Savvy styling is being smart with your choices and your spending to create a practical home that works for you.
In our family we have 2 adults, 4 children and a Labrador so our home needs be practical for a large family. We need to maximise the usable space available, and we need plenty of storage!
I like my home to look good. It helps me to relax and lifts my mood if I am in pleasant surroundings. But let’s face it, with 4 children and a Labrador, unless I want to be constantly cleaning and having super-strict house rules, there is no point going for an all white scheme with designer brands. Mess happens, mishaps happen, and as much as I ask them not to, turning my sofa into a den or having pillow fights with my scatter cushions happens!
This is where being savvy comes in. When I furnish a room I think about the items that will be most used. These are the items I invest in – they need to be hardwearing and good quality. I am careful about colour, fabric choices and style – I try to stay fairly neutral and classic with these items so they don’t date too easily.
Then there are items I’m not prepared to pay a lot for because I know that they will be used and abused! Scatter cushions for instance, I tend to buy from discounted stores such as TKMaxx or I buy funky fabric remnants on eBay and make my own.
I scour charity shops, vintage fairs and selling sites for more occasional furniture I can use or upcycle. Not only does this save money, it also gives our home personality and individuality.
So that’s savvy home styling in a nutshell. It’s not necessarily low budget but it’s high value for money. Built to last where it matters with good quality, neutral, classic pieces that are easy to update with accessories in more on-trend colours and patterns. Mixed with preloved, vintage items, which can be upcycled to suit your scheme, help to keep costs down, whilst also being more sustainable and providing that uniqueness that makes your home yours.
The Savvy Home Stylist 