The Best Courses To Book For Interiors Fans

Just round the corner from Victoria station, Studio Pottery is a light-filled contemporary space for people keen to experiment with clay. All levels are welcome, including beginners, and there are 12 pottery wheels available. Courses are led by the studio’s resident potter who is ready to give students plenty of attention to help them master this new skill.

Visit Studio-Pottery-London.com

Molly Mahon is known for her colourful, joyful block printing and in these workshops, which take place around the country, attendees can learn both how to block print and how to make something with it – be it a cushion, napkins or even a lampshade.

Visit MollyMahon.com

At the Victoria Hammond Academy, students can learn how to make three full-size cushions – square, bolster and box – complete with two zip methods, trimming and piping detail. All levels are welcome but basic sewing and machine skills are required; specialist products and materials, designer fabrics and a comprehensive step-by-step manual are included, and the course is AIM accredited – it’s also part of the Diploma in Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings, should anyone want to develop their skills further.

Visit VictoriaHammond.com

Hosted by Willow Crossley in partnership with Create Academy, this online course was shot in her Cotswold home studio and teaches students the hidden tricks of floristry. From sourcing flowers to creating stunning displays, each lesson takes viewers through the techniques they need to make beautiful hand-tied bouquets and floral arrangements. With step-by-step projects that correspond to the seasons, anyone’s confidence is bound to grow under Willow’s tuition.

Visit CreateAcademy.com

Based in Shropshire, Master The Art is run by Roger Newton, who started his career at Colefax & Fowler. During this half-day workshop, participants will learn how to master the art of painting elegant, tapered dinner candles to add a personalised touch to any room or mantlepiece. A lovely choice for anyone looking for something low-key and relaxed.

Visit MasterTheArt.uk

Annie Sloan’s name is synonymous with painted furniture. This online course from Create Academy contains four hours of video lessons with Annie, including step-by-step tutorials on how to paint upcycled furniture and kitchen cabinets, mastering decoupage and adding hand-painted designs to vases, lamps, lampshades and picture frames. From technical know-how to colour theory, there’s lots for students to try out at home.

Visit CreateAcademy.com

Focused on making piped and capped headboards, this two-day course is run by accredited teachers who are there to help students finish their project. Prior sewing experience is needed, and the cost includes wood for the headboard, wood for the batons for fixings, foam tuition and use of the space. All attendees need to bring is their chosen fabric.

Visit ShoreditchDesignRooms.com

On this two-day course, students can learn how to make a fully lined, gathered lampshade. From binding the lampshade frame to measuring and making the soft pleat lining, the first day is about preparation; on the second, attendees will hand sew the lining onto the frame then make and attach the bias binding. It helps to have some experience of hand sewing.

Visit Obby.co.uk

Few techniques have enjoyed a revival more than marbling in recent years. In this fast-paced, three-hour workshop, attendees will learn how to ‘paint on water’ using old artisan techniques to create up to 12 beautiful papers. They’ll find out how to make the thickened water, how to prepare the paper for marbling, the best way to control the behaviour of the paints, and how to create all kinds of patterns.

Visit MarmorPaperie.co.uk

As a former creative director for House & Garden, Gabby Deeming is an expert interiors stylist. Her knowledge of fabric and textiles, built up over 20 years, means she’s brimming with ideas about how to dress a home, whatever the budget. From hanging art to layering colour, attendees can join her to learn how to make the most of any space.

Visit CreateAcademy.com

This two-hour course will teach participants how to make a sculptural vessel or vase using slabs and coiling hand-building techniques. At the end of the day, leave the piece to dry and it’ll be glazed in a colour of their choice ready for pick up at a later date.

Visit MuniLondon.com

From her cool base at East London Cloth, Gemma Moulton makes handcrafted, unpretentious household linens and soft furnishings. With exceptional training from some of London’s most prestigious curtain makers, students are in safe hands on her Create Academy online course, which includes five hours of video tutorials with step-by-step demonstrations covering pencil pleat, rod pocket, lined curtains and a valance, as well as instructions on how to professionally dress and hang curtains.

Visit CreateAcademy.com

Whether they’re a complete beginner or just looking to brush up their calligraphy skills, this course will take attendees through a number of skills – from creating beautiful handwritten place cards to designing personal invitations. The relaxed day takes place in East Sussex and the prices includes all materials and a light lunch.

Visit CuriousHouse.net

Father and daughter team Roger Newton and Kate Elwell recently launched Master The Art from her Georgian home in Shropshire. Our pick is its paint finish workshop, which includes an introduction to materials and tools, as well as how to prepare furniture and objects, and instructions on how to decorate marble, grain, malachite, tortoiseshell and lapis furniture. Students will also become familiar with the techniques of cleaning, ageing and restoring, and go home with a frame depicting a particular technique they’ve mastered.

Visit MasterTheArt.uk

If your recipient has an artistic streak, this is the course for them. Taught by Jane McCall, they’ll learn to paint their own lampshade by exploring different patterns then adapting one of them to what they need – or they can create a design from scratch. Lampshades are 30cm and can fit an overhead light or lamp stand, while the paints are from the Colourman range, giving a chalky matte finish.

Visit CuriousHouse.net