Where the heck do you start when styling a room? It’s a question we get asked a lot and we’re so excited to have Jessica Bellef, head of styling at Temple & Webster, here today to help break things down for us.
When you’re starting out, try to keep things simple. Minimise your colour palette to just 2-4 colours — using key colours and highlight colours — and keep patterns simple and of a similar scale.
Styled by Adam Powell and photographed by Denise Braki
“Texture palette is also important. Too many shades of timber can make a space feel hectic, try to stick to no more than 2 or 3.
With furniture and artwork scale is key. If anything is too big or too small, it can seem wonky and make you feel uneasy.
“Look at your floor plan and take note of the entry and exit points. What’s the function of the room? What do you need to use the room for and arrange the furniture accordingly with seating in a conversational layout.
“It’s not just about the floor plan though, look that the height of the ceilings. If you’re blessed with high ceilings, consider ways you can take advantage of that so not everything is anchored to the floor. Some ideas could be resting a decorative shelf ladder on a wall, hanging pot plants or having a tall floor lamp.”
Shop our favourites from Temple & Webster
Raffia wall hanging
Outdoor bean bag
Blue vintage-look outdoor rug
Outdoor chair pads
Marble and stone outdoor table
Bamboo outdoor lantern
Hanging outdoor lantern
Outdoor arch mirror
Set 3 woven baskets
Cow planter
Marble diffuser
Ceramic diffuser
Aroma diffuser
Teardrop diffuser
Glass and metal lamp
Double circle bamboo lamp
Rattan lamp
Round side table
Outdoor rocking chair
Cream velvet office chair
White side table
Fluffy throw
Bamboo lid container
Icecream coat rack
Round rug
Bunk beds
Round lavender cotton cushion
Velvet shell bedhead
Woven velvet mustard cushion
Red pendant light
Concrete boat ornament
Porcelain seagull trinket
Vintage Venice art print
Rattan side table
Blue dining chair
Marble table lamp
2 seater faux leather sofa
Blue print quilt cover
Beach grass print
Wooden console
Outdoor lounge
Replica tolix stool
Woven placemats
Fringed linen cushion
Bean bag cover
Rattan sun lounge
Scanpan frypan set
Reclaimed teak wood stool
Natural rug
Round wooden coffee table
Cane armchair
Blue velvet sofa
Abstract wall art
Nesting tables
Rattan lounge chair
Mustard cushion
Cotton embroidered cushion
Cactus print
Black salt and pepper hide
Grey foot stool
Grey tundra marble tray
Glass vase
Green print cushion
Rattan coffee table
Seagrass hanging planter
Rattan armchair
Wooden and rattan bar stool
Rattan bar stool
Black rattan pendant
Tall pendant
Amalfi pendant
Rattan pendant
Luna pendant
Jute baskets
Rattan floor lamp
Dining chair
Wooden floor lamp
Black and white forest print
Bin
Wall organiser set
Ceramic stationery holder
Leather notebook
Metal file holder
Timber desk
Grey office chair
Timber and white desk
Wall art
Faux leather armchair
Print rug
Canvas artwork
Fabric dining chair
Sideboard
Table lamp
Thomas Edison chandelier
Fruit basket
Bean bag
Floor lamp
Palm print cushion
Banana leaf print
Black pendant light
Glass coffee table
Small jute rug
Black replica wishbone chair
Black pendant light
Pink velvet stool
Ceramic vase
Ottoman storage
White coffee table
Abstract wall art
Velvet dining chairs
Seagrass basket x3
Faux cactus
Bronze oyster ornament
Cockatoo canvas print
Leather loop hangers
Pear lamp
Iron pendant
Grey dining chairs
Ocean canvas
Leather teak bench
Rattan pendant
Indoor/outdoor cushion
Cat scratching house
Pastel Polypropylene rug
Stainless steel pet bowl
Wicker pet bed
Pet deodoriser
Luxe pet sofa
Indoor/outdoor rug
Cat dome
Leather cushion
Plush blanket
Sideboard
Striped outdoor cushion
Unicorn print
Neon cactus light
Seagrass wall hanging
Rainbow lorikeet print
Wooden bar stool
Rattan armchair
Palm print cushion
Tropical art print
Printed cushion
Bath sheet
Lounge chair and ottoman
White lamp
Faux plant
Arched mirror
Black office desk
Brass book ends
Yellow rainbow mug
Grey wall clock
Round outdoor cushion
Natural bamboo lantern
Sand outdoor rug
Brass lamp
Oak oval dining table
Diffuser
Pink sheepskin
Line artwork
Grey cushion
Grey rug
French linen sheets
Floor lamp
Charcoal sofa
Console table
Mulberry cushion
Wall art
Wooden lantern
Outdoor couch
Outdoor dining set
Festoon lights
Outdoor rug
Black bath tray
Bamboo bath tray
Desk lamp
Kids organiser
Pink velvet cushion
Elephant bookend
Seagrass basket
Orchid
Hand sculpture
Wooden stool
Decanter
Muddling spoon
Corkscrew
Cocktail shaker
Ice bucket
Champagne glasses
Billie bar cart
Personalised journal
Garden tools
Seagrass bowl
Velvet cushion
Colourful vessel
Floor lamp
Jute runner rug
Tassel cushion
Dining chair
Day bed
Hanging chair
Umbrella
Bookcase
Textured towels
Coastal artwork
Bean bag
Beaded lamp
Porcelain compost bin
Rattan sofa
Vintage-look rug
Natural round mirror
Pink pot
Basket planter
Terracotta pot
Tray
Cereal dispenser
Fringed cushion
Leather ottoman
Palm tree print
Bookcase
Dino print
White sheepskin
Bamboo pot stand
Self-watering rail planter
Watering can
Basket
Fluffy stool
Gold sidetable
Bar stool
2 piece artwork
Fire pit
Woven bench
Garden cart
Garden shed
Dining chairs
Distressed pink pot
Pot and plant stand
Ride-on car
Shelf
Linen quilt
Moses basket
Eucalyptus cushion
Koala print
Rocking chair
Boho rug
China creamer
Planter stand
Seagrass plant stands
Modular lounge
Blue peony ginger jar
Buffet
Outdoor cushion
Glass vase
Two set white pots
Garden mirror
Outdoor cushion
Outdoor table
Print cushion
Dining chair
Steel candle holder
Luxe sheepskin
Wooden police car
2 piece gardening tools
Garden spotlight
Linen gardening gloves
Styled by Adam Powell and photographed by Denise Braki
“It’s important to think about your focal point in the space — the thing that draws your eye and please don’t make it your TV!” laughs Jess.
“Having a focal point such as beautiful artwork in highlighted colours or an armchair in a gorgeous print, can break the monotonony of a room, especially if you get into the trap of a beige-out.”
Styled by Jessica Bellef and photographed by Denise Braki
“Once you play around with those basics you can get more adventurous and add to your space over time — balance is key.”
Thanks so much Jess for sharing all these great styling basics and tricks to create a winning interior. We certainly learnt a few new things and hope you did too! Do you have any other questions or what’s your take away from Jess’s advice?
Disclaimer: this article was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated with new information and images. It contains some affiliate links. This means, if you purchase an item we may receive a small commission on the sale of that product at no extra cost to you.
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