As the saying goes “you eat with your eyes”, so it stands to reason that the relatively new art of food styling is becoming such a popular way to promote and sell food, kitchenware and cookbooks.

And this is backed up by many a scientific study. “People’s perception (of food) is typically dominated by what their eyes see”, writes Charles Spence, Oxford professor of experimental psychology.

Colour, texture and lighting can all attribute to this, so sometimes you just need to know a few tricks for your food to look it’s most enticing, which is the primary goal for chefs and restaurateurs.

Statistically it’s hard to predict a financial return on the art of food styling, whether it be to sell cookbooks or restaurants, but studies have shown that the appearance of food and people’s enjoyment of it are so intrinsically linked that it would be foolish to deny the power of presentation.

Just don’t necessarily hope to eat it at the end of the process, hot lighting, time outside refrigeration and methods of making the food look right in the camera may result in a less that desirable dish, ready for the bin.

Linen is an inexpensive and effective way to set the tone.

Dark, moody lighting can be effectively used for still life photography.

Bright colours from fruit and vegetables will pop off a distressed white wooden surface.

We the following five tips to start your food photography journey.

1. Great Gear – As much as we love our iPhones, there is no better way to take great shots than with a DSLR camera and tripod. But you would be wasting your money if you don’t take the time to learn exactly what a professional camera can do. With a manual camera you can control light, depth of field and white balance that you usually cannot achieve using a point and shoot.

2. Scratch the surface – The secret to a lot of great food styling is in the surface. Wooden, concrete, stone and fabric surfaces can change the mood of your shot immediately. Props are crucial to add interest and help tell a story.

3. Smoke and mirrors – vasoline and hairspray can be used to shine up fruit, and toothpicks and cardboard to prop up a burger. Mashed potato and store bought frosting can be shaped into ice cream which doesn’t melt on set.

4. Buy or Bake? Is it worth slaving for hours to make that perfect lemon merangue tart when the pattisere down the road has one ready to shoot? Sometimes rubbery store bought waffles and pancakes will have a more perfect shape than you are likely to achieve in the kitchen.

5. Light it up – lighting plays an integral role in great food photography. From light and airy to dark and moody, the variety that can be achieved in your shots by changing the light is amazing. Try backlighting, diffusers and daylight verses artificial light.

Just visiting your local Big W, Officeworks or Harvey Norman will open your eyes to the many digital printing options. And if you know where to go to find great imagery, the options are endless.

If you are not a photographer, designer or illustrator, there are plenty of sources on the internet for free images – especially if you don’t plan to use them commercially. www.gratisography.com for photography and www.thegraphicsfairy.com for pre copyright vintage imagery, just to name a couple.

We recommend giving these a go –

• For the kitchen – Print a set of mugs using pages from your favourite books

• For the bedroom – Use an interesting image or pattern from an overseas holiday to create a woven throw rug for the end of the bed or chair.

• For the bathroom – Digitally printed patterned tiles can be used as a frieze or feature area. Use sheet music from a favourite song if you are musical.

• For outdoors – Plastic placemats can add colour and interest to an outdoor table. Use old family photos to capture memories.

• For Christmas – Digitally print ornaments for the Christmas tree using interesting patterns and textures from vintage sources.

It may sound difficult if you are not crafty, but it really is just a case of uploading your preferred file and the retail outlet will take care of the rest.

A quick, cheap and easy craft tutorial! Download your instruction sheet here

When styling my home, it may surprise you to hear that places like eBay and the Salvation Army are one of my first ports of call for artwork and decor. Sometimes the most interesting items can be found where you least expect it and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Vintage items are not a new trend and many blogs and websites give ideas on how they can be best used.

Helen Edwards, author of Recycled Interiors blog, which focuses on sustainable decorating says “I love the way a window frame, an old door, second hand chair, a piece of lace or fabric, a lamp, cushion or an upcycled piece of furniture can connect us to human history and reduce our footprint at the same time. The aim is to show you how to make mindful and ethical choices in your interior decorating and design, without compromising on style.”

We recommend using the following techniques to give an element of personality to your home via recycled and upcycled items:

• Vintage books – Old books are one of my favourite ways to decorate a bedside table or shelving system. Stack them in interesting ways using bookends or use the pages to line drawers or make wall hangings. However, always check the value of the book before pulling it apart.

• Restore furniture – If you are feeling thrifty, search eBay for used furniture. It can be brought back to life by a good restorer and a dash of wow can be added with designer upholstery fabric.

• Photos – too often our photography will never see the outside of a Facebook folder. Why not have some fun printing travel photos on canvas as a series or restore old family images to be framed.

• Wall hangings can be made from just about anything – old tea towels can be hung using dowel rods and mirrors can be decorated with mosaics from old tiles.

• Recycle fabrics to make cushions and purchase fabrics by the “fat quarter” (a quarter of a standard yard) to stretch over canvas from a discount or two dollar shop.

One of the best things about upcycling is that it really is a lot of fun and can add a point of difference to your home and office. And it’s a guilt free way to decorate.

We all know that music today is almost completely digital, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t some inventive uses for your old record, CD and tape stocks. And is there anything more visually wonderful than music cover art?

The great thing about the digital print process is that a camera phone or low cost flatbed scanner can take your old vinyl from gathering dust to being a statement homewares piece in no time, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that your precious collection gets damaged in the process.

Most craft projects using your music collection only require a limited amount of skill, but if you are savvy at image manipulation software such as Photoshop, it will allow you to be more creative. The other great news is that many of the projects can be low cost and end up being a great reflection of your individual personality – and what else mirrors your personality like your music collection?

Why not try the following projects to bring your music collection out of the dust.

• For the novice – take a scan of your favourite album cover and upload it to digital cushion printer at your local Big W or Harvey Norman.

• For the slightly creative – Flatten a series of cassette tape inserts to reveal the perforation and die cut holes. Frame and hang as a set.

• For the somewhat adventurous – Take an old vinyl you no longer want and insert a clock mechanism (these can be purchased on eBay or in craft stores) through the centre. Add hands and it’s ready to hang.

• For the serious music lover – Construct a simple cube using timber from your local hardware store. Glue digitally printed album covers to fit each face of the cube and cover with clear lacquer. Finish with a cushion on top.

• For the music aficionado – make a mosaic of your music collection in software such as photoshop, indesign or an alternative low cost page layout program to be digitally printed on wallpaper. This makes a serious feature wall for a recording studio or listening room.

There is no end to what can be achieved using old records, tapes and CDs to create decorative pieces for the home, as their idiosyncrasies are what makes them special. The only limit is your imagination.