Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma
Study in our UK Studio for your Fully Accredited Level 3 Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma; offering essential skills, career pathways and guaranteed progression to an NDA Bachelor’s Degree.
Entry Requirements
No previous qualifications required! Age 16+ and an interest soft furnishings & curtain making.
Assessment
No exams – Tutor assessment only, portfolio moderation by AIM Qualifications.
Learn How to Create Beautiful Soft Furnishings
This Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma will provide you with the skills you need to design your own project or help family and friends with theirs, to start your own business or enter a new career and, it will even give you the confidence to move on to study a degree!
As an alternative to flexible online study our live ‘In-Studio’ diploma study option allows you to join other like-minded soft furnishings enthusiasts for a more hands-on and collaborative approach to learning. Your tutor will share all the professional hints and tips for the design and construction of amazing hand finished curtains and soft furnishings. Step by step you will construct samples of a wide range of beautiful soft furnishings.
What our Students Say
Course Breakdown
You will study 8 dedicated units during this professional soft furnishings & curtain making diploma.
Unit 1 - Practical Skills for Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings
Practical Skills for Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings
This unit introduces you to the essential tools, terminology and techniques that form the foundation of professional curtain making and soft furnishings. You’ll learn how to measure windows, carry out site surveys, and understand how different treatments transform a room. Through hands-on activities, you’ll build core construction skills such as cutting, stitching and creating trims, giving you the confidence to approach a variety of projects with precision and creativity. This unit also includes:
- Window measuring and site surveys
- Styles of window treatments and their visual impact
- Components, fixtures and fittings for installation
- Practical fabric handling and construction skills
- Creating decorative piping and trims
Unit 2 - Understanding Fabric & Colour Theory
Understanding Fabric & Colour Theory
This unit explores the fascinating world of fabrics and colour, helping you choose the right materials for any curtain or soft furnishing project. You’ll discover how different fabrics perform, when and why fire-retardant treatments are essential, and how colour can transform a space both visually and emotionally. By applying colour theory and exploring trends, you’ll gain the confidence to create inspiring schemes that enhance mood, style and proportion. This unit also includes:
- Recognising fabric types & their suitability for curtain designs
- Understanding fire-retardancy and its applications
- Colour theory, colour schemes and the psychology of colour
- How to produce professional sample boards
- Identifying fabric suppliers and new collections
- Recognising historical uses of fabric in interiors
Unit 3 - Developing Professional Curtain Construction Techniques
Developing Professional Curtain Construction Techniques
This unit builds your skills in making beautifully finished, professional-quality curtains. You’ll learn how to select the right fabrics, linings, interlinings, fixtures and fittings, while developing the precision needed to calculate fabric quantities for both plain and patterned designs. Through hands-on practice, you’ll refine techniques such as mitred corners, weights, trims and heading tapes, ensuring every curtain you create achieves an accurate fit and a flawless finish. This unit also includes:
- Selecting appropriate materials, fixtures and fittings
- Calculating fabric quantities for plain and patterned designs
- Preparing fabrics with accuracy and precision
- Mitred corners, weights, trims, linings and interlinings
- Applying professional hand and machine stitching techniques
Unit 4 - Constructing Curtains & Valances with Handmade Headers
Constructing Curtains & Valances with Handmade Headers
This unit introduces you to the art of creating handmade headers, a traditional technique that gives curtains and valances a truly bespoke finish. You’ll explore a variety of styles, from triple and double pleats to goblet and cartridge designs, learning how different combinations transform the look of a window treatment. Through practical activities, you’ll master the skills of calculating pleats, preparing fabrics, inserting buckram and adding trims, achieving professional results every time. This unit also includes:
- Exploring traditional and contemporary handmade header styles
- Calculating pleats, spaces and fabric requirements
- Preparing fabrics and decorative trims
- Inserting buckram tape for structure and support
- Constructing pleats for a range of headings
Unit 5 - Constructing a Roman Blind
Constructing a Roman Blind
This unit focuses on the skills needed to design and make beautifully tailored Roman blinds. You’ll learn how to select the right fabrics for both function and style, while understanding the safety standards and devices that must be applied for legal compliance. Through accurate measuring, precise cutting and professional construction techniques, you’ll create a fully functioning Roman blind, complete with panels or trims, ready for installation. This unit also includes:
- Understanding the qualities and styles of Roman blinds
- Selecting suitable fabrics and decorative trims
- Window blind safety standards and compliance
- Measuring and cutting fabric with precision
- Constructing a professional Roman blind
- Combining hand and machine stitching techniques
Unit 6 - Developing Professional Cushion Making Skills
Developing Professional Cushion Making Skills
This unit introduces you to the design and construction of cushions, combining style with functionality. You’ll explore a variety of cushion types, fillings, fabrics, trims and fastenings, learning how to select the right materials for different purposes. Through hands-on practice, you’ll refine skills in accurate measuring, preparing fabrics, and applying professional hand and machine stitching, enabling you to create beautifully finished cushions to a professional standard. This unit also includes:
- Exploring cushion styles and their applications
- Recognising cushion fillings and their suitability
- Selecting appropriate fabrics, trims and fastenings
- Calculating fabric quantities for different cushion designs
- Preparing fabrics with seam allowances and trim considerations
Unit 7 - Constructing Pelmets & Tiebacks
Constructing Pelmets & Tiebacks
This unit explores the design and construction of pelmets and tiebacks, essential finishing touches that enhance both the style and proportions of a window treatment. You’ll discover how different shapes, materials and trims create looks suited to traditional or contemporary interiors. Through practical activities, you’ll learn how to prepare templates, cut and stiffen fabrics, add decorative details and apply stitching techniques, before completing each piece with professional fixtures and fittings. This unit also includes:
- Exploring pelmet and tieback styles for different interiors
- Selecting suitable fabrics, stiffeners and fixings
- Preparing templates with accuracy
- Cutting and preparing fabrics with decorative trims
- Using stiffening materials for structure and finish
- Applying stitching techniques, fixtures and fitting
Unit 8 - Setting up a Soft Furnishing Business
Setting up a Soft Furnishing Business
This unit prepares you to develop the skills and knowledge needed to plan and run a curtain making and soft furnishing business. You’ll learn how to set up an efficient workroom, manage costs and price your services accurately to help ensure profitability. You’ll also explore how to attract clients, build a professional brand and establish strong supplier relationships, giving you the confidence to launch and grow your own soft furnishing enterprise. This unit also includes:
- Setting up a professional soft furnishing workroom
- Tools, equipment and materials for efficient production
- Costing and pricing soft furnishing services
- Identifying customers and building a brand
- Marketing and promoting your business effectively
- Sourcing materials, managing suppliers and trade accounts
Qualify in Just 12 Weeks!
The Diploma course consists of a first week (5 days) in-studio followed by 5 weeks online home study through your Virtual Learning Studio (VLS). Then a second week (5 days) in-studio with up to an additional 5 weeks home study to complete any project work for submission.
We are passionate about delivering high-quality courses to our students, and we believe that students learn faster in smaller groups, which is why we cap the number of students who can attend each course.
All VLS course material and resources are available during home study weeks. Your tutor will also be on hand to support you through your studies.
Course Timeline
2 weeks In-Studio + Up to 10 weeks home study – 12 weeks total.
Week 1: Monday to Friday in studio, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Week 2 – 6: Flexible Online Home Study via the VLS.
Week 7: Monday to Friday in studio, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Week 8 – 12: Flexible Online Home Study via the VLS.
10 x Studio Classes
+ Home Study
12 Weeks Total
Internationally Recognised
A Trusted & Accredited Qualification
NDA has over 35 years experience in teaching interior design and over 35,000 alumni from over 100 countries. This course is a trusted way to help pursue your passion and kick-start your career.
This Level 3 Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma is globally recognised and accredited by AIM Qualifications, meaning you can work legally within the industry or gain enough educational credits to study an online Bachelor’s Degree if you so choose.
Why Study in Studio?
With these skills you will be able to tackle your own projects more professionally, start your own business or enter the curtains and soft furnishing industry with the practical knowledge required to work with your clients. You’ll also learn how to establish industry contacts, where to source material, samples, fittings and accessories, everything you need to start building a professional design community with your peers.
Whilst receiving hands-on advice directly from our highly experienced NDA Tutors, the In-studio course brings together a fantastic mix of students, helping to create an exciting, friendly and dynamic class with the chance to share ideas with fellow up and coming designers.
Upcoming Course Dates
You may need to find accomodation near by while attending in studio sessions. We’ve put together some suggested local places to stay and directions to our Nottingham Studio below.
In-Studio (UK) Diploma Pricing
Fees and payment options differ depending on whether you are a UK resident or an internationally based student.
Price Match Guarantee:As a not-for-profit foundation, we are so confident in the price of our Diploma’s that if you can find the same level of education for less, we will match it!
UK Students
Pay in Full
£2,390
£1,500
On Enrolment
Save £890 by paying in full with UK Government funding.
Spread the Cost
3x Monthly Payments
£550
£1,650 in Total*
Breathe easy. Spread the cost of your course over 3 months.
*Monthly payments includes admin fee
International Students
Pay in Full
One-Time Payment
$3,225 (USD)
On Enrolment
Make one easy payment to cover the full cost of your course.
Save $275 by paying in full
Spread the Cost
3x Monthly Payments
$3,500 (USD)
In total*
Spread the cost of your course.
$1,500 on enrolment + 2 x $1,000 monthly payments.
*Monthly payments include admin fee.
How Will You Study Online?
Swipe tabs to navigate.
Responsive Learning, Designed For You.
Offering a fully responsive learning experience, our course content can be opened, studied and enjoyed on any device, from anywhere in the world.
Virtual Learning Studio
How do you learn online, you ask? It’s simple: introducing our Virtual Learning Studio, or VLS for short. The VLS is our exclusive, online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities.
Students can rewind and re-watch until they are sure they have understood. No frantic note taking and no missing an important lecture! Study when and where it suits you!
Personal Tutors
Every National Design Academy student has a Personal Tutor to guide them through their qualification.
You have unlimited access to your tutor and can contact them by email, telephone, Zoom, Skype or in-person as often as you wish.
Student Support Team
We also have a dedicated Student Support and Administration Team to help deal with any other queries such as payments, student loans advice and anything else you may need a helping hand with.
Our Student Helpline is available Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17:00 (UK Time).
Group Tutorials
All delivered online via zoom, join NDA tutors and like-minded peers to discuss interior design topics, course content and gain valuable live feedback.
As a Diploma level student, you will be invited to course introduction sessions, interior design discussions and also receive advice on how to progress once you complete your course.
Online Forums
Once you enrol, you will also have the opportunity to join our dedicated NDA Facebook discussion group. Student cohorts will often set up their own Whatsapp chat groups to communicate also.
Students enjoy discussing their design projects, encouraging others and offering advice, as well as sharing work and offering top tips for approaching units.
What's Next?
An NDA Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma will provide you with the knowledge and skills to start your own business, the qualification to progress to higher education or why not both! Find out more below…
Higher Education
Successful completion of your NDA Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma provides a guaranteed place on one of our online Bachelor’s Degrees, with a generous Progression Scholarship. Degrees are validated by De Montfort University (DMU).
For those who wish to continue their study at an on campus university, you can top up any existing UCAS points you may have with points from an NDA Diploma.
NDA Professional Diplomas = 24 UCAS Tariff Points
Careers
The NDA Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma is designed to help you start your own business. Like the Diploma course itself, you can work flexibly for your clients around your family commitments and gradually expand your business.
Many of our Diploma students start their own business and then progress to study for their NDA Bachelor’s Degree flexibly alongside their client projects.
Stay On, Study & Save
We love to watch our students succeed, those that complete one of our Short, Diploma or Degree courses gain access to our Progression Scholarship giving you money back for continuing to study with us.
Alternatively, our courses are built with business in mind, giving you the skills to begin work as a freelance designer in the exciting world of Interior Design.
Save £500/$600
On your next course, T&Cs apply.
Progression
Guaranteed
Student Success Stories
Hear what our amazing students have to say about studying their Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making Diploma with the National Design Academy.
If you are considering it, just do it! You won’t regret it. And get the most out of the time you have at the NDA and the contact you have with the very knowledgeable tutors...
The tutors have been excellent, they have been very knowledgeable and professional. I'd really recommend this course...
For me, the beauty of how the course is put together, is you can actually see your own personal journey, through the development, through the learning, through all the practical tasks...
If you are considering it, just do it! You won’t regret it. And get the most out of the time you have at the NDA and the contact you have with the very knowledgeable tutors...
The tutors have been excellent, they have been very knowledgeable and professional. I'd really recommend this course...
For me, the beauty of how the course is put together, is you can actually see your own personal journey, through the development, through the learning, through all the practical tasks...
In-Studio Gallery
Images of our talented Diploma students hard at work in our UK In-Studio sessions.
Get Equipped
To complete your NDA Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making diploma course, you’ll need access to the right tools – and we’ve got you covered!
Be sure to read our full Equipment & Resources page before you apply. All essential and recommended equipment is availabe to buy from the NDA Art Shop at exclusive student prices!
