Betsy Illges is a home stylist and many of her works are inspired by a desire to make spaces flow organically as well as incorporating unexpected details that make the space feel unique.

By Marla Caligaris- Photography by S. Saxon

We’ve reached out to our expert, interior stylist and Georgia native Betsy Illges to uncover the latest home styling tips, from whom did she learn the art of floral arranging, and what are some classic or staple furniture pieces to get to make a room more enticing.

How did you get started styling rooms? I started rearranging my childhood bedroom when I was young and always had an interest in styling rooms. In my twenties, I started working at the Atlanta Gift Mart as a showroom manager and learned so much from fabulous designers like Jan Dutton from Paper White Linen. She taught me a great deal about putting together living spaces. From there I started my own business helping clients design their homes and container gardens.

I have an art collection that I need help placing. How do you go about deciding what goes where? The first step is to identify what the client’s favorite and most sentimental pieces are. Second is to pay attention to the color, dimension and scale of those pieces. If it is a large space, a gallery wall with different sizes of paintings or prints may be appropriate. Or the client may want a large mirror with prints and/or sconces on each side. Remember you don’t have to cover all of your walls. I think it is nice to have some relief.

A beautiful room is never complete without plants and/or fresh flowers. From whom did you learn the art of floral arranging? When I worked at the Atlanta Gift Mart, the owners of different lines in our showroom would fly in flowers from all over the country and arrange them. I learned so much from watching and helping talented floral designers like Nina Ramsay from Archipelago and others.

Built-in bookcases are difficult to arrange correctly without them looking cluttered. You seem to do it so effortlessly. What are some tips you can share on how to style them like a pro? The first step is to make sure all of the shelves are the same height to keep it uniform. Next I start with books, which are necessary on a bookshelf. I organize them by size and display the larger ones on the bottom and work my way up. After that I identify the client’s favorite items to add. A collection of plates always looks great if they are dispersed properly. I limit picture frames to a few and usually put them all on the lowest shelf and organized by color. Adding small collectibles like silver baby cups and porcelain is the final step. The key is to create symmetry and interest. And absolutely no fake plants!

How do you mix trends without them looking overdone or too busy? An easy way to incorporate trends is to update lamps or at least lamp shades. It makes a huge difference. End tables can also be a fun way to update your room. I love them with a metallic finish or bamboo. A porcelain garden stool can be great too!

What’s an easy trick to instantly spruce up a space? Decluttering can make all the difference in your space. I get started by taking a picture of the room and then look at the picture to see what can be removed. New pillows are always an easy refresh. Make sure you don’t do too many different sizes or buy ones that are too large. Also adding fresh greenery, plants and flowers to your room is always a great idea. Make sure you start with an updated container to drop a pretty plant in. Or an interesting vase to put flowers in. They don’t have to be perfect. You can find fresh flowers that are the same type and color and pile them in the vase together for a nice effect.

What are some classic or staple furniture pieces to get? A nice English chest is my favorite. I still love “brown” furniture! You also can’t go wrong with a nice sofa and chairs in neutral color. You can bring color in with a beautiful rug or pillows with decorative fabric. Nice lamps also make a huge difference. It is worth it to spend the money! A final option is a mirror. There are so many to choose from and they lighten the room. Many are well priced too.

BETSY ILLGES