
This article “Kelly Wearstler Masterclass Review” will provide you with the opportunity to read an in-depth evaluation of Kelly Wearstler’s Masterclass, including information on how the lessons are presented, who the course is best suited for, the cost, and what I enjoyed about it, etc.
Kelly Wearstler is a well-known name in the field of interior design in the United States, and she is also the creator of her own design firm, KWID.
Wearstler is well-known for her daring work, which combines vintage and contemporary designs. She has designed spaces for retail stores, boutique hotels, and even the homes of famous people!
The masterclass in interior design that Kelly Wearstler teaches should not be missed. The book teaches a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to: scale, space, color, texture, materials, lighting, and furnishings.
It also offers an interesting look into the field of interior design, which you can learn more about here.
Wearstler’s work has undeniably had an effect on the interior design of Californian homes, as evidenced by the fact that it has been featured in both Vogue and Time magazine.
But to what extent does the Kelly Wearstler MasterClass live up to its reputation? And will it actually aid you with the design of your interior space? In this Review OF the Kelly Wearstler Masterclass, I will be discussing the aforementioned topics.
Who Is Kelly Wearstler?

Kelly Wearstler is a multi-award-winning designer who primarily focuses on interior design at this point in her career. Her body of work has amassed a plethora of accolades over the course of her career.
She is also the author of several design books that have been extremely successful, and she has served as a judge on the show Top Design which is broadcast on Bravo.
This forward-thinking designer is credited with playing a significant role in the process of transforming the way that contemporary boutique hotels appear visually.
In addition to that, she makes her own jewelry as well as lighting, home furnishings, and objet d’art. Kelly had just started working as an interior designer for the Proper Hotel Group when she decided to record her Masterclass.
Wearstler’s most notable works include the Santa Monica and San Francisco Proper Hotels, both of which she designed and for which she is known for having a significant influence on the development of the designer hotel industry.
Wearstler is a celebrated figure in the world of interior design, and her work has been featured in prestigious publications such as Elle Décor and Architectural Digest.
Wearstler is not only a well-known icon in the fields of interior design and fashion sense, but she is also the first interior designer to ever host a MasterClass!
You can also check out some of Kelly Wearstler’s amazing work on her official website, also you can follow her on social media like Instagram.
What Is MasterClass?
MasterClass is an online learning platform and tool that is broken up into shorter videos that are easier to digest and are all led by professionals in the relevant field.
Gordon Ramsay is a well-known chef. He instructs students in the art of home cooking in one of his classes. Love Are you familiar with Thomas Keller of The French Laundry, who is considered to be one of the best chefs in the world?
In a way that has not been seen before, he explains basic cooking techniques. Interested in building things? In any case, Frank Gehry provides a very interesting look into his working process
This one-of-a-kind educational platform can’t be found anywhere else. They have recruited some of the most well-known and influential professionals in a variety of fields, ranging from design to photography, to instruct students through these online classes.
You can watch it all in one sitting, much like Netflix, and you’ll come away having gained some knowledge or being motivated by a new hobby.
Course Overview – Kelly Wearstler Masterclass Review

The MasterClass with Kelly Wearstler lasts for a total of 2 hours and 13 minutes and is broken up into 17 individual lessons.
The class comes with a workbook that is forty pages long and contains chapter reviews, a glossary, assignments, and more.
There is a combination of one-on-one teaching and “field trip” chapters in this course. During the “field trip” chapters, Wearstler will show you around some of the places where she has done her work.
To provide you with a clearer picture of the information that will be covered in this MasterClass, I have broken it down (Kelly Wearstler Masterclass Review) into the following chapters:
1. Meet Your Instructor & Sources of Inspiration
Wearstler walks you through the fundamental tenets of her design ethos in this opening section. This includes the requirements that space must meet in order to be successful, as well as the reasons why having a well-designed space is so vital.
She also discusses the fundamental design principles that guide her work and outlines her objectives for the course. To be more specific, Wearstler’s mission is to assist you in discovering your own creative voice, making spaces sing, and developing the self-assurance necessary to push boundaries.
Wearstler will teach you how to do the following things using this as her point of departure:
- Find what you love
- Merge art with function
- Tell a story through objects
- Train your creative eye
- Taking you through her own experience collecting gems and fashion items on a low budget, Wearstler teaches you how to use almost anything as inspiration and to build upon smaller pieces toward a bigger vision.
In her opinion, developing your eye and being willing to try new things are two of the most important aspects of becoming a better designer. Therefore, Wearstler will send you off with some specific advice on where to go and what to look for when you are on the hunt for inspiration.
2. Starting a Project
Although I was anticipating a more domestic-focused project to be covered in this section, Wearstler instead focuses on how you can collaborate with customers to realize their goals. She starts off by walking you through what she considers to be the most crucial aspects of communicating with customers.
Keeping this in mind, here is what you will pick up:
- What a “client’s program” is
- How to define your client’s needs
- What research to undertake before a project
- How to find a strong direction
In this lesson, Wearstler shares her own case study of an urban home she worked on. As her starting point, there were a series of questions she asked in order to find the best approach for her design. For Wearstler, this is key to getting off on the right foot.
Therefore, by the time you reach the end of this lesson, you will have gained an understanding of how to define the needs of your client, research the property and the area in order to find direction, and negotiate with your client in order to decide on a design.
This brings you to the more specific details, which are as follows:
3. Working With Space & Field Trip
In this section, Wearstler places an emphasis on the functionality of the space being designed. She begins by explaining her “sequences” theory and proceeds to run through the duties that are expected of you as a designer.
In this chapter, Wearstler discusses some effective strategies for using visual trickery to transform a space, such as how to make a small space appear as though it has more available room.
Wearstler intends to demonstrate what it takes to be a good designer by utilizing her own case studies as examples throughout the book.
Therefore, in this lesson, you will learn how to do the following:
- Embrace awkward spaces
- Give an old room a new spirit
- Use sketches to test your design
- Understand the importance of prototypes
Overall, you will walk away from this lesson with an understanding of how you can reimagine space by combining new and old elements. In addition to this, she provides some concrete examples of how you can work with key elements of the architecture rather than against them.
Wearstler demonstrates to you, using the Downtown LA Proper Hotel as a daring example, how she reimagined an older space in order to give it a new, more contemporary spirit.
In point of fact, despite the fact that this is a luxurious example, I found that the advice that Wearstler offers in this section is applicable to projects around the house. She places a significant emphasis on making the most of one’s resources and transforming challenges into inventive openings in order to achieve one’s goals.
The portion of the show devoted to the field trip was another highlight for me. You will have the opportunity to see exactly how Wearstler approaches a new space, as well as the considerations she makes when designing a room.
This also serves as a smooth transition into the following chapter:
4. Materiality in Design
Wearstler explains the significance of material to the design process in the following section. She also draws attention to the existence of material within the architecture itself, as well as the reasons why this is something that should be considered before beginning any project.
Wearstler will teach you how to do the following by bringing in her team to demonstrate how different materials can make a statement:
- Her theory of “vibe trays” and how to use them
- Tricks for organizing a project and its materials
- How to create dialogue within a space
- Practical points to consider in a room
- How to understand a material’s “movement”
Wearstler demonstrates the benefits that various materials can bring to the design of space through the use of eye-catching visual examples. She provides you with some pointers for locating materials and shares her own theories regarding what she has found to be effective.
Wearstler will also teach you some of the industry’s most important terms, such as the “hand” of a piece, as well as how you can apply these terms to develop your own personal style.
Wearstler shows you how she and her team use design programs to experiment with different materials while they are discussing a project that they are working on together. Playing around to see what works and deciding how to unify the space are examples of the aspect of design that she refers to as the “problem-solving aspect of design.”
Wearstler’s philosophy of the design hierarchy was the most important thing for me to learn from this section. When deciding where to place your emphasis, she believes that this is an essential factor to take into account. In addition to this, it helps to prevent a space from appearing visually overwhelming.
5. Living With Color & Field Trip: Experimenting With Color
Wearstler issues a challenge to her readers in this chapter, asking them to introduce color into their homes. She goes so far as to share some low-cost ways that you can achieve this goal, using her very first apartment as a relatable illustration.
Wearstler will take you back to her luxury hotel design in the field trip section of her book, where she will demonstrate how you can use color to create a sense of depth of field.
You will consequently acquire the skills necessary to:
- Unify space through color
- Choose the best colors for you
- Use color to highlight function
- Help your client choose a scheme
- Tell a story through color
Wearstler provides you with a variety of other eye-catching visuals to draw inspiration from in addition to the hotel tour. For instance, she demonstrates to you how she unified space by utilizing a focal art piece and how she created a dialogue between different rooms by doing so.
The way in which Wearstler tested color samples to show how light, surroundings, and texture affected the appearance of the samples was very interesting to me. Even while she is inside the hotel, she thinks about how the colors interact with the structures outside.
Even though the majority of the examples are of high-end quality, it is still beneficial to hear Wearstler discuss the effects of the various finishes and sample procedures. In point of fact, a good deal of the guidance that she offers in this section is applicable to any painting project, regardless of how insignificant it may be.
After demonstrating how color can most effectively serve your space, Wearstler moves on to discuss another aspect of design with you:
6. Discovering Texture
Texture, in the opinion of Wearstler, refers to not only how something feels but also how it looks and how it interacts with the other components of the room. In light of this, Wearstler will instruct you in her methods for selecting textures and utilizing them to create a unified narrative.
Wearstler will teach you how to do the following by referring back to the Proper Hotel as her case study:
- Consider architectural and regional elements when choosing textures
- Tell a story by bringing textural elements together
- Use texture to create a mood
- Consider monochrome as a way to tell a story
- Train your eye when researching and choosing textures
Wearstler also walks you through some of the textures in her studio to teach you what works well and what doesn’t work, using the nautical theme of the Proper Hotel as a great visual example.
Wearstler discusses some points that you should think about when selecting the materials and textures for your room, despite the fact that he acknowledges there is no right or wrong answer. This includes the effects that different textures can have on your space as well as the best ways to tell a story that flows together.
This is also a great transition into the following:
7. Pattern: Movement and Scale
Wearstler shifts her focus in this lesson to the reasons behind why the pattern is such an important part of the design (and how you can work with them). Experimenting is necessary, in her opinion, in order to figure out what kind of story you want to tell so that you can tell it.
For illustration purposes, Wearstler examines a chair in great detail in order to demonstrate how scale, colorways, and material can each have an effect on the overall appearance. As she demonstrates, different types of materials have different ways of interpreting patterns, and changing the size of the pattern can also change how it appears.
This lesson piqued my interest because I was unaware of how significantly scale and color can alter the appearance of a pattern. Wearstler is teaching you how to experiment with patterns in order to find the one that is the best fit for the project that you are working on by showing you these examples.
The impact that color and scale can have on your patterns was one of the most important things that I took away from this chapter. Wearstler provides some helpful hints on how you can test your patterns, alter the silhouettes of your garments, and even create your own patterns.
At the end of this lesson, you will have learned how patterns can unify spaces, how to consider other elements when selecting a pattern, such as texture, and what you can do on your own at home to select the appropriate pattern for the task you have at hand.
Given that pattern can be influenced by such a large number of factors, Wearstler moves on to discuss another essential component of any room:
8. Lighting: Enhancing Your Space
In this chapter, Wearstler will educate you on the significance of lighting as well as the changes that it can bring about in a room. Her viewpoint is that there is no comparison between natural light and artificial light. However, there are also methods that can be used to recreate natural lighting in situations where it is not available.
Therefore, paying attention to what lighting can do for your space, Wearstler teaches you how to do the following things:
- Enhance your space with lighting and dimming systems
- Make the most of what light you have available
- Understand “architectural lighting” and why it’s important
- Use light to create visual interest in a room
Although by now you are aware that Wearstler’s projects are luxurious, one of the things that I liked best about this chapter was how much emphasis is put on things that you can do in your own home.
Despite the fact that different budgets are involved, Wearstler emphasizes the significance of being adaptable and coming up with inventive solutions to constraints. She even provides you with some apartment solutions that can make a significant difference in the space you have.
This chapter stood out to me as one of the more approachable components of the overall training. You will not only be able to observe the dramatic changes that light can make in opulent settings, but you will also acquire knowledge of cost-effective alternates. In addition to that, Wearstler reveals the identity of the top-secret lighting accessory that can be replicated at home by anyone.
Wearstler engages you on a more personal level by turning to the following:
9. Furnishing: Balance and Comfort
Wearstler invites you into the warmth of her living room and demonstrates how she made decisions regarding the room’s furnishings by drawing inspiration from two important architectural features. Working with the natural features of a room, rather than against them, is something that is very important to her.
Therefore, Wearstler will teach you how to do the following in this lesson:
- Play with balance and symmetry within a space
- Relate other areas of interest to your design work
- Create comfort through mixed materials
- Bring elements together to tell a story
Wearstler provides you with some actionable tips on how to shop for furniture, how to keep the room functional, and how to furnish your room to maximize space. While you may not have a luxury budget, you can still benefit from these tips.
It was more interesting to me to see the selections that Wearstler had made for her own home rather than just her professional projects. This chapter is a lot more relatable in terms of design advice that you can use in your own home, and you definitely get more of an insight into Wearstler’s style as a result of reading it.
Wearstler teaches you how to make a space “you” through the following methods, in addition to creating balance within a room:
10. Creating Experience With Art and Objects
In this chapter, Wearstler will explain what she means when she refers to “art,” as well as how you can incorporate it into your décor in order to give a space personality. Wearstler returns, as she does at the beginning of her book, to the subject of her collecting passion.
She believes that a great way to direct your design choices is to be curious about materials and to collect things that interest you in addition to being curious about the materials themselves. Wearstler teaches you the following with careful consideration of this, as well as through some truly breathtaking visual examples:
- How to showcase what you love
- Unique storage solutions
- How to work around limited space
- Effective ways to mix old and new
- How to use art to enhance a space
Wearstler takes you back to the Proper Hotel and demonstrates how she breathed new life into an outdated area by introducing contemporary artwork into the mix. She is correct when she says that paintings and prints are not the only forms of art. In point of fact, she encourages you to be experimental so that you can arrive at what she calls “happy accidents.”
While this chapter does discuss some high-end examples, Wearstler does provide some concrete advice on how you can create your own gallery space at home, particularly through the use of mixed mediums.
But now that you’ve been following Wearstler’s design story for the LA Proper Hotel, she’s going to take you to the story’s concluding chapter:
11. Field Trip: The Completed Story
Throughout the entirety of the class, Wearstler illustrates the majority of her points using stories and anecdotes from the Proper Hotel. In this section, she provides a brief overview of the key takeaways she hopes you will obtain from the complete narrative.
This includes her advice on how to play with colorways, create repetition and a depth of field, and how to play with texture in order to direct the viewer’s gaze:
Even though this section does contain a few helpful hints, I couldn’t help but feel as though I was reading more of a showcase of her finished work rather than a lesson. Wearstler walks you through the processes that she went through to arrive at her final product. These processes include how she gathered the materials she used and how she enhanced the experience of the rooms by strategically placing the furniture.
12. Design Heroes & Creative Journey
Wearstler takes some time near the end of her class to reflect on the people and experiences that have shaped her design aesthetic and her path as an artist thus far. She talks about some of the designers that she admires the most and how their work has influenced various aspects of her own work.
She discusses her history of going to antique stores and how this helped her develop an eye for design. This is perhaps the most important aspect of what she says. She even shares her methods for how you can improve your eye for design regardless of where you are in the world.
In addition to this, Wearstler also provides you with some information regarding the following:
- How to learn from other disciplines
- Managing design work alongside a day job
- The perks of working with a budget
- Her daily routine and responsibilities
- What to expect in a design career
In addition to this, Wearstler devotes her final chapter to specific guidelines that you should take for your career in the design industry:
13. Life as an Interior Designer
Wearstler hopes that by the end of her MasterClass, she will have shared some of her own personal design philosophies and removed some of the mystique that surrounds the design process. Therefore, in this concluding chapter, Wearstler takes you back to the Proper Hotel in order to give you some last words of wisdom.
This section discusses the following topics:
- What to know when starting out as a designer
- How Wearstler navigates project difficulties
- What to do when projects fall through
- How to undertake design research
- What success means to Wearstler
At the conclusion of this lesson, you will have gained some additional insights into how you can communicate with your customers and meet them where they are at in their journey. Although Wearstler acknowledges that you won’t be successful in every design challenge you face, he offers advice on how to overcome these challenges and become a more formidable professional.
Wearstler provides you with some concluding advice on how to achieve success, and then he bids you farewell by offering some parting encouragement and the assurance that if you work hard, you can get to exactly where it is that you want to be.
Understanding And Working With Space
It is essential to make the most of the space that is at one’s disposal. Kelly is an expert when it comes to taking a limited space and turning it into something truly remarkable.
I thought the bar that she designed for one of her customers was particularly appealing. The majority of the time, it is folded up and stashed away under their stairs, where it is completely out of sight. It is possible to unfold it once the guests have arrived. exposing a bar that has been stocked with everything necessary to serve everyone present.
It has a wonderful appearance and is a significant improvement over storing your beverages in cupboards. Everything that you could want is in plain sight and within easy reach. It is nothing short of brilliant.
This lesson is chock full of valuable information such as that. Throughout the course of this section, Kelly will also discuss the following topics:
- how to make a small space feel larger
- how to make the most of existing architectural features
- how to give a space a new spirit
- using mirrors to open up and transform a space
- why do you need to occasionally break the rules
- how going back to the original architectural detailing can inspire you
- understanding scale
- how to create a dialogue between your interior and what is outside the window
This was a very enjoyable part for me. Despite the fact that I must confess that Kelly managed to confuse me at times,
For instance, when she talked about bringing a new spirit to a room or building, I had a hard time understanding what she meant by that phrase. This, however, became more apparent as the course of her masterclass progressed.
Plans & Pricing – Kelly Wearstler Masterclass Review
At the time of this writing, a subscription to MasterClass costs $180 per year, which breaks down to $15 per month.
You have access to all of MasterClass’s more than 150 different courses if you purchase a subscription. It is important to keep in mind that the effective cost of each class will decrease the more classes you take.
For instance, if you are able to locate at least four to six classes that you are interested in taking, this indicates that your average cost per class is between thirty and forty-five dollars. ($180 / 6 classes = $30).
The price of each class is also significantly reduced if you take it with a group of people, such as friends or family. To learn how to read either our review of MasterClass or our article concerning the price of MasterClass.
Also, keep in mind that the value of these classes is unrivaled considering the fact that they are taught by renowned industry professionals. It’s a form of educational “hacking,” if you will.
In addition, if you aren’t satisfied with your purchase, MasterClass will refund your money within the first thirty days.
Kelly Wearstler Masterclass Review: Is It Worth It?
If you attend Kelly Wearstler’s MasterClass with the appropriate mindset, you will find that it is well worth the investment.
Wearstler does gloss over some fundamental and beginner-friendly design concepts, but the majority of the examples are of high-end products.
However, if you are a fan of Wearstler and the way that she approaches design, I believe that taking this MasterClass would be an excellent way for you to gain inspiration for your project and to take away a great deal of useful information.
If you thought the class trailer and lesson plan looked interesting, it would be in your best interest to sign up for this MasterClass.
In addition, if you want to get the most out of MasterClass, you should sign up for as many of the classes that interest you as you possibly can. There are more than 150 different classes available, so students have plenty of options.
You could, for instance, learn Art and Creativity from Jeff Koons, Fashion Design from Marc Jacobs, and Songwriting and Producing from Alicia Keys, to name just a few examples of what you could learn from these famous artists.
In the event, that your MasterClass course does not meet your expectations, the company offers a refund period of thirty days. This lowers the possibility of you wasting money on a class that doesn’t meet your needs.
Thank you for reading this article “Kelly Wearstler Masterclass Review.” If you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions regarding this article, please write them in the comment section below. And don’t be hesitant about passing on this piece of knowledge to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Kelly Wearstler’s MasterClass?
An all-access pass to MasterClass can be purchased for $180 per year (or $15 per month). This grants you access to more than one hundred different courses, including Kelly Wearstler’s MasterClass.
How long is Kelly Wearstler’s MasterClass?
The MasterClass taught by Kelly Wearstler runs for a total of 2 hours, and 13 minutes and is broken up into 17 separate videos.
Can you get Kelly Wearstler’s MasterClass for free?
The Kelly Wearstler MasterClass is, alas, not available for free at this time. However, MasterClass provides a number of different purchasing options, and if you aren’t satisfied with the service, you can get your money back.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like the Kelly Wearstler MasterClass?
If you make your purchase directly through MasterClass, you are eligible for a refund within the first 30 days after your purchase. If you make purchases through other providers, you may be subject to the return policy of those providers.
How much does Kelly Wearstler make?
There is a 0% difference between the average pay that Kelly Wearstler earns for her work, which is $61,115 per year, and the average salary that is paid in the United States for the position of Designer, which is $61,232 per year.
What Is Kelly Wearstler Net Worth?
Kelly Wearstler is a well-known American interior designer who has accumulated a net worth of $150 million over the course of her career.