Bring some sparkle to your space and discover how to decorate your home like an interior stylist.
Ever wondered how interior stylists make rooms look so effortlessly pulled together? Well it is not magic, I can promise you that! It’s a mix of clever interior styling tips, a good eye, and lots of styling practice. As someone who has worked as a London interior stylist, props stylist, TV art editor across Brighton, Sussex stylist for over 25 years… I’ve styled everything from glossy magazine shoots and brand campaigns to real homes.
Today I’m sharing my five go-to styling tips that you can decorate your home like an interior stylist to make your own pad look like it’s ready for the pages of a magazine! And yes, I’ve used my own home in Brighton to show you exactly how I put these ideas into practice.
about london interior StyList maxing brady
Maxine is an award-winning stylist and creative director working in London & Brighton. Follow on Instagram 53K and Tik Tok for more interior tips. Contact here for your next interior design or styling project.
How To Decorate Your Home Like An Interior Stylist
1. Start with a simple colour palette
Every great scheme begins with colour. Choose three or four tones and repeat them across your room for a cohesive look. In my living room, I’ve used pinks, peppermint green and soft greys. It keeps things looking calm but still playful. When I styled for Earthborn Paints, we created entire shoots around one hero shade, then layered complementary accents through furniture and accessories. It’s the same trick I use at home: pick your palette, then stick with it.
2. Mix your textures
Texture is what brings a room to life. Think velvet cushions on a linen sofa, a wool rug underfoot, or glossy ceramics against matt walls. When I styled a shoot for Ian Mankin, we layered chunky weaves with smooth cottons for instant depth. In my Brighton home, I’ve done the same pairing a fluffy-style rug with sleek metallic tables. It’s all about creating a contrast.
3. Create a focal point
Stylists always give the eye somewhere to land. That might be a hero sofa, a gallery wall, or even a bold vase of flowers. In my dining room, the focal point is the fireplace. Everything else in the room works around it. When I work as a London interior stylist on editorial shoots, we always build the whole set around one statement piece, it’s what makes the room memorable.
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4. Style your surfaces
Coffee tables, shelves and bedside tables are a stylist’s playground. Instead of clutter, think of them as mini still-life moments. Group objects in odd numbers, vary heights, and always add something natural like a plant or flowers. When I work as a props stylist, this is where the detail work really matters. At home, I rotate what’s on display so it always feels fresh without buying anything new.
5. Layer in personality
The secret to making your home look styled but not staged is personality. Add family photos in mismatched frames, a quirky lamp you found at a flea market, or a piece of art that makes you smile. In my Sussex interior styling projects, I encourage clients to bring out the pieces that tell their story, not just what’s trending. In my own home, that means a disco ball in the kitchen and pastel artwork in the bedroom. These little touches stop your space feeling like a showroom and make it truly yours.
Decorate Your Home Like An Interior Styling
I hope in this post that you have discovered how to decorate your home like an interior stylist isn’t about following strict rules, it’s about curating a space that feels considered but lived-in. Start with a colour palette, mix textures, create a focal point, style your surfaces, and always add a dose of personality.
Whether you’re in a studio flat or a family home, these five tricks will make your space look pulled together in no time. And remember: homes evolve. I’m forever tweaking mine, and that’s half the fun.
I hope you like this simple post. I’d love to know—which of these tips will you try first? Share your thoughts in the comments below.