Introduction
Some design advice comes from people who’ve only ever styled a set for a camera. Susie Coelho’s advice comes from more than 200 episodes of hands-on home and garden makeovers, two best-selling books, and a career built specifically around making styling feel doable for people who aren’t professional decorators.
If you’ve searched her name, you’re probably looking for one of two things: background on who she is, or usable tips you can actually apply at home. This post covers both — starting with her credentials, then moving into the styling principles she’s known for.
Who Is Susie Coelho?
Susie Coelho is a television personality, author, and entrepreneur who built her reputation on HGTV. She spent eight years with the network, hosting the outdoor design show Outer Spaces and, before that, the makeover series Surprise Gardener. Across her time on air, she appeared in more than 200 HGTV episodes — a body of work that’s rare for a single design host.
The New York Times once described her as an energetic, hands-on presence on screen, noting that her approach comes across as playful rather than polished-for-show. That distinction matters for anyone reading her tips: her advice is built for real homes, not staged ones.
Beyond television, Coelho is the author of two best-selling books on styling, including Susie Coelho’s Everyday Styling: Easy Tips for Home, Garden and Entertaining. She’s also appeared as a style expert on The View, NBC’s Today show, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Her Styling Philosophy
Most design experts specialize in one room type. Coelho built her career across four — home, garden, entertaining, and cooking — which is part of why her tips tend to work across an entire property rather than just one space.
The core of her approach is accessibility. She’s not selling a look that requires a full renovation budget. Her tips are built around small, repeatable adjustments: swapping accessories, rearranging what you already own, and using seasonal changes as a low-cost way to refresh a room.
Practical Home Styling Tips
Here are the principles most consistent with her published advice and on-air work.
Living Room and Everyday Spaces
- Group objects in odd numbers (three or five) rather than pairs — it reads as more natural and less staged.
- Vary height on shelves and tables. A flat row of same-sized objects looks unfinished; mixing tall and short pieces creates visual movement.
- Use one unexpected texture per room — a woven basket, a ceramic vase with rough glaze, a linen throw — to keep a space from feeling flat.
Outdoor and Garden Styling
- Treat your patio or backyard as an additional room, not an afterthought. Add rugs, cushions, and lighting the way you would indoors.
- Layer lighting outdoors with a mix of string lights, lanterns, and candles instead of relying on one overhead source.
- Keep planters at varying heights near seating areas to soften hard edges without blocking sightlines.
Entertaining and Table Styling
- Build a tablescape around one anchor color, then add two supporting tones — this keeps a table from looking chaotic even with a lot of items on it.
- Mix formal and casual pieces on the same table (a linen runner with everyday stoneware, for example) instead of matching everything.
- Fresh greenery, even a single stem per place setting, does more visual work than a large, expensive centerpiece.
Seasonal Decor Changes
- Rotate a small set of “anchor” seasonal items — a wreath, a table runner, a few accent pillows — rather than redecorating a whole room each season.
- Store off-season decor by room, not by holiday, so you’re not digging through mixed boxes every time the season changes.
- Use one seasonal scent (candle or diffuser) tied to a specific room so the change feels intentional rather than random.
Beyond Home Styling: Her Broader Work
Coelho’s design work sits inside a larger business. She founded Susie Coelho Enterprises in 1997, a lifestyle company spanning television, publishing, product licensing, and retail. In 2018, she launched The House of Sussex, a fashion brand that partners with street artists on wearable pieces — a signal that her design sense extends past interiors into fashion and product design more broadly.
Where to Learn More
- Her books, including Susie Coelho’s Everyday Styling, are available through major retailers.
- She’s active on Instagram under @susiecoelhoofficial, where she posts current projects and styling content.
- StyleSeekr, a platform she’s associated with, offers additional styling resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Susie Coelho known for? She’s known as an HGTV design host, best-selling author, and lifestyle entrepreneur who specializes in home, garden, and entertaining styling.
What TV shows did Susie Coelho host? She hosted Outer Spaces and Surprise Gardener on HGTV, appearing in more than 200 episodes across her time with the network.
Does Susie Coelho have books on home styling? Yes. Her best-selling titles include Susie Coelho’s Everyday Styling: Easy Tips for Home, Garden and Entertaining.
What makes her styling approach different? She designs across four categories — home, garden, entertaining, and cooking — and focuses on small, affordable changes rather than full renovations.
Final Thoughts
Coelho’s tips work because they’re built for repetition, not a one-time overhaul. Pick one section above — your entertaining table, your porch, your living room shelf — and apply two or three changes this week. That’s closer to how she actually built her career: one small, workable adjustment at a time.
