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Interior Styling for Real Homes: Ideas, Advice & Inspiration

Handwritten style text that says 'Hi, I'm Sandra'.

I’m an interior writer, stylist, photographer for interior magazines and a Sunday Times best selling author, sharing ideas to help you style your home with confidence and ease. this blog is about interior styling for real homes.

If you love interiors and want your home to feel stylish, pulled together, yet still personal, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll be sharing styling advice to help you edit, layer, and finish your home with confidence, alongside articles on what’s happening in the interiors world — from design events and colour stories to features on interior gurus.

I also take you on tours of beautifully styled homes from around the world, offering inspiration and styling ideas to steal for your own space. Ultimately, I’ll show you how a little bit of styling can be transformational and take your home to a whole new level.

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SEASONAL STYLING Sandra van Aalst SEASONAL STYLING Sandra van Aalst

Styling with Spring Flowers - vase arrangements that look effortlessly chic

Bring the joy of spring indoors with effortlessly chic vase arrangements using both faux and real blooms. In this post I’m sharing my favourite styling tips—plus a real cross section of vases, from rustic terracotta and stone pots to vintage green-tinted glass and colourful statement pieces—to help you create a fresh, uplifting look in every room.

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HOME TOURS Sandra van Aalst HOME TOURS Sandra van Aalst

Vintage-Filled Small Home Tour: Styling with Reclaimed and Repurposed pieces.

Step inside The Little Gate House, a vintage-filled small home built in place of an old garage. Interior designer Helena Impett has transformed this compact space using reclaimed materials, preloved furniture, and beautifully repurposed pieces to create a home full of character, texture, and timeless style. Discover how to style a small space using vintage finds and thoughtful interior details.

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INTERIOR STYLING Sandra van Aalst INTERIOR STYLING Sandra van Aalst

Home Decor Essentials to Style Your Home and Make a Room Feel Finished

In the article I am going to look at actual interior home decor essentials that make a room look finished. It’s the details that add style, personality and tell a story. I’ll introduce you to the key home decor essentials that make a space instantly far more stylish including rugs, table lamps, mirrors, cushions, throws, plants, books, vessels and vases.

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INTERIOR STYLING Sandra van Aalst INTERIOR STYLING Sandra van Aalst

Shelf Styling Ideas: How to Decorate Different Types of Shelves

From floating shelves to vintage units and tiny picture ledges, shelves come in all shapes and styles—and when styled well, they can transform a space. In this post, I’m sharing some of my favourite shelving ideas, including how I’ve styled shelves in my own home and in homes I’ve photographed. Whether you're working with a kitchen nook, bathroom alcove, or living room wall, you'll find creative ways to decorate shelves that feel personal, practical, and effortlessly stylish.

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INTERIOR STYLING Sandra van Aalst INTERIOR STYLING Sandra van Aalst

Styling your Home with Blue Accents: Different Ways to Use this Timeless Hue

From pale powder blue to bold cobalt blue, it is one of the most versatile colours and remains a timeless hue. In this post, I’m sharing various ways to bring in blue, whether it’s adding drama with a bold accent wall or lighting up a corner with a ceramic blue lamp. I’ll take you through different ways to bring this classic colour into your home.

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HOME TOURS Sandra van Aalst HOME TOURS Sandra van Aalst

Stylish Home Tour: Inside the Vintage-Styled Captain’s Rest by Interior Stylist Sarah Andrews

In this stylish home tour, we step inside Captains Rest – the unique Tasmanian retreat styled by Sarah Andrews featured by Vogue as Tasmania’s best stay. From vintage finds to curated vignettes, discover how this former scientist turned stylist created a soulful, story-filled space that continues to inspire vintage style lovers worldwide.

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SEASONAL STYLING Sandra van Aalst SEASONAL STYLING Sandra van Aalst

Natural Festive Decorations by the Pros: How to Get the Look at Home

In this article, I go behind-the-scenes at Chewton Glen Hotel to see the florists in action decorating in both a natural foraged style and a more traditional look.‍ From the more classic festive palette of red and copper, to the wild foraged installations, read on to find out how you can create hotel festive styling in your own home.

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SEASONAL STYLING Sandra van Aalst SEASONAL STYLING Sandra van Aalst

FESTIVE MANTELPIECES - a mix of unusual ideas and inspiration to create your own Yuletide mantel masterpiece

Whether you have a classic stone hearth, a modern wood burner, or even just a faux surround, the mantelpiece is the perfect place to get creative with festive styling. In this article, I will show you my handpicked selection of festive mantelpieces, with advice on how to get the look, kicking off with a few elements you might want to use to create your own.

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