So where does an interior decorator shop? I often meet clients who say that they’ve been furniture shopping or browsing at the brand names we know. Enter IKEA, Freedom, Harvey Norman, Plush… you get the drift.

But here’s a secret. There’s more furniture and homeware suppliers out there that interior decorators have access to that aren’t readily available to the public. And these suppliers don’t put pressure on you to buy that day or try to upsell you the whole bedroom suite (is that still a thing?)

I’ve recently worked on projects where my clients downsized from the family home to a smaller home. The kids had moved out and so the large family home with lawn and gardens wasn’t what they wanted or needed anymore. The former lure of the suburban quarter acre block was replaced with the convenience of a low maintenance property and nearby lattes.

I remember when I was a kid, my parents had indoor plants. In our rumpus room, there was a rather tall rubber plant in a wicker basket. There were also few maiden hair ferns scattered around the house, which despite looking lovely, didn’t last very long.

At the front door of my 1970’s family home, there was a huge monsteria plant (of course). It was so large that it started to bear fruit. These days it would be very sought after. But as a kid, I hated it. In fact, I pleaded with my parents to get rid of it. And after years of trying to tame it, it was removed.

Sometimes our homes don’t need a massive makeover or renovation. Sometimes all they need is well, some tweaking. Otherwise known as styling. Often it’s about using what you have and bringing in some items. ‘Shopping’ items that are already in your own home is a great way to start. Things such as moving furniture around, decluttering and bringing in some fresh pieces can really transform a room and a property. Whether styling is done to sell a property or done for keeps, it can really help transform the way the room looks and feels.