In need of inspiration for your next room makeover? We chatted with Brighton-based interior stylist Maxine Brady, who has over 20 years’ experience styling for magazines, TV, brands, events, and more.
Read on to find out how to transform your home in simple steps with the help of Maxine’s expert advice.
How do you style different rooms?
Credit: Maxine Brady
Start by asking yourself how you want your home to feel. Cosy? Bright? Fun? Relaxed? Once you have narrowed these down, you can start looking at colours, patterns, accessories and furniture that reflect these moods and feelings.
Try to think about your home as a whole space that flows from room to room, rather than a series of separate rooms. I think it’s always easier to style one room at a time until you are finished. Once you have one beautifully styled room, you’ll feel inspired to move on to the next one.
If you need practical help and advice on styling your home, check out social media. Interior blogs like mine, have a wealth of styling tips and tricks. Instagram and TikTok both have great styling reels where you can learn how to style your shelves, hide plug sockets stylishly or how to elevate your home on a budget. I love the idea of ‘shopping your home’ where you swap everything around from room to room to freshen things up.
What are your tips for adding personality to your home?
Credit: Maxine Brady
When it comes to the finishing touches, you can be playful with your accessories. Cushions, throws, vases and lighting are an easy way to add a pop of colour or refresh a space without breaking the bank.
For rooms, art is the best way to reflect your personality and taste. Rather than choosing art that matches the colours in your room, instead, opt for a piece that evokes a memory. Posters from exhibitions, vintage prints from junk shops, framed postcards or limited edition prints will all reflect your interior style giving it a cool edge. Lighting is another way to add cool vibes to your space. Statement pendant lights, wall lights and table lamps are a simple finishing touch that will have your space looking chic in no time.
What do you think are the key interiors trends for 2023?
Credit: Maxine Brady
I’ve just written a magazine feature on this! There are so many, but these are my top ones:
- Spa shower rooms – swap your bath for the ultimate showering experience
- Mushroom motifs – fungi are going to be appearing on cushions, ceramics and in art.
- Barbiecore – think pink and bubblegum colours mixed with 1980s accessories
The colours of 2023 are going to be warm and cosy, including rust, burnt orange, magenta, chocolate, and sage, with dark wooden furniture leading the way
Which Oak Furnitureland pieces would you like to style?
The Cosmo velvet armchair is a very timeless piece that has a mid-century modern feel to it. I’d love to see this in my living room in the soft green velvet for a more laid-back, relaxed look.
To upgrade a kitchen space, I think the Willow larder is a worthwhile investment piece. It’s a piece that you will take with you from home to home.
Boot rooms are so handy in busy family rooms but we may not have the space for a separate room. Instead, this handy St. Ives hallway unit with a built-in seat is perfect for an entranceway or utility room.
How do you best approach a renovation project?
Create a mood board of ideas for each room. Put paint colours, wallpapers, furniture, lighting and accessories on there. You can either make a physical mood board with samples or do a virtual one using Google or Pinterest.
Then I keep that moodboard on my phone so I always have my ideas when I’m out and about just in case I see something that I really want for my home. Then I can check if it will suit my style. It will stop you from making expensive mistakes and ensures that you will create a look you love.
Thanks to Maxine for sharing her expert advice. Find more inspiration on her blog at maxinebrady.com or follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
Head to our Instagram for real home inspiration from some of our customers, and browse the Oak Furnitureland website to find furniture for the whole home.
