Sandra van Aalst wearing a cream top and pink trousers by white shelving with glass vases and concrete pots with plants, a candle stick and painting — *Welcome to the* **BLOG**

***Hi, I’m Sandra,***
If you're in awe of stunning interiors and crazy about home decor, you’re in the right place. As an interior writer with a background in styling and photography for leading magazines around the globe, as well as an avid home renovator, I am here to help all you interior enthusiasts to style and decorate your home with ease and confidence, like a pro.

On this blog, I’ll be sharing insightful articles packed with advice, tips, and ideas for home styling and decoration, along with inspiring tours of beautifully styled spaces. Having styled countless homes with very different interiors, I know it’s the final touches and thoughtful curating that make a space magazine-worthy, regardless of whether it’s an architectural masterpiece or filled with high-end furniture. And, rather than focus on one particular interior look or style, I aim to open your eyes to a wide variety so you feel inspired, not limited. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level. In this article, I will be giving you ideas of places to find interior inspiration.

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Interior inspiration a cram curved sofa infront of a white fireplace and a rustic wooden coffee table with a lamp and white vase with blossom in it — INTERIOR AND **HOME DECOR** INSPIRATION TO SPARK YOUR **CREATIVITY**

Photo: Katie Fischer Interiors

There are countless places to find interior inspiration and spark new ideas - from the galleries of stylish hotels to interior blogs, and even the colours and textures in your wardrobe. In this article, I explore various sources of inspiration that have shaped my own schemes. I kick off with inspiration from the image here from Katie Fischer Interiors, where I am drawn to the sofa’s silhouette and the way this contemporary shape is paired with the rustic wooden coffee table and modern shaped vessels on the mantle. Online home stores and Pinterest are brimming with gorgeous visuals, but there’s the less obvious places, too. Lighting, paint, wallpaper, fabric, and bedding brands may not initially spring to mind, but their websites are also hugely inspiring. Of course, interior magazines and books remain as the go-to resources, but you don’t have to order every single book out there or subscribe to all the interior magazines. You can view sample pages of interior books and sign up for newsletters from magazines such as Elle Decoration and House Beautiful. For hotel inspiration, there’s no need to check in; simply browse the online galleries of stylish hotels, such as Soho House, for a wealth of ideas. Interior home stores, like Zara Home and Crate & Barrel, are great to scroll through for instant inspiration, with lifestyle pages which will give you ideas on how to pull a whole look together. So here are several sources that will inspire you without leaving your home. I have also included websites of hotels, home stores, and other brands for you to explore. These are my own independent choices, and I am not affiliated with any of these companies.

Interior Inspiration from Hotels with vast off white linen pendant lights, natural wood coffee tables, and on trend curved chairs all in the lobby of the 1 Hotel Miami South Beach — ***STYLISH HOTELS***

The fashionable hotels, like 1 Hotel South Beach, pictured here, are beautifully designed and curated. You can steal ideas for your own interior spaces by browsing their galleries.
Photo: Sandra van Aalst

Hotels have been one of my key interior influences. Visiting 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami, pictured above, prompted a complete rethink of my living room, while various Soho Houses have been a constant source of inspiration. Chic hotels do more than provide a place to stay - they create an experience through stylish, considered design. From the Four Seasons, which exudes luxury and elegant design, to what I call the more fashionable hotels like Hotel Corazon, the 1 Hotels, and the Soho House hotels, each with a distinct, defined look, all pay meticulous attention to every detail of their interiors. You don't have to stay overnight to gain inspiration - you can pop by for a drink and have a wander around the communal areas, or take a virtual tour of their galleries. During the process of designing and building my own home, I visited several stylish hotels and collated ideas for my interiors. The key hotel style and design takeaways are a statement piece, such as a pendant light or a vintage rug, luxurious soft furnishings, as well as upholstered fabric headboards, often in extra-wide designs, with light fixtures incorporated. Styling-wise, fashionable hotels often feature decorative cushions, accent chairs, table lamps with elegant shades, sculptural vases and vessels, high-quality bed linen, elegant bedspreads and throws, retro radios, books, and magazines.

MY PICK OF THE CHOICE OF STYLISH HOTELS

Soho Farmhouse, The Cotswolds, UK - www.sohohouse.com/houses/soho-farmhouse

Hotel Corazon, Mallorca - www.hotelcorazon.com

The 1 hotel Miami South Beach- www.1hotels.com

Pikes, Ibiza - www.pikesibiza.com

One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos, Mexico - www.oneandonlyresorts.com

The Bulgari Hotel Milan, Italy - www.bulgarihotels.com

Areias do Seixo, Portugal - www.areiasdoseixo.com

The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland - www.thechediandermatt.com

The Conservatorium, Amsterdam - www.conservatoriumhotel.com

Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia - www.southernoceanlodge.com.au

The Jumeirah Capri Palace, Italy -www.jumeirah.com/en/stay/italy/capri-palace-jumeirah

Ellerman House, Cape town, South Africa - www.ellerman.co.za

The Beekman, New York - www.thebeekman.com

Eden Rock, St Barth - www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/eden-rock-st-barths

Ett Hem Sweden - www.etthem.se

Interior inspiration- a room with wall paper in a repeat flower pattern with a framed picture and light on the wall and a sofa with cushions in simular patterns — ***WALL COVERING AND FABRIC COMPANIES***

There are simply dozens of wall covering and fabric companies with inspirational designs, prints and room sets on their websites.
Photo: Sandra van Aalst at MindTheGap showroom at The Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour

Wall covering and fabric companies might not be the first place that we think of for inspiration, yet as going bold with pattern is on-trend, these companies, such as MindTheGap, pictured here, are a brilliant place for ideas on using pattern on your walls, furniture, and soft furnishings, such as cushions, throws, curtains, as well as rugs and upholstery. In fact, wall coverings have become so advanced that some now serve as an alternative to tiles in the shower or a kitchen splash back! Even if wallpaper isn’t your thing, it’s still worth exploring websites, as some, like MindTheGap and Designers Guild, also have furniture and stylish room designs. If you click on this section, you will see images of rooms with wallpaper or fabrics. Others, like Zoffany, have dedicated inspiration sections, while brands such as Cole & Son have blogs for further ideas. Arte wall coverings have an inspiration section with a project gallery spanning from luxury hotels to private homes, while Colefax and Fowler have a video section for a more real-life view. Check out my blog on the key takeaways from Focus/25 on Design, where I spent four days immersed in prints almost everywhere.

A HANDFUL OF WALLCOVERING AND FABRIC COMPANIES

Mind the gap - www.mindtheg.com

Romo www.romo.com

Zoffany - https://zoffany.sandersondesigngroup.com/

Cole & Son _ www. cole-and-son.com

Designers Guild - www.designersguild.com

Colefax and Fowler www.colefax.com

Osborne and Little - www.osborneandlittle.com

Interior Inspiration with celebrity model wearing a beautiful backless green dress on an emerald green chaise lounge with a geometric green toned rug in front. — ***YOUR WARDROBE AND WHAT YOU WEAR***

What you wear can influence the decisions you make when styling and decorating your interior. Putting together outfits with colours, prints, and fabrics follows the same principle as pulling together an interior scheme. Pictured here is celebrity model Lisa Butcher dressed in one of her favourite colours and surrounded by interiors in similar hues. When I took the photographs for *City Life* magazine, Lisa had just finished decorating her bedroom in a blend of rich, bold greens.
Photo: Sandra van Aalst - Lisa Butcher in her bedroom featured in City Life

If I take a look in my wardrobe, I can see how the colours, textures, and fabrics influence my interior choices. I have white in sheer fabric and linens, as well as pinks and deep greens, and I recently bought a terracotta-toned suit that led to me changing my living room scheme from aqua to terracotta and even my brand colours! So take a look in your wardrobe at the colours, prints, shapes, and styles you wear, as these items are a reflection of your individual style and may well influence your interior choices. Understanding your choice of clothing can help you make more intentional choices when it comes to adding soft furnishings, furniture, and home decor. A good starting point is to think about whether you like vibrant colours, neutral shades, florals, pastels, bold prints, or single tones. Think of the fabrics, too. Do you wear creased linens, textured knits, luxurious silks, or do you prefer plain, pristine cottons? Next, look at the colour palette in your wardrobe. If you wear vibrants, consider incorporating pops of bold hues into your interior via your accent pieces such as cushions, throws, and home decor items such as vases and vessels. If you prefer neutrals - creams, beiges, and greys - focus on combining different textures to create depth and interest. Aside from the fabric and colour, now think about the style of clothing. Would you opt for contemporary styles, vintage pieces, or a mixture of both? All these elements may well give you a clue as to how your dress sense can translate into your personal interior style. I favour blush pink, and in the summer I wear blush pink dresses, linens, and knits, often teamed with denim or a grey jacket and trousers. So it was no surprise that I dressed my bed with a blush pink washed linen duvet cover combined with grey linen curtains and cushions, as well as a grey Moroccan throw I’d bought in Marrakech. To carry the shade through from the bedlinen, I also have blush pink vessels on the shelf.

SOME OF THE FASHION DESIGNERS AND STORES THAT HAVE HOME RANGES

Anthropologie www.anthropologie.com

Mathew Williamson - www.matthewwilliamson.com

Henry Holland Studio - www.henryhollandstudio.com

Ralph Lauren - www.ralphlauren.com

Paul Smith - www.paulsmith.com

Louis Vutton - www.louisvuitton.com

Colour is a crucial part of interior design and styling, whether you have a whole room painted in a colour or just a couple of colourful cushions. I find that the paint companies have some of the most stylish images, as they can’t demonstrate their various colours on a wall in a bare room, as it’s the furniture and decor that bring the paint colour to life. Most are styled beautifully by interior stylists, like in the image above from Annie Sloan paint company. Looking through paint companies’ websites may also inspire you to choose to repaint a wall or piece of furniture, or simply refresh a home decor object, such as a pot, dish, or candlestick that you can use to style a new vignette. I often paint a pot or frame in a shade that I want to carry through as an accent on a shelving display, for example. So for many reasons, it’s well worth a visit to the websites of paint companies.

A HANDFUL OF PAINT BRANDS

Annie Sloan www.anniesloan.com

Benjamin Moore www.benjaminmoore.com

Farrow and Ball www.farrow-ball.com

Earthborn www.earthbornpaints.co.uk

Little Green www.littlegreene.com

Sherwin williams www.sherwin-williams.com

Paint and Paper company www.paintandpaperlibrary.com

Interior Inspiration a woman crossing the road dressed stylishly holding a book — ***INTERIOR BOOKS***

Interior books make great styling props on coffee tables or shelves and are also a source of inspiration. Pictured here is Sarah Andrews, stylist, teacher and author of two interior books *The Poetry of Spaces* and *The Principles of Style*. and host of Captain’s Rest a Vogue pick featured in next week’s blog post.
Photo: Jessica Tremp

There are dozens of interior design books out there, and the hardback editions, although quite pricey, double as styling props which I use for styling on most surfaces in my home. There are so many inspirational interior books to purchase, but as much as we’d like to, most of us can’t own them all. To preview a few pages of a book without committing, to see if it’s the right source of inspiration for you, here’s a tip: go onto Amazon and read a sample, or pop into a book shop and flick through a book from cover to cover. You can also check out the author’s own website, as this will lead you to even more interior and styling tips, and you will have a clearer idea of what’s in the actual book and if the author’s interior style resonates with you before you buy it. One of my favourites is Curate by Lynda Gardener, an interior stylist. If you go onto Lynda’s website, you will not only find inspiration but also projects she has styled, so you will glean tips, too. I discovered more fantastic websites and blogs after buying books by Athena Calderone, Kate Watson-Smyth, and Syd and Shea McGee. If you want books for styling purposes, second-hand book stores and book sales online and in stores, are a great place to buy without having to pay the full cost. For styling tips and design inspiration, check out my pick of the best below.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE INTERIOR BOOKS

Eat Drink Nap by Soho House

Styled by Emily Henderson

Live beautiful by Athena Calderone

Mad about the house by Kate Watson-Smyth

Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee

Curate by Lynda Gardener

The Poetry of Spaces by Sarah Andrews

Decorate by Holly Becker

Rose Uniacke At Home by Rose Uniacke Interiors

The Home Style Handbook by Lucy Gough

Extraordinary Interiors by Rockett st George

Design Secrets by Kit Kemp

Masterclass by Abigail Ahern

Architectural Digest at 100 A Century of Style

Interior Inso with home decor and two large rattan pendant lights hanging above a wooden table covered in home decor and surrounded by natural and black rattan chairs. — ***ONLINE INTERIOR HOME STORES***

Home stores showcase their furniture, soft furnishings, and home decor on their websites by displaying them in complete room settings, where they put together a cohesive and styled scheme. For instance, in the image here, home store La Redoute is promoting their table, chairs, rug, and various decorative objects.
Photo: La Redoute

I often scroll through home store websites, not just looking for a specific item, but for general styling and decoration ideas. Online stores have moved beyond cut-out-style product photographs of a piece of furniture or decorative homeware, to full inspiration pages. Most now show images of the item styled in situ, which gives you an idea of how to style and decorate different areas of a room. Take a dining room table, for example; you will instantly get ideas on how to style a table with a runner, tray, vase, candles, and other home decor pieces. Plus, you will also be able to look at how the layout and furniture work together, such as where to place a rug beneath the table or bed, various chair combinations, and other creative styling ideas, like in the image here, from La Redoute. You can also search for more specific categories, such as bed linen, kitchen, and bathroom for room-by-room ideas. I love browsing in a real physical store. It was a visit to the London Soho Home store that sparked my idea for curved shelving. If you get a chance, pop by, as you will glean invaluable first-hand inspiration from how they display their home decor on shelves and in room settings, and how they pair different colours and textures. Look out for my forthcoming blog posts, which will dive deeper into specific categories to spark inspiration, starting with stylish vacation rentals.

MY FAVOURITE HOMESTORES FOR INTERIOR INSPIRATION

Anthropologie: www.anthropologie.com

Rockett St George: www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk

Crate & Barrel: www.crateandbarrel.com

There are dozens of ways to dress a bed - pillows flat, large Euro pillows upright, a couple or several decorative cushions, aka throw pillows, or none at all. A bedspread - one throw, two throws, or no throws. So, we all need some guidance to help us decide how we can dress and style our beds. Bed linen brands like Soak & Sleep show us beautifully dressed beds in different contexts with both plain and patterned palettes. The galleries make it easy to see how they style and layer with bed linen and soft furnishings and the mix of textures they use. Then there’s the bed companies, such as Savoir Beds, who offer aspirational images that spark ideas for bed frames and headboards. For more styling advice on beds, go to my Stylish Bedroom Ideas blog post.

BED AND BEDLINEN COMPANIES