Fashion and interiors have always gone hand in hand. The colours, textures and shapes we see on the runway often find their way into our homes, but I think the connection goes much deeper than trends.

Both fashion and interior styling are a way of expressing who we are.

Think about what you naturally reach for in your wardrobe. Maybe you love bold colour, beautiful prints and statement accessories. Perhaps you’re more comfortable in relaxed linen, classic tailoring and earthy neutrals. Without even realising it, you’ve probably developed a very distinct personal style and those same preferences can tell you a lot about how you want your home to look and feel. Your wardrobe might already know your interior style

When I’m helping clients define their interior style, one of the biggest challenges is often knowing where to start. We’re surrounded by so much inspiration that it can become overwhelming very quickly. Your wardrobe can actually be a surprisingly good place to look.

I experienced this with one of my clients. She is full of life – fun, confident and loud in the best possible way – yet the way she dresses is much more refined and classic. Think designer pieces, clean lines, beautiful minimal jewellery and statement handbags and shoes.
It gave me another insight into how her home should feel. Rather than assuming her vibrant personality meant everything needed to be bold, I could see that a foundation of modern classic furniture and clean lines was much more her. Where I encouraged her to have a little more fun was with colour, bringing more of that big personality into her home without losing the refined style she naturally gravitates towards.

And colour isn’t the only thing to look for in your wardrobe.
Look at the materials you’re drawn to and the accessories you choose. Do you love gold jewellery? Structured handbags? Vintage pieces? Interesting patterns? Soft, natural fabrics?

These little details can become clues for creating a home that feels personal rather than simply following the latest interior design trends.

FROM THE RUNWAY TO YOUR LIVING ROOM

Fashion is often where we first become comfortable with a new colour or trend.
You might start seeing burgundy everywhere, buy a top in that colour and suddenly realise how much you love it. Before long, you’re noticing burgundy cushions, artwork or fabrics for your home.

But this is where fashion and interiors need to take slightly different paths. A shirt can last a season. A sofa, dining table or beautiful rug will hopefully be part of your home for many years.I love looking at decorating trends for inspiration, but I don’t believe your home should be dictated by them. Take the elements you genuinely connect with and leave the rest.

TEXTURE CHANGES EVERYTHING

One of my favourite things about both fashion and interiors is layering texture. Think about getting dressed. You might start with your jeans and a knit top – your base layer. Then comes the leather belt, jacket, earrings, socks and shoes. Each layer adds something different, and by the time you’re finished, the whole outfit feels complete.

I think about rooms in much the same way. Take a bedroom. Your bed, bedside tables and rug are your base layer. Then you start building – lamps, bed linen, cushions, artwork and those final styling pieces. You don’t necessarily need lots of things. You need the right layers. Materials are a big part of this too. A linen sofa alongside a timber table, wool rug, aged brass, ceramics and a tactile occasional chair can make even a relatively simple colour palette feel warm and interesting.Texture creates depth without creating clutter.

EVERY ROOM NEEDS A STATEMENT PIECE

Most great outfits have a hero. It might be a fabulous jacket, an interesting shoe or a piece of jewellery that makes everything else feel intentional.

Rooms need these moments too. It could be a colourful piece of artwork, a sculptural chair, a patterned rug, beautiful lighting or even an unexpected paint colour. The trick is allowing that piece to have its moment. Not every item in a room needs to shout for attention. When everything is trying to be the hero, nothing really is and the room can quickly start to feel overwhelming. 

GOOD STYLE IS ABOUT THE MIX, NOT THE MATCHING

Some of the most interesting outfits combine pieces you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see together. Interiors are exactly the same. I love mixing chunky furniture with more delicate pieces, old with new, smooth finishes with tactile ones, and bold colour with quieter moments.
Your furniture doesn’t need to come from the same range, and your timbers don’t need to match perfectly. The goal is cohesion, not matching.

The most interesting homes, like the best outfits, feel as though they’ve been collected over time. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t been considered. There can still be a clear plan behind the colours, furniture, materials and pieces you bring into your home. That’s the difference between a room simply being filled and a room feeling intentionally put together.

TRENDS CHANGE, PERSONAL STYLE LASTS

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving a trend. Trends introduce us to new colours, materials and ideas, and they can push us towards choices we might not have considered before. But they should be inspiration, not a rulebook.

Whether I’m working on interior styling in Brisbane or simply sharing pieces I’ve discovered and loved, I always come back to the same question: does this feel like the person who lives here? Because ultimately, your home should tell your story. 

Take inspiration from fashion. Experiment with colour. Mix beautiful materials. Invest in pieces you genuinely love. And don’t worry if your choices don’t look exactly like everybody else’s. Because you’re not everybody else. And that’s rather the point. Your home should feel unmistakably yours.