The interior stylists’ secret handbook Our expert sources share their tips and tricks for creating effortless style for your abode

EXPERT DECORATORS AND DESIGNERS SHARE THEIR TOP TRICKS TO IMBUE EFFORTLESS STYLE IN EVERY CORNER OF YOUR HOME

Ever wondered exactly how stylists manage to get it right every time they wave their magic wands across a room? In our special colour and decorating issue, we decided to go straight to our expert sources and tap their insider knowledge so you can create the beautifully decorated home you’ve always wanted, with ease and style.

1 edit yourself

Resist the urge to fill every space and crowd shelves. Instead, allow breathing space to rest the eyes and bring your favourite pieces into focus. Think about mixing scale and height; cluster smaller pieces for added oomph and let large items stand alone.

2 TAKE THE WHEEL

COLOUR WHEELS THAT SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIFFERENT TONES AND HUES ARE AN INTEGRAL TOOL FOR ANY INTERIOR STYLIST. LEARN HOW TO USE THEM AND YOU’LL MASTER THE ART OF CREATING STUNNING COLOUR SCHEMES. FOR A DESIGN THAT’S HIGH CONTRAST, CHOOSE HUES THAT SIT OPPOSITE EACH OTHER ON THE WHEEL (BELOW), OR CONSIDER A TRIAD SCHEME BY PAIRING THREE COLOURS THAT FORM A TRIANGLE ON THE WHEEL.

3 add greenery

Plants go hand-in-hand with any interior style (above), but their effects are most dramatically seen in the increasingly popular modern and minimalist styles, where they help to soften and warm up spaces, says Alana Langan, interior stylist and the co-founder of Ivy Muse. “Group plants of staggered heights for maximum effect,” she says. In a mix of three, “choose one with height, a fuller, bushier shape to fill out the centre and a smaller plant to complete the scene.” 4 BUILD YOUR COLOUR SCHEME FROM THE GROUND UP, SAYS INTERIOR DESIGNER ANIA FORSTER OF ZEPHYR & STONE. “WE SPECIFY FLOORING FIRST, THEN CHOOSE NEUTRALS FOR CABINETRY AND FURNITURE, AND ADD COLOUR WITH ACCENTS,” SHE SAYS.

5 soften your space

“Sheer curtains are an instant way of adding softness and privacy to a room,” advises Fiona Michelon, HB’s style editor. “Hang them behind blockout curtains (left) for a day-to-night option, or on their own for a gentle layer of warmth.”

6 MAKE IT BESPOKE

GIVING DATED BUT LOVED ITEMS, SUCH AS A CHAIR OR LAMPSHADE, A NEW LEASE OF LIFE IS A GREAT WAY TO ADD CHARACTER TO A SPACE. USE COLOURFUL OR PATTERNED FABRICS TO CREATE FEATURE PIECES OR ELEVATE A CHAIR WITH SUMPTUOUS MATERIALS, SUCH AS VELVET.

7go big, not bitsy

“Lots of small furniture items can make a space feel cluttered,” says Tess Beagley of Minted Interiors. “Instead, opt for fewer, over-sized pieces.” For a range of stunning larger pieces, take a look at Amart’s Signature Collection.

8 BUY IN STAGES. “WHEN STYLING A LIVING ROOM, START WITH FUNCTION,” SAYS SENIOR PROPERTY STYLIST CHARMAINE COOMBES OF COCO REPUBLIC. “THE SOFA IS OFTEN THE LARGEST AND MOST USED ITEM IN THE SPACE, SO CHOOSE IT FIRST, FOLLOWED BY HERO PIECES SUCH AS AN AMAZING ARTWORK OR RUG.”

9make it monochrome

“As a devotee of monochromatic interiors, I love combining moody blacks and greys against crisp whites for a dramatic look,” says Helen Carter of DCB Interiors. “Contrasting textures and mixed finishes add richness and individuality, while plants bring a monochromatic scheme to life.”

10be colour smart

A quality sofa (below) will last for years to come, so choose a colour you’re likely to love just as much down the track as you do now. “Neutral tones evoke a timeless, sophisticated feel,” explains head of products David Hardwick of

King Living. “Soft shades and lighter hues will assist in illuminating a room, making it feel larger.”

11 WHEN SHOPPING FOR FURNITURE, ART OR ACCESSORIES, DON’T DISREGARD PLACES SUCH AS GUMTREE OR SMALLER AUCTION HOUSES NEAR YOU. YOU CAN FIND GREAT DEALS ON DESIGNER ITEMS, VINTAGE FURNITURE OR FIND UNIQUE STAND-OUT PIECES.

12 LIGHT THE WAY

LIGHTING BOASTS THE ABILITY TO COMPLETELY TRANSFORM HOW YOU EXPERIENCE A SPACE. “FOR THAT EXTRA WOW-FACTOR AND AMBIENCE AFTER DARK, LAYER YOUR SCHEME WITH A MIX OF STRIKING PENDANTS, WALL SCONCES AND LAMPS, WHICH ADD DEPTH AND INTEREST TO A ROOM,” SAYS INTERIOR DESIGNER TESS BEAGLEY OF

MINTED INTERIORS.

13 hang together

Add appeal to a blank space by creating a gallery wall with artworks or a collection of family photos. Play with scale and frame types for a unique display or, for a more cohesive look, stick to a single colourway. Top tip: arrange frames on the floor, then transfer to the wall. 14 MIRRORS CAN BE A MARVELLOUS TOOL FOR STYLING, PARTICULARLY IN A SMALL SPACE, SAYS TESS OF MINTED INTERIORS. “I LIKE TO USE A LARGE MIRROR TO REFLECT A GREAT VIEW OF THE OUTDOORS. IT MAKES AN INTERIOR FEEL LARGER AND ACTS AS AN EVER-CHANGING ARTWORK.”

15 ADD PERSONALITY

Beautiful homes reflect their owners and tell a story, says interior designer Petrina Turner. “I love including treasured items from clients’ travels into small vignettes and incorporating heirloom furniture which has been reinvigorated with fabulous new fabric,” she says. “It gives an opportunity to honour history and ensure pieces are still used and enjoyed.” The most inviting, ‘dive in me’ beds feature abundant soft layers (left), with pillows and decorative cushions in a range of complementary tones, shapes and textures. For the ultimate in hotel-style comfort, opt for the best linen you can afford and then embrace the relaxed look of an effortlessly draped throw or chunky knit across the foot of your bed. Ramp up the feel-good factor of any room with a playful combo of pattern and colour. “I particularly love working with pattern in the bedroom by combining a block colour in the bed cover with four different [pattern] pillow slips in a common colour theme,” says interior designer Petrina. “Wallpaper on the bedroom ceiling is also a fun addition.

18 LET ARTWORK INSPIRE YOUR COLOUR PALETTE. “DRAW INSPIRATION FROM A STATEMENT ART PIECE THAT YOU LOVE AND PULL TWO OR THREE COLOURS FROM THIS INTO YOUR ROOM,” SUGGESTS HB STYLE EDITOR FIONA MICHELON. “THIS WILL CREATE A LOOK THAT’S REALLY COHESIVE AND WELL BALANCED.”

19 RUG UP

Size matters when it comes to rugs – too large and it will dwarf your sofa, too tiny and it will seem adrift among a sea of furniture. As a general rule, a rug should comfortably anchor key furniture pieces, so for living areas choose a size proportional to your sofa, coffee table and occasional chairs. Here, Coco Republic’s ‘Valentina’ rug in Charcoal takes centre stage.

20 mix fabrics

Love colour blocking? A simple way to add interest to a scheme without straying from your one true love is to choose soft furnishings in tints, tones and varying textures of your chosen colour. Try blending linen, leather, wool, velvet and more. 21 EMBRACE BOTH FORM AND FUNCTION: WHILE FLOOR LAMPS ARE FABULOUS AT SETTING THE MOOD, SELECT A PIECE THAT’S AS SCULPTURAL AS IT IS FUNCTIONAL AND IT WILL QUICKLY BECOME THE STAR PERFORMER IN YOUR LIVING ROOM OR BEDROOM SCHEME.

22 be brave

“Don’t be fearful of using furniture with upholstered cushions in your outdoor areas,” says stylist and interior designer Georgie Frew of Studio Luna. “The secret to success is choosing a neutral base palette that allows you to be bold with cushions and accessories. I recommend you pick UV-rated fabric and stash the lot in an undercover spot when not in use.”

23 CREATE BALANCE

MAKE SURE THAT IN YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS, YOUR ‘SOFT-SCAPE’ AND ‘HARDSCAPE’ SPACES ARE WELL BALANCED. THIS WILL HELP CREATE A RELAXING, RESORTLIKE VIBE IN YOUR BACKYARD – GREAT FOR ENTERTAINING FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE MORE YOU INTEGRATE POPS OF GREENERY, THE MORE ORGANIC A SPACE WILL FEEL.

24 MAKE A MOODBOARD

Whether you’re renovating or simply redecorating a room, it can be daunting knowing where to start. To help pave your style direction, a moodboard can be a truly effective tool. Interior designer Lydia Maskiell recommends browsing magazines, Pinterest, books and product brochures for inspiration, then printing or tearing them out and sticking the imagery on a board you can refer to regularly. “Once you have an initial palette you can play around and refine the mix and then set off on the design journey,” she says. 25 “DON’T TRY TO DEFINE YOUR SPACE TO A CERTAIN STYLE,” SAYS HB STYLE EDITOR FIONA MICHELON. “THE BEST ROOMS ARE THOSE THAT BLEND DIFFERENT TRENDS AND ERAS WITH A MIX OF YOUR FAVOURITE PIECES TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS TRULY UNIQUE TO YOU.”