng Shui In The Kitchen, Dining And Living Spaces

• Kitchen Placement
• The Stove and the Sink
• What Not to Worry About
• Dining Tables
• Living Spaces

Module 15: Feng Shui In The Bedroom And Sleeping Spaces

• The Bedroom Location
• The Bed and Its Placement
• Decorations, Shelves, and Beams
• Windows
• Electronics and Technology

Career

Who is this course for?

This is the ideal course for any home owner who wants to turn their ho-hum home into their dream abode! This course will teach you everything you need to know to keep costs down, aesthetic high, and to leave you feeling proud of everything you have accomplished! 

Career path

• Give your home the renovation of your dreams, with the lowest budget possible
• Be able to give advice to friends and family
• Take your interior design business to the next level
• Learn if the interior design and home renovation industries are right for you

Certification

Creator

Brandy Cross

Expertise: Nutrition and Wellness

Brandy Cross is a professional writer and journalist, AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, certified Pilate’s mat teacher, and student currently working towards her 500 Hour RYT Yoga Teacher Certification and a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition at Cornell University. Brandy's first job was in a restaurant, where she quickly learned the basics of cooking and crafting food, and she cannot remember a time when food was not an important part of her life. Lactose intolerance drove her to studying the basics of nutrition, where she learned about eating properly, controlling weight with food, and ensuring proper nutrition for health and wellness. When she discovered yoga, which she practices several hours per day, Brandy began studying the basics of plant based nutrition and vegan food, and creating recipes based around legumes, mushrooms, and other plant based proteins. With hundreds of hours applied to learning basic to advanced food skills, she is capable of crafting recipes and has ghost written multiple recipe books. Outside of nutrition and fitness, Brandy owns one cat, keeps a small balcony garden, and writes fiction in her spare time.