t is one of the most common questions I get asked, and honestly it is a brilliant one, because the two roles sound similar but they are actually very different. If you have ever wondered whether you need an interior stylist or an interior designer, or what each one actually does day to day, then this is the post for you.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INTERIOR STYLIST AND AN INTERIOR DESIGNER?
I’m Maxine Brady, an award-winning interior stylist, creative director and interiors journalist with over 25 years of experience working across magazines, brands, TV and private homes. I split my time between Brighton and London, and I have spent the best part of my career living and breathing this question from the inside. So let me break it down properly.
What does an interior designer do?
An interior designer works on the structural and architectural elements of a space. They deal with the bones of a room, things like layouts, floor plans, built-in furniture, lighting schemes, plumbing and electrical planning. If you are extending your home, converting a loft, knocking through walls or doing a full renovation, an interior designer is the person you need. They work closely with architects, builders and tradespeople to make sure the whole project comes together from the ground up.
Interior designers often have a formal qualification in architecture or interior design and they take on projects over a much longer timeframe, sometimes managing a build from initial brief all the way through to completion. It is a hugely skilled role and for major structural projects, absolutely essential.
What does an interior stylist do?
An interior stylist works with what is already there and makes it sing. We do not knock down walls or deal with trades. Our role is all about creating and capturing the look. That might be for a magazine shoot, a brand campaign, a product catalogue, a TV production, an event, or a homeowner who wants their space to feel more joyful and cohesive.
Think of it this way. An interior designer builds the stage. An interior stylist brings it to life.
My own career has taken me from the style desks of House Beautiful, Ideal Home, HomeStyle and Elle, to major brand campaigns for clients like IKEA, The White Company, Dulux, DFS, Next, Tesco, Sweetpea and Willow, and Furniture Village. I have been art director on TV productions including This Morning, Grand Designs and Good Morning Britain, styled the Dream Home at the Ideal Home Show, and worked on shoots in New York, Australia, New Zealand, Cape Town and the Middle East. Every single one of those projects was about the look, the feel, the story. That is the stylist’s world.
Do you need a qualification to be an interior stylist?
This is where the two roles differ quite significantly. Interior designers typically need a formal degree or professional qualification. Interior stylists do not. What you do need is a brilliant eye, strong organisational skills, the ability to work well under pressure and a real passion for interiors. I studied English and trained as a journalist before falling into magazines, and many of the best stylists I know have come from textiles, floristry, photography or the arts. The route in is varied and the learning happens mostly on the job.
If you want to know more about what it takes, I wrote a whole post on how to become an interior stylist which goes into much more detail.
So which one do you actually need?
Here is a simple way to think about it. If your project involves building work, structural changes, or a major renovation, you need an interior designer. If your project is about making a space look and feel its best without touching the structure, whether that is for a shoot, a campaign, an event or your own home, you need an interior stylist.
And of course the two can work brilliantly together. A designer creates the bones and the layout, and a stylist comes in at the end to add the personality, the layers, the warmth and the life. Some of my favourite projects have been working alongside architects and designers to dress a space once the build is complete.
What can an interior stylist do for you?
Quite a lot, as it turns out! Here is a flavour of what I offer through my styling services.
For brands and businesses, I work as a creative director and shoot producer, developing concepts and mood boards, sourcing props, managing locations, directing on set and delivering campaign imagery that works across print, digital and social. I have worked with everyone from global household names to small independent businesses, and I know exactly what makes an image stop someone mid-scroll. One client told me that working with me felt like adding an extra arm to their PR team, which is honestly one of the loveliest things anyone has ever said. If you are planning a campaign and want to know more, I wrote a whole post on why you need to hire an interior stylist for your brand campaign.
For magazines and editorial clients, I have been styling shoots for national titles for over two decades. My work has appeared in the Sunday Times, The Guardian, Country Homes and Interiors, Marie Claire, Good Homes, Ideal Home and Real Homes among many others. I know what homes editors are looking for because most of them are friends of mine.
For private homeowners, I offer home styling consultations and room schemes to help you make the most of what you already have. Whether your space feels almost there but not quite, or you simply do not know where to start, sometimes a few hours with a professional eye makes all the difference. You can find out more about working with me at maxinebrady.com/interior-styling-services.
Where can you follow my work?
The best place to see what I do on a daily basis is Instagram. Come and find me at @maxinebradystyling where I share styling work, behind the scenes from shoots, interiors inspiration and plenty of colour. I am also co-host of the How to Home Podcast alongside Gemma Gear, which is in the top 3% of podcasts globally and a brilliant listen if you love interiors. You can find it wherever you listen to podcasts.
And if you want to go deeper into my background and the full range of projects I have worked on, this post tells you everything you need to know about me and my work.
Final thoughts
The difference between an interior stylist and an interior designer comes down to this. One reshapes the structure of a space, the other transforms how it looks, feels and photographs. Both are brilliant at what they do. The key is knowing which one your project needs, and then finding the right person for the job.
If you think an interior stylist might be what you are looking for, I would love to hear from you. Get in touch here and let’s talk about your project.
More about Maxine
I’m an interior stylist, creative director and interiors journalist based in Brighton, working across London, Sussex and the wider UK. With 25 years of experience across magazines, brands, TV and private homes, I specialise in creating spaces and images that feel joyful, considered and full of personality. Find details of my services at maxinebrady.com/interior-styling-services and follow me on Instagram at @maxinebradystyling for daily inspiration. You can also listen to the How to Home Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.