What Does an Interior Stylist Do?
- Eileen Jemmett
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
And How Do I Help You Style a Home You Love?
Hi, I’m Eileen and if you’ve ever walked into a room that just felt “off” but you couldn’t quite explain why, chances are it’s a styling issue.
Styling is the final layer that brings a space to life. While interior design is about layout and function, interior styling is about personality and emotion.
It's what makes your home feel like you.
What’s the Difference Between Interior Design and Interior Styling?
Interior design focuses on the structure and function of a space. Things like layout, flow, and how the rooms work together.
Interior Styling, on the other hand, is about the finishing touches. Furniture placement, rugs, soft furnishings, artwork, and accessories.
Because I have experience in both, I naturally think about the layout while styling. I can immediately spot when something doesn’t work and know how to fix it.
Styling is how you bring in warmth, balance and emotion. It’s the part of the process that turns a house into a home.
My Top Interior Styling Tips for a Well-Balanced Room
If I had to give one golden rule of styling, it would be this: get the scale right.
So often I walk into beautiful homes where the rug is too small, the furniture feels lost in the space, or everything is bunched up in one corner. It makes the room feel disjointed or smaller than it actually is.
Here are a few things I always keep in mind when styling:
Choose a rug that’s big enough: Ideally, furniture should sit on top of the rug, or at least have the front legs on it.
Balance chunky and slim furniture: A large room can handle heavier pieces, but in a smaller space, oversized items will feel cramped.
Plan your layout before you buy: I recommend doing a quick floor plan and measuring to make sure everything fits properly before committing to that gorgeous sofa or sideboard.
Allow space to move: You need at least 800mm to 1 metre behind dining chairs so people can sit comfortably and move around with ease.
How to Style with Texture, Colour and Personality
Once scale and layout are sorted, I focus on texture and colour. This is where a space really comes to life. I love playing with soft and hard materials like timber, linen, ceramics, greenery and creating little vignettes that feel curated but not cluttered.
One of my go-to tricks is using odd numbers and varied heights. For example, if I’m styling a console or sideboard, I might pair a tall lamp on one side with a group of 3 objects on the other. A candle, a book, and a small plant. It creates visual interest and feels balanced without being too symmetrical.
And yes, I’ll say it again: scale matters here too. It’s not just what you use, it’s how big it is, how it sits with other pieces, and how it feels in the space.
Styling a Home on a Budget: What to Spend On and What to Save
You don’t need a huge budget to have a beautifully styled home, you just need to be smart about where to spend.
If you're decorating a living room, I always suggest prioritising what you sit on. Your sofa or armchairs should be both comfortable and durable. Once you’ve invested there, you can scale back on items like side tables or accessories.
Here’s my basic formula:
Spend more on seating or your statement dining table.
Save on items that aren’t used daily, like decorative objects or cushions.
Don’t impulse-buy. Measure first, then shop.
And always test the comfort. I’ve sat in more chairs than I can count because I know which ones are worth buying and which ones just look pretty.
If you start shopping at the high-end showrooms, it can be hard to go back so I’ll help guide you toward shops that match your budget and still deliver style and comfort.
When Does It Make Sense to Work With a Stylist?
Many of my styling jobs come after I’ve helped someone with their interior design or colour selection.
Once the big pieces are in place, they often ask, “Can you help me style it too?”
Whether you’re furnishing a brand-new home, refreshing a few key rooms, or feeling stuck with pieces you already own, an interior stylist helps you:
Tie everything together
Avoid costly mistakes
Create a space that feels “just right”
Ready to Style Your Home With Confidence?
If your space doesn’t feel quite right, or if you want to make sure your investment in furniture and decor pays off, I’d love to help.
Contact me today and let’s make your home feel like you 🏡
