Sometimes you look at an interior in a magazine and think, “I want the same thing, but it must be difficult and expensive.” The good news is that the stylists who create these perfect images have their own tricks. And many of them do not require large investments or renovations.
The secret is knowing what to pay attention to. It's not about buying the most fashionable designer items, but about how to arrange and combine what you already have. Small changes in the details can completely transform a space, making it cohesive and stylish, just like on the cover.
In this article, we will look at ten simple techniques that professionals use every day. You can apply them in your home today to give your rooms a new lease of life and make them look expensive and tasteful.
1. Leave empty space
Sometimes, cleaning up is half the battle when it comes to transforming an everyday setting into something elegant and photogenic. That's why, before starting to decorate, the stylist will remove everything unnecessary from the room. And be sure to leave some empty spaces in the room — this will help add air to the interior and make it more spacious.
Design: Nadia Zotova. Stylist: Daria Soboleva
Design: Nadia Zotova. Stylist: Daria Soboleva
2. Tell your story
A well-designed interior will reveal the customer's lifestyle in every detail. The stylist's task is to enhance the impression created by the designer, to reveal the customer's world so that it can be read from every frame.
For example, canvases on stretcher bars leaning against the wall and two or three books about contemporary artists, casually left on the coffee table, will help convey a passion for painting.
Design: Irina Orekhova. Stylist: Yulia Chebotar
Design: Irina Orekhova. Stylist: Yulia Chebotar
Sometimes, items and decor that reflect the interests of the interior's owners don't even need to be brought in by set designers: almost everything you need is already on site, lying in storage and waiting for its moment.
Design: Sarah Sherman. Stylist: Emily Henderson
Design: Sarah Sherman. Stylist: Emily Henderson
A good interior is not about big money, but about the right techniques. Stylists make homes look like something out of a magazine not because they invest millions, but because they know simple tricks: how to choose the right proportions for furniture, place accents, and play with textures and light. It's all in the details — the right composition, well-placed empty spaces, and things that are not just beautiful but tell a story. And the best part is that anyone can take these techniques and apply them in their own home.
3. Finding space for unusual solutions
Interior stylists always keep in mind places where they can rent unusual lamps, bold art objects, and controversial, even provocative paintings for photo shoots. Such unusual items often become the main characters of the setting, emphasizing its identity.
Design: Sakharov Design. Stylist Yulia Chebotar
Design: Sakharov Design. Stylist Yulia Chebotar
4. Build a composition
Experienced set designers can arrange decor and group furniture beautifully almost intuitively, but beginners are better off relying on basic schemes. Here are three main ones.
Circular or mixed composition.
In a group of several items of different sizes, the main item is the largest one, located in the background next to the secondary, slightly smaller items. All small items should be placed in the foreground.
Design: Daria Vasilkova. Stylist: Daria Soboleva
Design: Daria Vasilkova. Stylist: Daria Soboleva
Diagonal composition. Items are arranged diagonally, from large to small. To make the arrangement look lively, don't arrange the decor strictly by height: let there be small imperfections.
Design: Anastasia Kovalchuk. Stylist Daria Soboleva
Design: Anastasia Kovalchuk. Stylist: Daria Soboleva.
Central composition. The main items are those in the middle. Secondary items are arranged symmetrically around them.
A little trick from the pros: take photos of your finished arrangements on your phone from time to time. Quick snapshots help reveal flaws in the composition.
Design: Anton Korneev, Ekaterina Blokhina. Stylist: Ksenia Breivo
Design: Anton Korneev, Ekaterina Blokhina. Stylist: Ksenia Breivo
When experimenting with furniture and decor arrangements, an experienced stylist ensures that areas that are harmonious individually do not clash with each other, maintaining the integrity of the space.
Design: Haute Design London. Stylist: Colin King
Design: Haute Design London. Stylist: Colin King.
5. Keep the scale in mind
A small console table calls for a miniature vase, a large sofa calls for large pillows, and a narrow wall calls for a small vertical painting or, better yet, no painting at all. Props that are proportionate to the space are an important component of successful interior styling.
Stylist: Joanna Pilfolk for Kruunukaluste
Stylist: Joanna Pilfolk for Kruunukaluste
6. Hide the TV
Even if it is the focal point of the home, stylists try to make it as inconspicuous as possible in the space. Two ways to do this:
- place on a dark background.
- blend it in with paintings or decor.
Design: Anton Korneev, Ekaterina Blokhina. Stylist: Ksenia Breivo
Design: Anton Korneev, Ekaterina Blokhina. Stylist Ksenia Breivo
7. Include books in the setting
If there aren't any in the new interior yet, the set designer rents them from a specialized bookstore. But after the shoot, when the client sees the final result in the magazine, they will surely want to make up for lost time and build their own library: in addition to their direct purpose, books are a wonderful home decor with a wide range of uses.
Design: Irina Orekhova. Stylist: Yulia Chebotar
Design: Irina Orekhova. Stylist: Yulia Chebotar
8. Add flowers
You can experiment endlessly with floral arrangements: make bouquets from purchased flowers, select combinations of wildflowers and cut branches.
To create a striking decor, it is beneficial to use unexpected materials: for example, chestnut leaves, rowan branches with clusters of berries. Also, consider dried flowers: fluffy pampas grass is currently very popular among stylists. It is ideal for a fashionable interior design.
Design: Katya Vladimirova. Stylist: Yulia Chebotar
Design: Katya Vladimirova. Stylist: Yulia Chebotar
9. Use antiques and old things
They will instantly create a feeling of homeliness in a new interior.
Design: Valeria Romashko. Stylist: Elena Cherepanova
Design: Valeria Romashko. Stylist Elena Cherepanova
As you can see, creating an interior worthy of a glossy magazine is not magic that is only available to the select few. It is a combination of simple but very effective techniques that you can safely try at home.
There's no need to try to implement all your ideas at once. Start with one or two tips that resonate with you the most. Maybe it will be a new accent color or well-chosen lighting. Gradually, step by step, your space will begin to transform.
The main secret of stylists is attention to detail and the courage to follow your taste. Trust your feelings, experiment, and don't be afraid to make changes. After all, your home is a reflection of your personality, and it should bring you joy every day.
