Plate it Better: 5 Food Styling Hacks for Beginners
Sheeba de Souza sees food styling as a gentle act of care, an art that transforms even the simplest dishes into visual poetry, without the need for any fancy tools or complex techniques but just a mindful eye and a few thoughtful gestures.
I didn’t set out to style a salad that day.
It began quietly, in a sunlit corner of my kitchen, surrounded by vegetables that still carried the faint scent of soil and summer. Arugula with tender edges, corn fresh off the cob, cherry tomatoes still warm from the garden. I wasn’t cooking for anyone in particular — no dinner party, no shoot — just a pause in the middle of a busy week, and a feeling.
As I started arranging things, I found myself placing the basil leaves almost instinctively, letting their shape and movement guide the flow of the plate. It wasn’t planned; it just felt right. The burrata sat like a cloud, inviting contrast. I placed the tomatoes one by one, as if planting something. I wasn’t just making lunch; I was styling the moment.
Sometimes, that’s how it happens. You’re not trying to be clever. You’re just paying attention. Or maybe you were about to toss “leftovers,” and they turned into an artful creation.
That day, I didn’t just style a salad. I styled the present moment. Wild, imperfect, and alive. It reminded me that we don’t always need a reason to create — just a moment and a little light.
Good styling starts with good ingredients. Things that are already beautiful in their raw state — a slightly uneven tomato, a burst of burrata, a streak of olive oil. These don’t need arranging so much as they need noticing. Begin with what’s fresh and let your hands do the arranging without overthinking it. Messy can be magical.
I believe anyone can style a meal in a way that feels good. It’s not about trends or perfection; it’s about slowing down enough to notice the colours on your cutting board, to place things with care rather than haste.
Over the years, I’ve come to see food styling as a gentle act of care, an art that transforms even the simplest dishes into visual poetry. No fancy tools or complex techniques required, just a mindful eye and a few thoughtful gestures. These five styling hacks will help you elevate everyday cooking into moments of effortless elegance.
1.Use Negative Space Like a Pro
Before: A solitary piece of avocado toast on a plate.
After: Two avocado toasts artfully arranged on minimalist plates, accompanied by roasted cherry tomatoes and delicate microgreens.
Creating space around your food and incorporating colour contrast and texture results in a clean, sophisticated presentation that appears both effortless and thoughtfully composed.
Before: A carelessly placed pieces of avocado on toast looks messy.
After: Creating space around your food and incorporating colour contrast and texture results in a clean, sophisticated presentation.
2. Cut with Intention
Before: Rough mango chunks carelessly tossed into a bowl.
After: A fan-shaped mango “hedgehog” sliced with care, becoming the visual centre piece of the plate.
This small yet artful transformation brings texture and elegance, proving that mindful cutting can elevate the ordinary.
Before: Uncut mangoes in a bowl.
After: Mangoes sliced in hedgehog shape.
3. Clean the Rim & Highlight a Hero Element
Before: Pumpkin soup with scattered garnish and a messy rim.
After: Pumpkin soup served with a pristine, wiped rim, finished with a graceful swirl of cream or drizzle of oil and delicate herbs.
This polished presentation frames the soup’s rich colour and velvety texture, turning a humble bowl into a refined statement.
Before: A simple image of pumpkin soup with a messy rim.
After: Styled pumpkin soup with a swirl of cream highlights the soup’s colour.
4. Add Colour, Texture & Garnish Thoughtfully
Before: Chicken skewers stacked on a plate appear rather uninspiring and lack visual appeal
After: Chicken skewers nestled on fresh kale with vibrant lime wedges, presented on a neutral plate.
By introducing contrasting colours and textures and simplifying the backdrop, the dish gains a fresh, modern appeal.
Before: Chicken skewers stacked on a plate lack visual appeal.
After: Chicken skewers on fresh kale gies contrast in colour and texture.
5. Serve in Smaller Glasses for Instant Elegance
Before: Basic oats/ muesli served in a large bowl.
After: Layered overnight oats presented in a slender glass jar, accented with fresh seasonal fruits or berries.
This simple swap adds height and sophistication, transforming a familiar breakfast into a café-worthy moment all without changing the ingredients.
Before: Basic oats or muesli served in a bowl.
After: Layering muesli in a glass jar accented with fruits adds height and sophistication. Stock image.
Sheeba de Souza is a chef, food stylist, and educator, trained at Leith’s School of Food and Wine, London, and the Food Styling Academy, Australia. She specializes in delicious, wholesome cooking that’s quick, accessible, and visually stunning, teaching home cooks and aspiring chefs how to turn everyday ingredients into beautifully styled, restaurant-worthy plates.
Images credit: Sheeba de Souza.
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