Interior stylist FAQ
If you’re thinking about hiring a freelance interior stylist and want to know how the process works — from costs and availability to creative style and location — you’re in the right place. Here are the questions I get asked most often.
1. What is an interior stylist?
An interior stylist is someone who makes products, rooms and spaces look beautiful for photographs, video, exhibitions, events and in store. As a freelance interior stylist, my job is to bring a brand’s vision to life through art direction, creative styling, props and clever styling tricks so the end result feels polished, aspirational and full of personality. My styling work will help sell your products to customers, elevate your brand and give you content to share across social media.
2. What is your Styling background?
I’ve worked in interiors for 27 years, starting as a magazine style editor on House Beautiful before becoming a freelance interior stylist. Over those years I’ve styled cover shoots for Ideal Home, House Beautiful, HomeStyle, Your Home, Country Homes and Interiors, 25 Beautiful Homes, The Guardian and The Sunday Times — to name a few.
As a London interior stylist I’ve collaborated with many high street and luxury brands including The White Company, Laura Ashley, Earthborn Paints, Ian Mankin, Debenhams and House of Fraser. I’ve also styled the Dream Home at the Ideal Home Show and the Show Home at the Grand Designs Show, and worked on many home decor TV shows as an art director.
Check out my list of clients & collaborations here.
3. Where are you based?
I’m based in Brighton, East Sussex and work regularly across London and the wider UK as a freelance interior stylist. Most of my commercial work is London based but I take on shoot commissions across Sussex, and travel nationally and internationally. I’ve styled shoots in the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, New York and South Africa.
4. How can I get in touch with You?
You can reach me via my contact page to discuss your project, collaboration or commission. I’ll come back to you as quickly as I can. Or email me at [email protected]
5. Where can I see examples of your Styling work?
You’ll find a wide selection of my work in my portfolio and I post my latest projects on my blog where I share recent shoots, new brand collaborations and client work. You can also see my styling in titles like Ideal Home, House Beautiful, HomeStyle and Country Homes & Interiors.
6. What is your Creative style?
I’m known for forecasting interior trends and blending them seamlessly into my set designs for clients and brands. I pride myself on creating interiors that are aspirational as well as warm and welcoming. Whether I’m styling a Brighton home, a London brand shoot or a Sussex location, I love to bring character, warmth and personality to a space so it feels stylish but never staged.
7. What types of interior styling services do you offer?
As a freelance interior stylist I offer a full range of creative services including editorial and magazine shoots, commercial styling for brands and campaigns, props styling and sourcing, creative direction and shoot production, event styling and press launches, social media content creation and location hunting.
You can find out more on my styling services page
8. How does the commercial styling process work?
The process starts with an initial consultation to understand your brand, product or brief. I’ll then create concepts and mood boards, source props and locations, and manage the styling on set — all to match your budget. I’ll pull together a team including set builders, assistants, photographers and videographers where needed.
Each project is tailored to your needs — whether you need me as a props stylist, shoot producer or creative director.
9. How much does it cost to hire an interior stylist?
Every project is different, so my rates depend on the scope of work, location and length of the shoot. I usually work on a day rate basis for prep and shoot days and provide a full tailored quote once I understand your brief.
Best thing to do is to get in touch with details of your project and I’ll provide a tailored quote.
10. Do you work with clients outside Brighton and London?
Yes. As a freelance interior stylist and props stylist I love sourcing the right props to bring a shoot to life. I also handle logistics like transport, returns, set-up and creative direction. Many of my brand clients book me as both props stylist and shoot producer so everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
If you’re further afield, let’s talk, I work remotely on concept and mood board creation.
11. Do you Offer props styling?
Yes, props styling is one of my favourite parts of the job. As a freelance interior stylist and props stylist I source and manage everything that goes in front of the camera — from furniture and soft furnishings to plants, books, ceramics and lifestyle accessories. I handle the full process including sourcing, transport, set dressing and returns. I’ve propped and styled shoots for brands including Colgate, Debenhams, Brita and Lifestyle Floors, working across product campaigns, lifestyle shoots and TV commercials where every single object in frame needs to feel considered and completely on brand.
12. Do you offer shoot production?
Many of my brand clients book me as both props stylist and shoot producer so everything runs smoothly from start to finish. As shoot producer I manage the full logistics of a shoot including commissioning set builders, booking photographers, arranging locations, managing assistants and keeping everything on budget and on schedule. It means you have one experienced creative partner overseeing the entire process rather than trying to coordinate multiple suppliers yourself.
13. I need to arrange a Press event or Social Media event, can you help with the event styling?
Of course! From intimate press breakfasts to major brand launches, I create event spaces that are memorable, stylish and completely on brand. I manage the full process from concept and mood boards through to sourcing, logistics and on the day styling.
Recent events include the European launch of luxury Indian beauty brand Kama Ayurveda at Carousel in London, a press breakfast for Barclays for a host of international influencers and Summer / Spring event for La Redoute.
14. Can you Help me create social media content for my brand?
Alongside my styling work I shoot, edit and deliver social media content that’s ready to post. I’ve grown my own Instagram to 96k followers at @maxinebradystyling with an 8.8% engagement rate (six times the industry average) which means I understand instinctively what makes an image or video stop someone mid-scroll. For brands who need not just beautiful stills but content that performs, I can deliver the full package including styled, shot, edited and optimised for social media.
Request my media pack for full details.
15. Can you style an exhibition stand or trade show space?
Exhibition and trade show styling is a key part of what I do as a freelance interior stylist. I understand the tight timelines, the on-site logistics and the pressure of getting everything looking perfect before the doors open.
I work closely with set designers and event production teams, and I’m experienced at being on site at major shows including the Ideal Home Show, the Grand Designs Show and Olympia London. I recently transformed a trade show stand for fintech brand Kuba Pay at Olympia turning a corporate exhibition space into a warm, inviting coffee shop lounge that stopped visitors in their tracks.
Read more about the Kuba Pay project here. Get in touch to discuss your next exhibition or trade show.
16. How far in advance should I book you?
Ideally four weeks ahead for larger commercial shoots but if you’re working to a tighter deadline, I’ve been known to turn around a shoot in less than a day. I work well under pressure and understand that some projects are last minute.
Ready to work together?
If you have a project in mind and would like to discuss how Maxine Brady can help as your freelance interior stylist, get in touch via the contact page. View the portfolio to see recent work or explore the full range of styling services.
I hope this Interior Stylist FAQ has helped you. Please email me if you have any other questions.