Alinstar B.V.

Marieke van den Berg

Senior Interior Styling Consultant

12 years transforming rental spaces into homes. Wall art, textiles, and affordable styling solutions for renters across Breda and beyond.

What She Does

Areas of Expertise

Wall Art & Removable Solutions

Creating statement walls without damaging rental properties. Canvas prints, peel-and-stick designs, and temporary installations that actually look intentional.

Decorative Textiles

Throws, cushions, rugs, and wall hangings that anchor a space. She knows which fabrics work in Dutch homes and how layering transforms a room on any budget.

Budget-Friendly Styling

Making expensive-looking spaces on tight budgets. She specializes in finding the high-impact pieces and knowing where to save without sacrificing style.

Temporary & Flexible Design

Styling for people who move. Everything she recommends can travel with you or be easily swapped out when lease terms change.

In Conversation

Questions & Insights

Understanding Marieke's approach to interior styling

How did you get into interior styling for renters?

Honestly, it wasn't planned. I studied Interior Architecture at Saxion University in Enschede and spent my first years working on larger design projects. But in 2016, I moved to Breda and started renting an apartment myself. I realized how differently renters approach their spaces — they want it to feel like home, but they're limited by what they can change. That's when it clicked. There's a massive gap between high-end interior design and what renters actually need.

What's the biggest misconception about styling rental spaces?

People think they need permission to make a rental feel personal. They don't. You can create real style within the constraints of a lease. It's not about permanent changes — it's about strategic choices. A good textile layer, the right wall art, proper lighting. These things completely change how a space feels, and they're all reversible. I've helped clients go from "this place is just temporary" to actually being proud of their home.

Why focus on wall art and textiles specifically?

They're the most impactful elements for the investment. Wall art sets the entire tone of a room — it's the first thing you see. Textiles add warmth, texture, and comfort. Together, they're probably 70% of what makes a space feel intentional. And they're portable. When I recommend a throw pillow or a canvas print, I know my client can take it with them to their next place. That's the sustainability piece that matters to me.

What's your approach when working with clients on a tight budget?

Priorities first. I ask: what room gets the most use? Where do you spend the most time? We invest there. A beautiful bedroom with good textiles and one statement piece can feel more complete than spreading a small budget across five rooms. I also lean on neutrals and timeless pieces rather than trends. Things that won't feel dated in two years. And honestly, I've built relationships with suppliers over the years — I know where to find quality pieces that don't require premium pricing.

What keeps you doing this work?

The before-and-afters never get old. But more than that — it's the emails I get six months later. Clients telling me their friends are asking where their furniture comes from, or that they actually look forward to being home now. That's what it's about. Everyone deserves to feel at home, regardless of whether they own the space or rent it. My job is proving that's possible.

Background

Education & Experience

Education

Interior Architecture Degree

Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede

2008 – 2012

Professional Experience

Senior Interior Styling Consultant

Alinstar B.V., Breda

2016 – Present (8 years)

Interior Designer

Rotterdam Design Studio

2012 – 2016 (4 years)

Recognition

Featured in Dutch Lifestyle Publications

Interior design articles and case studies on affordable rental styling

2018 – 2025

300+ Clients Across Breda & Netherlands

Specialized consultations in rental space transformation

2016 – Present

Her Approach

Design Philosophy

Everyone Deserves a Beautiful Home

Whether you're renting for two years or planning to stay forever, your space should reflect who you are. Budget constraints don't mean style has to suffer. Marieke believes that thoughtful design choices — not expensive ones — create homes that feel intentional and personal.

Flexibility Over Permanence

Rental leases end. People move. Good design should move with you. Everything Marieke recommends is chosen with flexibility in mind — pieces that work in multiple spaces, textiles that coordinate with future homes, wall art that doesn't require drilling. Style shouldn't be locked into one apartment.

Quality Over Quantity

It's not about filling a room with things. It's about choosing the right pieces that actually work together. One beautiful throw pillow beats five mediocre ones. A single statement canvas is more impactful than covering every wall. Restraint is harder than abundance, but it's where real style lives.

Sustainability Through Design

Fast furniture and throwaway textiles aren't the answer. Marieke focuses on pieces that last — natural fibers, quality construction, timeless designs. She'd rather help a client invest in three beautiful items that'll be used for years than ten cheap pieces destined for landfills.

The Story Behind the Work

Marieke's journey into interior styling began in a classroom at Saxion, sketching floor plans and learning how space affects behavior. But the real education came later — in the rental apartments of young professionals across Breda.

After four years with a Rotterdam design studio, working on larger commercial projects, she realized something was missing. The work was interesting, but it didn't feel personal. Then she moved to Breda in 2016 and rented a small apartment herself. Suddenly, she was facing the same challenge as hundreds of other young renters: how do you make a temporary space feel like home?

That question became her mission. Over the next eight years at Alinstar B.V., she's helped more than 300 clients transform their rental spaces. Not with expensive renovations or permanent changes — but with strategic choices about wall art, textiles, lighting, and layering. The work has been featured in several Dutch lifestyle publications, and her approach has become a signature: affordable, flexible, beautiful.

What drives her isn't the design itself. It's the moment a client sends a photo six months later and says, "I actually look forward to coming home now." That's when she knows the work matters.

Ready to Transform Your Space?

Explore Marieke's articles on wall art, textiles, and affordable room styling. Get practical tips you can use right now.

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