As Styled By - Hayley Little

Nine renovations in, Hayley Little still gets excited about a room coming together. The creator behind Mum Little Loves has spent years showing her community that thoughtful styling, not a big budget, is what makes a home feel special. Her bedroom reflects just that: warm walnut, soft neutrals, and a few carefully chosen pieces that she knows she'll love for years. We spoke with her to find out how our Walnut Chloe Bedside Tables and French Bench earned their place in the room.

You’ve renovated nine homes and built a community around your love of interiors. Where did that passion come from, and what keeps you coming back for more?

I’ve always loved creating a home that feels warm, welcoming and lived in. Renovating started as a way to make each house work better for our family, but somewhere along the way it became something I genuinely love. There’s something so rewarding about seeing the potential in a space and bringing it to life.

What keeps me coming back is knowing you don’t need an unlimited budget to create a beautiful home. I love sharing ideas that inspire people to have a go themselves, whether it’s a full renovation or simply styling a room with a few thoughtful pieces.

You’re known for transforming spaces through DIY and thoughtful styling. What was it about the Walnut Chloe Bedside Tables that made them the right fit for your bedroom?

I was immediately drawn to the quality and timeless design. I tend to choose pieces that I’ll love for years rather than following short-lived trends, and the Walnut Chloe Bedside Tables fit that perfectly.

My bedroom has a calm, classic feel with warm neutral tones, and the rich walnut finish adds so much depth and warmth without overwhelming the space. They’re beautiful, functional and feel like they are pieces that will move with us through future homes as well.

The Walnut finish is such a deliberate choice. What drew you to it, and how does it sit within the broader colour palette and feel of your bedroom?

I love decorating with layers of natural texture and warmth, and walnut has always been one of my favourite finishes. It adds richness without feeling heavy and creates a beautiful contrast against lighter bedding, linen and soft fabrics.

The bedroom is designed to feel calm and relaxing, so the walnut helps ground the space while still keeping it bright and inviting. It’s classic, timeless and works beautifully with the style of our home.

As someone who loves a DIY project, how did you find the assembly process of the Rekindle pieces? Did it surprise you?

As someone who’s assembled more flat packs than I can count over the years, I can usually tell pretty quickly if something has been thoughtfully designed.

I was genuinely impressed by how straightforward the assembly was. Everything lined up perfectly, the instructions were easy to follow and, most importantly, the finished pieces felt incredibly solid. You can tell the focus has been on quality, which makes the extra effort of assembling them worthwhile.

Sometimes it’s the last piece you add to a room that ties everything together. Was the French Bench that piece for you, and how has it changed the way the bedroom feels?

Absolutely. The bench finished the room in a way I hadn’t realised it needed. I am just about to add some wall sconces and new cushions and the room will be complete. 

The bench creates a lovely visual balance at the end of the bed, but it’s also practical. It’s somewhere to sit while getting ready, somewhere to place cushions at night and another opportunity to style the room with a throw or cushion. It makes the bedroom feel complete and gives it that layered look that I love.

Quality over quantity is something you clearly believe in. What’s your advice for building a beautiful home on a budget, and how do solid, lasting pieces like these play into that?

My biggest piece of advice is to take your time. You don’t have to furnish an entire home overnight. Save for the pieces you’ll use every day and choose timeless designs that you’ll still love years from now.

I think it’s worth investing in well-made furniture that forms the foundation of your home, then mixing it with more affordable décor and styling pieces that can easily be updated over time. That’s how you create a home that feels personal, collected and inviting. 

Photography: Hayley Little

Featured as part of our 'As Styled By' series, celebrating the spaces touched by Rekindle Design Co. pieces.