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How I Finally Created a Home I Love with Life Styled Co: My Honest 2026 Review

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Quick Summary

Okay okay okay, I just had a breakthrough with life styled co. If you’ve been following my journey from a stressed-out corporate drone in a cubicle to a nutritionist living in Santa Monica, you know I’ve been obsessed with how our environment affects our nervous system.

For the longest time, my apartment felt like a collection of “temporary” furniture that I never actually liked. It was contributing to my lingering sense of unrest.

Last Tuesday, while sipping a lukewarm matcha and staring at my mismatched dining chairs, I realized I was done with the “placeholder” life. I needed a space that felt like a hug.

That’s when I took a deep dive into the world of Kristen Forgione and her team. I actually flew out to their Gilbert, Arizona shop back in November just to see if the “Organic Desert Living” vibe was real or just great lighting on Instagram.

Spoiler
It’s very real

, and it’s changed how I think about my home.

What Exactly is Life Styled Co?

If you haven’t fallen down this rabbit hole yet, Life Styled Co is a multi-faceted design powerhouse. At its core, it’s an interior design firm, but they’ve expanded into a massive retail presence and a “design-off” education platform.

Think of it as the perfect marriage between modern minimalism and earthy textures. It’s not just about white walls; it’s about the wood grain on a bench, the nubby texture of a linen pillow, and the way a vintage oversized pot looks against a clean-lined sofa.

When I first saw their work on Well+Good, I thought it was only for people with $10 million mansions in Scottsdale. But after spending $450 on a few key pieces last month, I realized the “look” is more about a philosophy than just a price tag.

In 2026, we are seeing a massive shift away from “disposable” decor. People want pieces that tell a story.

This brand taps into that perfectly. They focus on “the mix”—combining new, clean items with found, vintage-feeling treasures.

It’s a way to make a new build feel like it has a soul, or in my case, make a 700-square-foot Santa Monica rental feel like a sanctuary.

My Journey from “Burnout Beige” to Organic Desert Living

1
2024

and saying, “Emma, this place feels like a doctor’s waiting room.” Ouch. But she was right.

2
2026

guide/” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>minimalist living to kill my burnout

The Arizona Trip That Changed Everything

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I decided to see Life Styled Co in person. I walked into their shop in Gilbert on a Tuesday morning. The smell alone – something like sandalwood and dried sage – immediately lowered my heart rate. I saw their “Douglas” chair in person (it’s $1,200, so I didn’t buy it then), and I touched the fabrics. They weren’t just pretty; they felt durable.

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I realized then that my “Healthy Lifestyle Lie” extended to my home. I was buying cheap, flat-packed furniture that broke after six months, thinking I was saving money.

In reality, I was just creating more stress for myself. I walked out of that shop with a single $68 candle and a $110 oversized textured tray, but I also left with a plan.

[COST_COMPARISON] Big Box Furniture

$300
, lasts 1 year | LSC Investment Piece $1

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I decided to see Life Styled Co in person.

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$300

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, lasts 1 year | LSC Investment Piece
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$1

The Three Pillars of the LSC Aesthetic

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You don’t have to hire their full design team to get the look. After stalking their blog and attending one of their “Design-Off” webinars in early 2025, I’ve boiled their magic down to three things you can do right now. Actually, I did these in my own living room over the last three months, and the vibe shift is wild.

1. Mastering “The Mix”

This is their secret sauce. It’s about contrast.

If you have a super modern, sleek leather sofa, you need to pair it with a very “crusty” (their word, not mine. ) vintage wooden coffee table.

If your walls are white and clean, your rug needs to have deep, organic texture. I tried this by placing a very sleek, black metal lamp next to a wonky, hand-thrown ceramic vase I found at a flea market for $15. It worked instantly.

2. Tone-on-Tone Texture

Most people think “colorful” means “interesting. ” LSC proves that a room can be all shades of cream, tan, and brown and still be breathtaking.

The trick is using different materials. I’m talking velvet pillows next to linen curtains next to a wool throw.

In my Santa Monica place, I swapped my polyester pillows for three Life Styled Co linen covers ($85 each). My cat, Mochi, loves them, and they don’t hold onto pet hair like the cheap ones did.

3. Scale and Proportion

This is where I failed for years. I used to buy tiny rugs because they were cheaper.

Life Styled Co taught me that a small rug makes a room look cluttered and cheap. I finally saved up for an 8x10 jute rug ($550) that actually fits under all my furniture legs.

It made the room feel twice as big. Really. Just like that.

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💡 Pro Tip Always go bigger with your rug than you think you need. If the front legs of your furniture aren’t sitting on the rug, it’s too small!

Is Life Styled Co Actually Worth the Price Tag?

Let’s get real for a second. This isn’t Target.

The prices at The Shop by LSC can be a bit of a gut punch if you’re used to IKEA. I remember showing Sarah a $250 wooden chain link decor piece, and she nearly choked on her sparkling water.

“For a chain? Made of wood? ” she asked.

that said,, I’ve learned the hard way that you get what you pay for. I once spent $2,000 on a “trendy” velvet sofa from a fast-furniture site that started sagging within four months.

It was a total disaster. When I look at the quality of LSC pieces – the solid woods, the heavy brass, the hand-woven textiles–the “cost per use” actually makes sense.

You can read more about my thoughts on this in my guide on
//www. nourishedlivingtoday.

com/2026/02/11/is-life-style-furniture-actually-worth-it-my-2026-guide-to-buying-pieces-that-dont-break-your-back/” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>whether Life Style furniture is actually worth it .

Feature Life Styled Co Standard Retail
Material Solid wood/Natural fibers MDF/Polyester
Design Unique/Custom feel Mass-produced
Longevity Decades 1-3 years
Vibe Organic/High-end Generic

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The Downside
The lead times can be brutal. I ordered a specific side table back in October

How to Shop Life Styled Co on a Budget

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You don’t need a $50,000 renovation budget to use their principles.

I certainly didn’t have one. After my
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p=1971″ rel=”noopener noreferrer”>money saving journey where I tucked away $12

,000 , I decided to spend a small portion of that on “high-impact” items. Here is how I suggest you approach it.

  • Start with the “smalls”
Their styling beads
, candles, and trays are the easiest way to get the vibe. I bought the “LSC Signature” candle for $38, and it makes my whole living room feel like a spa.
  • Invest in “The Mix”
  • Buy one high-quality
    , oversized item – like a large piece of art or a statement floor lamp – and then thrift the rest.
  • Use their “Design-Off” videos
  • They have so much free content on YouTube and Instagram. I spent three hours one Sunday morning just taking notes on how they style bookshelves. It cost me $0 and made my existing books look 100% better.

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    Their styling beads

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    Buy one high-quality

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    They have so much free content on YouTube and Instagram. I spent three hours one Sunday morning just taking notes on how they style bookshelves. It cost me $0 and made my existing books look 100% better.

    The Connection Between Home and Health

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    As a nutritionist, I talk a lot about the “gut-brain axis,” but I’ve started talking to my clients about the “home-brain axis” too. When your home is a chaotic mess of plastic and “fast” furniture, your brain never truly feels safe to rest.

    I noticed that once I started implementing the Life Styled Co look–bringing in natural wood, soft linens, and earthy tones—my evening cortisol levels actually dropped.

    I’m not saying a $400 vase will cure your burnout. That would be a lie.

    But I am saying that investing in your environment is a form of self-care that pays dividends in your mental health. I’ve seen it in my own life, and I see it in the lives of the women I coach here in Santa Monica.

    ⚠️ Warning

    Beware of “dupes” that use toxic glues and off-gassing materials. If a piece of furniture smells like a chemical factory when you open the box
    , it’s not doing your health any favors.

    Final Thoughts

    Just Start with One Corner

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    Start with one corner. Maybe it’s your entryway or your bedside table. Add a textured tray, a small green plant, and something vintage. That’s it. You’ll be surprised how much that one little pocket of “styled” space can lift your mood when you walk through the door after a long day.

    ✅ Key Takeaways

    • Life Styled Co is the pioneer of the Organic Desert Living aesthetic. – The look is achieved through “The Mix” of modern and vintage elements.
    • – Focus on texture over color for a sophisticated, calming environment. – Quality over quantity
    • one LSC piece is better than five “fast furniture” items.- Your home environment directly impacts your nervous system and stress levels.

    🔗 Affiliate Disclosure

    This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    I only recommend brands like Life Styled Co that I have personally used and loved in my own home.

    .

    Absolutely not! I live in a coastal apartment in Santa Monica, and the “Organic Desert” look fits perfectly. It’s more about the use of natural materials – wood, stone, linen – than it is about the actual geography. It works in a New York loft just as well as it does in an Arizona ranch.
    From what I’ve seen, they have core “staple” pieces that stay in stock, but they drop new seasonal collections 3-4 times a year. In 2025, their fall drop was legendary. I’d recommend signing up for their newsletter because the best stuff sells out within 48 hours. I missed out on a specific terracotta vase last September because I waited too long!
    Full-service design is definitely a premium investment. While I haven’t hired them for a full house (yet!), their project minimums usually start in the tens of thousands. However, their “Design-Off” and retail shop allow you to get the look for a few hundred or thousand dollars if you’re willing to do the legwork yourself.
    Ask yourself
    Does this piece look like it could have existed 50 years ago? Does it have a natural texture? If it’s made of shiny plastic or neon colors

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    Beware of “dupes” that use toxic glues and off-gassing materials. If a piece of furniture smells like a chemical factory when you open the box

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    , it’s not doing your health any favors.

    Key Takeaways

    • The Three Pillars of the LSC Aesthetic
    • Is Life Styled Co Actually Worth the Price Tag?
    • The Connection Between Home and Health

    Final Thoughts

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    Does this piece look like it could have existed 50 years ago? Does it have a natural texture? If it’s made of shiny plastic or neon colors

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