Essential styling ingredients

When it comes to styling, where do you start? What do you really need to create a beautiful space? And how do you bring all of the elements together so they not only look good, but feel right too?

There are a lot of similarities between styling and cooking. Both require certain key ingredients that are the foundations for anything you’re creating. And there are some combinations that work better than others. To take your creation to the next level it helps to add the right herbs and garnish to enhance the flavour and colour, too. The more you educate yourself about your basic ingredients, the more confident you will become, and then you can start to experiment with your flavours to find out what works best for you. Eventually, the process becomes more intuitive and then you don’t need a recipe but can freestyle. It’s about having fun and experimenting with what you’ve got.

Each space has its own set of essential ingredients. There are the objects you need to ensure your room is functional. For example, at the very least a bedroom needs a bed, bedding and a light. But there are accent pieces that add more flavour and interest, such as a bedside table, rug and chair. 

Similar to cooking, you want to gather ingredients that work well together, and the easiest way to do this is working within a colour palette. Don’t worry too much about mixing styles (that actually adds interest). Instead, focus on adding objects within 3-5 colour hues. This will help make your space cohesive.

Finally, you want to add some herbs and spices to bring out the flavours of your space. This is where decorative accents are useful. It is your opportunity to add visual interest and engage the eye. Beautiful books, flowers, ceramics are all ways you can garnish your room. Just as with cooking, you don’t want to dump them on your creation. Instead, sprinkle them lightly so that they are a beautiful accent, rather than overwhelming what you’ve created.

5 essential ingredients

1. Rustic timber stool

Vintage timber stools are endlessly useful, and definitely should be in your collection. They can be used at the dining table as a seat, in the bathroom for somewhere to place your clothes or towel, as a side table in the living room, as a bedside table, or in a hallway. 

2. Neutral accent cushion

While there are many different styles of cushions available, it always helps to have at least one plain neutral cushion in a cotton or linen fabric. Ensure the insert is feather-filled to provide a nice plump look.

3. Timeless chair
Chairs are one of the best investments you can make when it comes to styling your home. Although you can find beautiful options that are inexpensive too. Classic bentwood chairs can be found second-hand at at vintage stores too. But using a chair is a great way to add a sculptural element to your interior. Think of it as a piece of art for your room — one that you can use too.

Image by Jasmine Sleeman.

4. Coffee table books
Beautiful coffee table books are an inexpensive way to add an accent to almost any space in your home. They add personality and interest, depth and height, as well as texture. Whenever I go to someone’s home, I always pack a few of my favourite coffee table books in case the homeowner doesn’t have any to  hand. 

5. Secateurs
While secateurs are something that you won’t necessarily display in your home or styled images (although sometimes you can!), they are endlessly useful and the most trusted tool of any stylist. If you can’t get to a florist, or prefer to display flowers and foliage from your garden or neighbourhood, secateurs enable you to add beautiful natural elements to your interiors without having to spend money on expensive blooms.

If you’d like to learn how to style with confidence, join the wait list for The Styling Masterclass, which will be open for enrolment soon!