Only 10 per cent of the population have the spatial awareness to visualise a space. So, if you’re selling your home or simply trying to maximise your space and improve its aesthetics, it’s important to know some interior styling basics.
We recently sat down with our styling partner, Leah Fotilli at The Beholder Styling + Design, to learn a little more about the process. Whether she is staging a home or styling a commercial or residential space, the process remains the same. We’ve summarised some easy-to-remember tips that are sure to help with your next interior styling project. If you’re wondering why styling can be important when selling your home, you can head to our blog on the topic here.
Leah of The Beholder
1. Start with the art
The first consideration when it comes to interior styling, Leah insists, is the art. “The art will dictate the colours and ‘vibe’ of the house, which will help you when it comes to soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, and floor rugs.”
And how do you know if the art that you are about to buy is any good? “Don’t overthink it,” Leah urges. “If you love it, it’s good.”
2. If you’re not sure – keep it neutral
Once you’ve chosen your art, the colours of these pieces will dictate the colour palette for everything else. Keep a balance, and be sure to use some neutrals. These include black, white, grey and colours that are a mix of other complementary colours – such as brown, beige, cream and taupe.
“Choose a few ‘pops’ of bold colour from your palette with your soft furnishings, keeping the rest neutral. You can also choose to have some feature pieces when it comes to furniture, too, that work in with your art. If you’re not sure, though, less can be more. Keep it simple – unless you’re looking for a feature piece, my requisites for furniture is to keep it neutral and comfortable.”
3. Choose pieces that you love
Whether it’s art, furnishings, furniture or other decorative pieces, make sure you’re using pieces that you actually like.
“When it comes to the more decorative, less functional pieces, just try to find a balance. Choose pieces that you like that fit the colour brief, don’t use too many, and most importantly – choose pieces that you love and that add character to your home. Again, neutral with a few pops of colour is perfect.”
4. Embrace greenery
When it comes to foliage, Leah believes the extra work of a real live plant is always worth it.
“Plants lift the mood in every home. They are actually good for you, they filter the air that we breathe and give us a sense of responsibility – I use real plants over fake every time. They also add some nice pops of natural colour that are pretty easy to work in with most spaces. Just be sure to keep them in places where they get enough sun, and pay attention to their requirements when it comes to water and feeding.”
5. Remember – your house is still a home
As a piece of final piece of sage advice, Leah reminds us that in our own homes, we need to love the spaces that we create. Even when staging a property for sale, good stylists will keep this in mind.
“Most importantly, every house is still a home. Avoid is looking stark or cold when it comes to both your colours and the number of items in each room. For most homes, neutral with pops of accent colour is best.”
And finally – if you’re really not sure, hire someone. A stylist or interior designer will save you the potential pain of buying furniture, decorative items or furnishings that you’re only going to get tired of and replace later, which can cost more in the long run.
To get in touch with Leah and her team, you can reach them via The Beholder website here.
