Free Course

interior design materials 101

welcome to your free interior design course

Discover how materials define the character, texture, and personality of every interior. In this 101 course, you’ll explore the essential materials used in interior design — from wood and glass to stone, metals, and modern synthetics — and learn how their textures, finishes, and properties shape the atmosphere of a space.

Whether you’re just beginning to study interior decorating online or you want to strengthen your foundation before stepping into more advanced design work, this course will give you the confidence to choose the right materials for every project. Each lesson guides you toward a more refined eye and a deeper understanding of what makes an interior feel harmonious and beautifully designed.

These fundamentals prepare you for your learning journey — whether you choose to continue with the first step of the ALNA DESIGN® learning path toward becoming a certified French Touch interior decorator, or simply want to decorate your own home like a pro.

👉 Discover the learning path

Price

Tuition
Free

Price

Access
Unlimited

Get it now

Price

Tuition
Free

Price

Access
Unlimited

Course Outline

Before diving into the course, here is a quick overview of what you’ll explore. Each lesson is designed to help you understand the essential materials used in interior design — from wood and glass to plastics and stone surfaces — and how their textures, properties, and finishes can shape the look and feel of any space.

This clear roadmap will guide you step by step through the fundamentals and help you build a solid understanding of materials in interior design from the very beginning. Here are the materials you’ll find:

  • Lesson 1: Wood & Its Many Forms
  • Lesson 2: Stone & Glass
  • Lesson 3: Metals in Interior Design 
  • Lesson 4: Plastics Essentials

These fundamentals will help you understand the role of materials in a residential interior and how each texture, finish, and natural element shapes the atmosphere of a space.

If you’d like to keep learning, you can continue with our other free courses to strengthen your foundations and learn interior design online step by step.

And when you’re ready to go beyond theory, The French Touch Interior Design Masterclass is the natural first step in the ALNA DESIGN® learning path.
It invites you inside a real interior decorating project, shows how professional decisions are made, and helps you start applying the same logic to your own home.

From there, you can progress at your own pace and continue with the next steps of the program:
Step 2 → Professional Skills Certifications
Step 3 → become a Certified French Touch Interior Decorator (available March 31)

No pressure — just a clear and structured way to study interior design online, build confidence, and move forward step by step toward how to become an interior decorator.

Enjoy the course — and let materials guide your design decisions.

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About Your Instructor

Myriam Markiewicz

Myriam Markiewicz is a French interior designer who has made her mark with publications and by launching France’s first certification program in residential interior design for career changers. Now, she’s focused on offering free courses in the field of interior design.

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step inside a real project

Follow a professional decorator through every key decision — from first analysis to final styling — and understand how interiors are designed in real life, the French way.

This step helps you move from theory to practice and is the perfect starting point if you want to learn interior design online, understand how to become an interior decorator, and design cohesive, elegant French interiors with confidence.

Discover the course

hear from students
and grads

frequently asked questions

This course is designed to show you how a real interior decorating project works — from start to finish.

Through one complete, real-life project, you step inside professional practice and clearly see:
• how an interior decorator approaches a space
• how design decisions are made, step by step
• how a decorating project is structured with confidence

This course bridges the gap between learning and practice.
It helps you move from abstract concepts to real project logic — before developing and validating specific professional skills through the skills certifications.

In short, the ALNA DESIGN® learning path works like this:

● STEP 1 — The French Interior Design Masterclass
Go behind the scenes of a real NYC renovation project in this documentary-style Masterclass. From blueprint to final styling, learn how to apply the timeless French aesthetic to any modern interior.

● STEP 2 — Professional skills certificates
Master the essential technical toolkit: Color, Lighting, Layout, and Styling. Acquire the industry-standard expertise to execute your vision flawlessly.

● STEP 3 — Become a certified French Touch interior decorator
Master the proprietary ALNA DESIGN® Method and launch your professional career. The ultimate training to become a recognized Certified Interior Decorator with a unique, high-end signature. Join the Waitlist

ALNA DESIGN® gives you a unique way to learn interior design online: professional methods, real project training, and the elegance of the French Touch — all at an accessible price. Our approach is designed to help you learn faster, gain confidence, and stand out in a competitive market.

Here’s what makes us truly different:

• The French Touch advantage
Learn a style admired worldwide: balanced, timeless, elegant. This instantly sets you apart from other beginner interior decorators.

• Professional methods made simple
No complicated theory. You learn real techniques step by step, exactly how French decorators work on actual projects.

• A clear, structured learning path
→ start with a real interior decorating project
→ build strong foundations with free courses
→ develop professional skills through focused certifications
→ complete your journey with the certified French Touch interior decorator program

• Learn without overspending
High-quality interior design education is often expensive. We offer accessible prices without compromising quality.

• Real project experience

You don’t just learn concepts — you learn how professionals really work. Throughout the ALNA DESIGN® learning path, you are progressively exposed to the reality of interior design projects:

• Designed for beginners and career changers
No experience needed. You study online with clear guidance and simple explanations.

• International credibility
The French Touch is a powerful differentiator in the interior design world. Your future clients will notice it.

The free courses are designed to help you understand the fundamentals of interior design and build a strong base.

They are an excellent starting point if you want to learn interior design online and gain clarity on essential concepts.

However, working confidently on real interiors requires more than understanding theory.

That’s why the learning path at ALNA DESIGN® is progressive and practice-driven:

● STEP 1 — The French Interior Design Masterclass
Go behind the scenes of a real NYC renovation project in this documentary-style Masterclass. From blueprint to final styling, learn how to apply the timeless French aesthetic to any modern interior.

● STEP 2 — Professional skills certificates
Master the essential technical toolkit: Color, Lighting, Layout, and Styling. Acquire the industry-standard expertise to execute your vision flawlessly.

● STEP 3 — Become a certified French Touch interior decorator
Master the proprietary ALNA DESIGN® Method and launch your professional career. The ultimate training to become a recognized Certified Interior Decorator with a unique, high-end signature. Join the Waitlist

Each step builds on the previous one, allowing you to move from observation to practice with clarity, structure, and confidence.

This progressive path is designed to help you study interior design online seriously, understand how the profession really works, and move forward step by step toward becoming a French Touch interior decorator.

No prior experience is required.

You can start directly with Step 1 — The French Interior Design Masterclass if you want to understand how interior decorators really think and work, and begin applying a clear professional logic right away.

If you prefer to ease into the process, you can also begin with the free interior design courses, which introduce the fundamentals and help you feel more comfortable before moving forward.

Both options work.
The free courses are a gentle introduction, while Step 1 is the natural next step when you’re ready to go beyond theory and see how everything comes together in a real project.

Our free courses are designed to introduce the fundamentals of interior design.
They help you understand the basics, explore key concepts, and discover our teaching approach if you want to learn interior design online with clarity.

They are ideal to:

  • get started
  • understand essential principles
  • build a first foundation

Our professional skills certificates go one step further.

They are designed to:

  • validate real, practical skills
  • help you apply concepts professionally
  • develop confident decision-making
  • work with real decorating situations
  • move closer to becoming a certified French Touch interior decorator

Each professional skill certification focuses on application, structure, and professional logic, not just theory.
They include a clear learning path, validation of skills, and a certificate of completion.

The professional skills certifications focus on real-world skills and decision-making, exactly as they are used in the daily practice of interior decorators.

The French Touch certified interior decorator program is the next step.
It brings those skills together into a complete, coherent professional approach.

While skills certifications help you act with confidence on specific aspects of a project, the certified program helps you structure a full decorating process, define your professional posture, and develop a strong French Touch identity.

Together, they form a clear and progressive path to learn interior design online — from understanding how decorators work, to thinking and working as a French Touch interior decorator.

Yes. All courses and programs are self-paced so you can study whenever you want.

All courses are created and taught by Myriam Markiewicz, a French interior designer with 18 years of experience and the founder of ALNA DESIGN®. She has taught interior design in France, created the country’s first program for career changers, and authored a book on interior and exterior decorating.

Our interior decorator in practice program and professionals skills certifications delivers immediate access to all video lessons, and all downloadable resources from the moment you purchase it. Because all courses are available instantly, they are not eligible for a refund.

This approach is standard for high-value digital training and ensures that every student receives the complete learning experience right away, without limits or delays.

The best part?
You can watch our free courses to make sure our teaching style and method are the right fit for you.

For students who want to continue further, the French Touch certified interior decorator career Program (launching March 2026) will include a satisfaction guarantee and a dedicated refund policy.