Spring into Bold

With Cherished Gold named as Dulux’s colour of the year – this bold, strong yellow will be featuring on many a wall across the UK.  Used as an accent colour, striking a real contrast with the trend for naturalistic tones bright, jewelled colours are the perfect spring pick-me-up to lift the mood and stimulate the mind. 

Working particularly well in a kitchen, against the monotone of kitchen units bold bright colours will bring relief in 2016.

Consider some of the following in your home:

      

Texture to add atmosphere

We have five senses and great interior design engages all of them.  Imagine the smell of a soft-leather suite, the touch of luxury fabrics, the hushed sound of footsteps muffled by a deep pile rug and the taste of freshly baked bread. Well OK, perhaps not the bread, but you get the idea. Appeal to more than that which our eyes can see and suddenly your room has atmosphere and ambiance.

KEY IDEAS

1.   Before starting on your room, include a variety of textures in your mood board
2.   Rough stone floors, deep pile rugs or minimalist matting – instant atmosphere
3.   Vintage furniture may bring the aroma of its history – are you comfortable with that? Or would a bit of restoration mask some of the charm – but all of the smell!
4.   Exposed brick work may look fab in your loft apartment – but warm throws on the sofa and furs on the floor will get you through a British winter
5.   That gentle click of the slow closing cupboard – quality will show through in your furniture.  If you want a luxury feel make sure your sofa springs don’t squeak and your cupboard doors don’t slam.

 However you choose to decorate your room, make sure the atmosphere you create engages all your senses and that it a perfect reflection of the aspirational you.

Feel-good Interior Design

More than a synonym for luxury, the word luxe extends the concept from expensive and high quality, to the condition of being elegantly sumptuous. So where on-trend, nature inspired interiors could drift into looking ‘rustic’ or even ‘worthy’, bringing in a luxe element allows rooms to glow and the warmth of comfort.  The addition of luxe to a nature-inspired room is particularly useful when for in bedrooms or living rooms.

Ways to add luxe to your room:

Accessorise, Accessorise, Accessorise

Adding golden or bronze objets to your room brings instant luxe.  Work within the context of your surroundings – but be prepared to go big.  Big works best when it comes to luxe. Think mirrors, metallic sculptures and door furniture.

Fabrics and Furnishings

There are some fabulous lustre fabrics available. And hanging next to the window means that the shiny fabrics will give off a lovely glow. Made-to-measure curtains will ensure a quality finish and lift any room to elegantly sumptuous.

We can all benefit from nature, but bringing a little luxury into our lives helps us feel even more special.  The nature luxe is a really feel-good way to decorate your room.

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THE EVOLUTION OF GREEN IN 2015

 We might not all be able to afford to use one of the Times Top 30 Interior Designers to make our home look amazing. It's up to us to make the space around us fabulous. With a little knowledge the alchemy of attractive design can be ours for a fraction of the cost.

The major key trend from 2015 was nature, with green being the dominant hue.  It’s easy to see why when you think how many of us have to spend our days in an office or commuting through built up areas.  Who doesn’t get a lift from green?

Pale, subdued greens were the focus at the beginning of the year.  Think sage, eau de nil, moss and pastel tones.  Green feels tranquil and restful, and is often associated with fertility.  It is very wholesome and there are very few houses in the UK which wouldn’t benefit from a green room.

Things spiced up as the year progressed. In summer we saw energy levels rise with the inclusion of lime,pistachio and bright green among the best sellers.  Green blinds in conservatories were a popular choice as people attempted to bring the outside-in.

As the autumn leaves fell, so we see the shades of green take on darker tones.  Olive, teal and hunter green come to the fore as we all snuggle down for winter. Comfort and reassurance with tactile fabrics and soft-furnishings led us all a cosy end to 2015.

The trend for green looks set to continue with Spring 2016 seeing the introduction of bright, fresh greens, emerald and lustre fabrics. Watch for the launch of new fabrics from iLiv and Belfield in early 2016.