Interior styling tips from an industry expert

If you've ever attempted to restyle or decorate your home, you'd know that wading through the slew of conflicting information that comes your way can be maddening.

You're told to add colour, but not too much colour. Look for patterns, but don't go overboard. Avoid being 'matchy-matchy', but remain consistent. Keep it minimal, but don't forget to infuse the home with your personality. Be modern and 'on-point', but remember that trends change.

To help muddle through some of the confusion, we spoke to Kathleen Hunter, Interior Stylist for Furniture Hire & Styling Australia, to find out how best to approach a DIY home styling project.

As someone who specialises in interior styling, what are the most common mistakes you come across?

The most common mistakes we find is people over furnishing rooms and buying furniture that is too big for their space. Bigger is not always better, but it can be tempting to go down this route as larger items feel more luxurious and indulgent.

How do you suggest avoiding this common trap?

Have a plan of the home and scaled cut outs of furniture both existing and new that you want to use in your property. Carefully consider what is relevant or just added clutter. This will help give you a better idea of how each room will function and will make sure you avoid any costly mistakes along the way!

What do you think is the biggest misconception about home styling?

That everything needs to be executed at once. The most exciting thing about moving into a new home is the process of making it your own, and we too often turn our focus toward the outcome rather than taking the time to enjoy this process. You will find that the homeliest of houses are the ones that have been lovingly cultivated over a long period of time.

So people should look at interior styling as an ongoing project?

Yes! Source and save for pieces that you love rather than buying into a 'whole look' from an affordable supplier. It is also much more rewarding to display items that have personal meaning to you - ones that have been collected over time through travel, given as gifts or passed down from generation to generation.

For people who are styling their new home for the first time, where do you suggest they start?

First, make sure you have some inspiration to draw from. Start looking at magazines and online blogs and work out what appeals to your taste, taking note of how pieces are used to create a complete look. Then determine the budget and the timeline for achieving your goals. The order in which you prioritise stages will depend on the scope of your project. It may be that you find an amazing chair which becomes the building block for developing a room, or you may start by creating a clean slate with fresh paint and new window dressings as the initial step in making a new home your own.

What are your top tips for adding easy style to homes that are well lived in?

The best way to do this is by adding a few on-trend accessories and soft dressings to your existing décor. For example, add a large statement rug and pendant light to a dining room, or a beautiful piece of art and some coordinating scatter cushions and throws in a lounge setting. And don't be afraid to embrace colour - a pop of turquoise or yellow can do wonders to reviving a tired or neutral interior.

Any final tips for people embarking on a home styling project?

If you change your mind often or like to update things regularly, keep your larger furniture items of a neutral colour and style. Use smaller items such as armchairs and floor lamps as your statement pieces. Smaller accessories and paintwork can be removed and added as needed to completely change the look and feel of a home and is a lot less expensive than constantly updating sofas and bedroom suites! It also goes without saying that these larger items are the ones to invest the most in as quality furniture will stand the test of time and become the glue that holds your interior together.

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