In January 2023 I opened the StephieAnn shop and studio in Hove. It has been a great opportunity to get creative with DIY interior ideas. I soon realised how expensive fitting out the space would be and I was on a budget!

I’ve created a beautiful space recycling, upcycling and making as much as possible. Here’s some ideas:

1. Pressed Flower Frame Art

I love pressing flowers and use them regularly in my pressed flower gift wrap. I’ve enjoyed making art for the shop and this was a simple – and cheap – idea to decorate the shop walls.

I picked up a ‘gallery’ frame set from M&S and started collecting flowers. It’s good to get a mix of flowers and foliage to fill out your piece. All flowers I’ve used are from the garden but you can also press flowers from bouquets. I cut a white card backing to fit the frame and simply glued them down. First plan out your design before sticking. Tweezers help!

Spring flowers to press: Crucus, daisy, celandine, pansy, voila

Summer flowers to press: Forget me knots, eucalyptus leaves, mini fuschia, Rhododendron

Autumn flowers to press: Nestersion, oaks leaves, chamomile, acer leaves

Winter flowers to press: Winter clematis, Hydrangea

2. DIY wooden wall hangers

Deciding how to decorate the shop walls was the hardest. These really easy to make wall hangers display my scarves, bags and clothes perfectly. They’re also fab around the home in bedrooms when you’re short on space and need extra storage. Use to hang necklaces, scarves and hangers.

Find some wood! My parents have a lovely garden and I’m able to chop a few small branches easily. The ideal circumference is up to 1.5inches.
Whittle the wood. It’s important the wood is smooth to not snag any fabric. I use a stanley knife to take away the bark.
Sand any rough edges by hand. You can use a handheld sander to do the ends if needed.
You can either drill a hole through the middle or at either end depending on what you’d like to hang.
Get a spacer and screw. I’ve used white spacers and brass round screws to be in keeping with my styling.
Drill holes in the wall and screw in your wooden display hanger.

3. Dried Flowers & Test Tubes

I’m obsessed with dried flowers. They’re such an easy way to freshen up rooms with colour and creativity. I dry flowers from most bouquets by either hanging them upside down or drying them standing in a vase.

Top tips on drying flowers:

Don’t dry too many in one bunch. Dry flowers separately or in groups of 3-4 to avoid mould and moisture.
Before drying, cut the stem. Press the stem with your hand in between kitchen towels to remove as much water from the vase and moisture as possible.
Hanging in a dry place such as an airing cupboard helps!

StephieAnn shop and studio dried flowers test tubes

I bought these test tubes years ago from my show days. I love combing a mix of pampas grass, leaves, roses, poppy heads and gypsophila.

4. Sourcing Second Hand & Rubbing Wood Down

70% of everything in the shop is second hand, I look for wooden furnitue, giving pieces a new lease of life by sanding and rubbing down.

Get rid of that 80’s orange vanish glow and strip furniture down to it’s natural colour for a modern scandi feel.

Even old picture frames can be sanded for a rustic chic look.

5. Pinterest

Pinterest is such a fabulous source of inspiration. I’m constantly on there getting DIY ideas!

Check Out StephieAnn Pinterest For Gift Ideas >

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