Styling 101

They (whoever they are) say that ‘style’ can’t be taught – well I beg to differ. Style can be taught if you are willing to learn, and today I was honored to teach the first ever workshop – Styling 101 – at The Institute of Colour and Design’s (ISCD) brand new Melbourne location.

The workshop was packed full of design tips, facts and basics. We talked furniture layout and styles, we talked colour texture and accessories. We created mood boards and stylish little vignettes that were posted on Instagram (#ISCDstyling101).

One thing I told my students today that was not in the lesson plan was that rules are meant to be broken – not what you would expect to hear from an educator I presume. Some of the students asked me about ‘rules’ for this or that – like how far apart do you hang art (it depends on how many pieces you are hanging, where they are being hung, how big they are and what shape they are), what are the rules for rugs under beds (see my blog post ‘Floor It’), my answer was the same across the board – once you know the rules feel free to break them.

Yes – there are rules in design and once you know them you will know when breaking them equates to creative ‘outside of the box’ thinking versus a design disaster. Having the education and the knowledge will give you the tools and confidence to know the difference. I encourage rebellious thinking and rebellious design, however what I encourage before you step out of the box is to understand the box first. The first step in styling a room is to understand the space. Know your box before you tear it down.

Education is fundamental, and yes – you can teach style (‘they’ were totally wrong). If you want a career in design implore you to learn about it. Keep on Pinning and reading the magazines and Instagraming your bedroom, but if you are really serious about turning your passion into a career, them sharpen your tools by educating yourself.

Not sure you want to commit? Well you can take workshops like mine to whet your whistle and if it does just that you can enroll in a flexible course. Check out this link to discover more. (http://info.iscd.edu.au/book-info-session/)

My students today came from varied backgrounds and careers. The only thing they had in common was a love of interiors, a desire to learn and the guts to take the first step. Hats off to anyone who is willing to follow their passion.

Above is a lovely little vignette created by some budding stylists in todays workshop.