How to Style with Pattern & Colour

The transformative power of styling

with GABBY DEEMING — Interiors stylist, former Creative Director of Decoration for House & Garden, founder of Daydress.

Lesson 2 of 24

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Learn the importance of styling and its power to change how a space feels. Gabby reveals her tips and tricks for using interior styling to create the perfect mood.

From the Lesson Workbook

The Transformative Power of Styling

Despite my appreciation for a minimalist interior, I am a collector of things. I'm constantly falling in love with things, from book covers to a small mirror. We don't always keep track of what we accumulate. The small treasures you amass can be just as valuable to you as sculptures and beautiful artwork. It could be the small details that you enjoy looking at.

The Beauty of Things

"You can't underestimate how different the way things are arranged in your house can make you feel. Some people think of styling as frivolous, but we all know the feeling of 'happy room' versus 'sad room'. Styling has the power to make your space a comfortable and beautiful place that tells the story of who you are."

I'm a huge fan of pattern and colour. Pinks, reds, and blues look great together, especially when they're brightly coloured and stacked together. Be open about the simple pleasures that you enjoy. You must be truthful about who you are and how you live.

Creating Special Moments

Styling can be used to emphasise an occasion, such as a simple dinner, made that bit more special by how the table is laid. Even people who aren't particularly interested in styling will notice how they feel when they walk into your home, and how comfortable they are in a room.

Styling Can Tell the Story of Our Lives

Styling is about having a surface, looking at the objects on that surface, and finding pleasure through the shapes they create and the colours they bring. Styling tells the story of our daily lives in our homes. Our homes and the way we style them are constantly changing, whereas decorating is more permanent. When it comes to styling, there are no hard and fast rules.

Christmas Styling

Christmas styling encompasses a wide range of elements, from foliage to decorations, trees, and candles. These minor changes can completely alter the atmosphere of your home.

Having an Impact in a Rented Home

Styling can bring a lot to a rental. The collection of things is what really brings character. Homes need lots of surfaces for you to put things on.

Styling a rented home isn't about built-in joinery, but rather about more affordable fixes. Consider how things are arranged in your home. It's extraordinary the impact an arrangement can have on our behaviour within a space. Even having a place to set down your drink is important.

The importance of living comfortably and surrounding yourself with things you enjoy is paramount, and style isn't fixed. Styling is a method of claiming ownership of your space. Styling is all about taking your time to look at things and figuring out how you can make the most of them.

Your Furniture Layout is an Essential Part of Styling

As adults, we don't rearrange our spaces enough. Try different combinations within your space; move things around. Moving pictures around is always fun; hanging a picture in a different spot can be refreshing.

Styling is about learning to love what you already have and seeing your interior in a new light. Styling allows you to see your objects and the things you live with in new ways.

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Rated 4.7/5 on Trustpilot

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Very good tutorial from a professional garden...

I have subscribed to access all the courses so have watched one on interior design and this one with Butter Wakefield who specialises in small garden design. She ...

Louise Brown

Apr 10, 2026

Time spent well

I love CreateAcademy. I came in for the gardening and floristry courses, but am also watching an interior design one at present. And the photography course is an ...

Wellesley

Apr 1, 2026

What a great investment

What a great investment, I have learned such a lot from the first three courses. My evenings have gone from not being able to find anything that captured my imagi...

sojojo

Mar 30, 2026

I loved this course with Amanda\u2026

I loved this course with Amanda Lindroth! Her approach to decorating is so relaxed and she makes it feel attainable. She explains the reasons behind her decisions...

Elizabeth

Mar 27, 2026

Gabby Deeming

Your Instructor

Gabby Deeming

Interiors stylist, former Creative Director of Decoration for House & Garden, founder of Daydress.

One of the UK’s leading figures on all things interiors, Gabby Deeming has spent the past 15 years pulling together beautiful schemes as Creative Director of Decoration at House & Garden. Her route into styling began in her early 20s, when Gabby fell in love with textiles, print and colour after being exposed to fresh and exciting interiors during a year living abroad in France. Gabby started her career at House & Garden shortly after, honing her personal taste and quickly becoming known as a driving force within the magazine for bringing high-end interior design to a wider audience, championing practical, achievable and beautiful styling. In 2017, after taking a short sabbatical in India, Gabby followed her passion for patterned textiles to launch Daydress - an ethically-minded fashion line celebrating block printed fabrics.

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