Design & Transform Your Room

A beginner-friendly three-month interior design, upholstery and furniture upcycling programme in Scholar Green, Cheshire.

Learn how to look at a room differently, understand what isn’t working and make confident decisions about what to keep, change, move, make or buy.

You won’t be handed a finished design to copy. Instead, you’ll learn a practical step-by-step process, with expert guidance and support along the way, so you can create a room that works for you — and have the confidence to tackle the next one too.

✔ Three full in-person workshop days
✔ Maximum of eight people
✔ Designed specifically for beginners
✔ WhatsApp support between sessions

Talk It Through With Emma Secure Your Place

Not sure where to start with your room?

Maybe you’ve been thinking about changing a room for months. You’ve saved ideas, bought samples, moved things around — but you’re still not quite sure how to bring everything together.

Or perhaps you know the room isn’t working, but you’re worried about making an expensive mistake, so you keep putting off making any decisions at all.

Sometimes what you really need is the space to stop, think and work out what the room actually needs.

That’s what we create on Design & Transform Your Room.

Our first day isn’t about rushing you into choosing paint colours or buying furniture. We give you the time, tools and guidance to really look at your room — how you use it, how you want it to feel, what you already have, what’s not working and what could change.

You’ll work through your own room, alongside a small group of people doing exactly the same thing, with Emma there to help you get unstuck, challenge your thinking and turn all those ideas in your head into a plan you can actually move forward with.

You don’t need to arrive knowing what your finished room should look like. That’s what we’re going to help you work out.

What our first group told us after Day 1:

“I have more confidence in myself — I can do this.”

“I now know how to take small steps and make a plan

“It made me excited to continue rather than shutting the door on it!”

Design & Transform Your Room participants working through their interior design ideas together at a workshop in Cheshire.

Programme Modules

Interior design fabric and colour inspiration samples

Module 1

Design Your Room

15th January 2027 – 9.30am-4.30pm

Take the time and space to really think about your room before you start buying, decorating or making changes.

Using your own room as the project, you’ll work through a simple step-by-step design process to understand what’s working, what isn’t and how you want the space to look, feel and function.

You’ll explore:

  • how you use your room
  • room layout and flow
  • colour, pattern and texture
  • what to keep, change, move or buy
  • sourcing and budgeting

You’ll leave with a clearer direction, a practical plan and the confidence to start making decisions.

Handmade upholstered storage crate created during beginner upholstery workshop in Cheshire

Module 2

Learn Upholstery & Make a Piece

12th February 2027 – 9.30am-4.30pm

Learn the core upholstery skills you’ll need to start transforming furniture for your own home.

You’ll choose to make:

  • a footstool
  • a stool
  • or a storage crate

As you make, you’ll learn how to use upholstery tools, materials and fabric, building practical skills you can use again on future projects such as dining chairs, seats, headboards, benches and window seating.

All upholstery materials and sustainable fabric for your project are included. No previous upholstery experience is needed.

Upcycled dining chair with a freshly upholstered seat, created as part of the Design & Transform Your Room programme.

Module 3

Complete an Upcycling Project

12th March 2027 9.30am – 4.30pm

Now you’ll bring your design and practical skills together by transforming a decorative chair for your room.

You’ll learn how to:

  • prepare and paint furniture
  • choose and combine colour, fabric and pattern
  • upholster your chair
  • bring old and new elements together

You’ll source your own fabric beforehand to complement the scheme you’re developing at home.

You’ll leave with practical upcycling skills to help you see the potential in furniture you already own, rather than automatically replacing it.

Creative workspace with laptop, representing the online Project Review & Momentum Clinic for Design & Transform Your Room participants.

Module 4

Online Project Review & Q&A

2-hour online session — April 2027

Date confirmed with the cohort at the start of the programme.

By now, you’ll have had time to put your ideas into practice at home.

This live online session gives you the space to come back together, share your progress, ask questions and get help with anything that’s keeping you stuck.

We’ll cover:

  • project questions
  • troubleshooting
  • styling and layout
  • sourcing decisions
  • next steps

You’ll finish the programme knowing what you need to do next — with the confidence and skills to keep going.

What You’ll Leave With

By the end of the programme, you’ll have:

✔ A clear plan for transforming your room
✔ Two finished pieces you’ve made and transformed yourself
✔ Practical upholstery and upcycling skills
✔ More confidence with colour, layout and styling
✔ A simple design process you can use again and again

Most importantly, you’ll feel more confident making decisions for your own home — without second-guessing every choice.

Real Results, Not Perfect Homes

Transform what you have, rather than starting again

This programme isn’t about buying everything new or creating a picture-perfect room overnight.

It’s about learning to look differently at the space and furniture you already have.

You’ll work out what’s worth keeping, what could work better somewhere else, what can be transformed and where spending money will genuinely make a difference.

Sometimes the biggest change comes from moving the furniture. Sometimes it’s colour, fabric or styling. And sometimes, yes, buying something new is absolutely the right answer.

The difference is that you’ll know why you’re making that choice.

This is your room, your project

This is a hands-on programme designed to help you turn ideas into action — both during our sessions and at home in between.

You’ll get the most from the programme by:

  • attending each module
  • working through the activities between sessions
  • trying ideas and making decisions in your own room
  • sharing your progress and using the support available

You don’t need to have all the answers or know exactly what your finished room will look like.

Come prepared to take part, experiment and keep moving forward — we’ll give you the process, support and space to do it.

What it’s really like to take part

“Before the upholstery workshop I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to do it myself, but Emma explained everything step-by-step. By the end of the day I’d created a piece I was genuinely proud of.”

“The ideas I’ve thought about over the last six months actually work! I have more confidence in myself — I can do this. It’s the perfect course to get started with if you’re stuck and struggling to make choices.

“All the advice is practical and comes from the point of view of you being able to do it yourself.”

Secure Your Place

January Programme Offer: £695 paid in full
Save £100 on the standard programme fee when you book by 31st October 2026.

Standard Investment: £795
or 3 monthly payments of £265

Places are limited to 8 participants.

Not sure whether the programme is right for your room? Ask Emma a question before booking.

By booking, you agree to the Design & Transform Your Room Terms & Conditions.

Reserve My Place - £695 Choose the Payment Plan Ask Emma a Question

Can’t make these dates?

If you’d love to join Design & Transform Your Room but the January dates don’t work for you, join the priority list for future programmes.

You’ll be the first to hear about new 2027 dates and early booking opportunities.

Join the 2027 priority list

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

No — the programme is completely beginner friendly and designed for people starting from scratch. Group sizes are kept intentionally small no more than 8 people

Yes. Each workshop builds on the previous session, so attendance across all programme dates is required.

You’ll create:
• an upholstered piece during Module 2
• a transformed decorative chair during Module 3
• a full room transformation plan for your chosen space

Yes. The live online session is included and gives you space to ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, get styling and sourcing feedback, and stay accountable.

The in-person workshops take place on Friday 25 September, Friday 23 October and Friday 13 November 2026, followed by an online project clinic on Friday 11 December 2026.

The programme includes workshop materials, upholstery tools and equipment, sustainable fabric for Module 2, a decorative chair for Module 3, digital workbooks, a fabric guide, video tutorials, refreshments, WhatsApp support and a live online project clinic.

The interior design session takes place in Emma’s home, with the upholstery and upcycling workshops held next door at The Chapel in Scholar Green, ST7 3HR Cheshire.

No — a core part of the programme is learning how to transform existing furniture and spaces rather than replacing everything.

Yes — payment plans are available across 3 monthly payments.

Yes – free street parking is available directly outside the chapel.

The programme runs over three months, with three full in-person workshop days and one live online project clinic.

Please read the full terms and conditions here

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© Semper Hopkins Upholstery & Interiors Ltd. | Registered office: 95 Cinderhill Lane, Scholar Green, Stoke-on-trent, Cheshire, ST7 3HR | Company number: 10256862
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