How to Style a Beautiful Home That Reflects You
By Kate Masters, Interior Designer at Thomas Hamel & Associates
From colour palettes to texture, proportion to personality, styling your home is about creating a space that feels just right. Whether you're renovating or refreshing a room, here are expert tips to help transform your space, using everything from bold colour choices to sensory elements like scent.
1. Use Colour to Set the Mood
Colour is one of the most powerful and cost-effective styling tools.
Before choosing paint swatches or soft furnishings, ask yourself: how do you want the space to feel? Energising and bold? Calm and restorative? Your answer will guide your palette.
For bold, high-impact interiors, try:
- High contrast tones like black and white
- Rich, dramatic shades like oxblood red or midnight blue
- Statement walls in living areas, kitchens, or dining rooms
For calm, relaxing spaces, lean into:
- Low-contrast or monochromatic palettes
- Earthy tones and soft neutrals
- Bedrooms and bathrooms that invite rest and retreat
A great way to begin is with artwork. Pieces you love often reflect your style and preferred colours, making them a strong foundation for the rest of your scheme.
Start with smaller accents like cushions, throws, and even tea light candles to introduce colour. And keep in mind: paint colours look darker indoors, especially in rooms with less natural light. South-facing rooms can handle deeper hues; north-facing rooms may benefit from brighter tones.
2. Add Depth Through Texture
A well-designed interior appeals to all the senses, not just sight. Layering different textures creates warmth, interest, and personality.
For coastal or casual looks: Think seagrass, rattan, and sisal.
For city sophistication: Use velvet, shagreen, or polished metals.
For rustic charm: Choose raw timber, handmade ceramics, and unpolished stone.
Rotate materials with the seasons. Woollen throws and faux fur are ideal for winter, while linen slipcovers and bamboo fabrics are perfect for warmer months.
While synthetic fabrics like polyester have their benefits (they’re fade and stain-resistant), natural fibres such as cotton, hemp, linen, and bamboo are breathable and better for both skin and sustainability. Just like a natural wax candle, they offer long-term comfort and eco-friendly appeal.
3. Scale and Proportion Matter
Getting the proportions right makes a space feel intentional and harmonious.
Rugs should anchor your furniture — ideally with all legs of the furniture resting on the rug. If a rug is too small, the room can feel disjointed.
High ceilings? Embrace the vertical space with tall lamps, vertical artwork, or panoramic wallpaper.
Low ceilings? Choose flush-mounted or track lighting to avoid cluttering overhead space. Lighter ceiling colours can also make a room feel more open.
Small rooms? Prioritise flow. Choose furniture with legs to create visual space, avoid bulky arms on chairs, and look for flexible pieces that can move easily when needed.
And finally, layer in scent to elevate your space. A Clare Makes candle adds atmosphere and ties together the mood you’ve styled — whether that’s a fresh eucalyptus blend in the bathroom or a grounding woody scent in the living room.
About the Author
Kate Masters is an Interior Designer at Thomas Hamel & Associates. She was awarded the DIA Australian Graduate of the Year in 2023 and won Gold at the International Design Awards the same year. Known for her thoughtful and refined interiors, Kate brings a strong sense of proportion, materials knowledge, and spatial intuition to every project.
Kate previously shared her journey into interior design and her career change in this post: Kate Masters on Interior Design & Making a Career Change