Home front...


Bright, neon colours are fashionable and will be a tonic for the home as well as lifting your spirits by reminding you of sunny days.
So follow our mood-lifting guide to dazzling rooms.
Colour blocking
Group objects of the same colour on a bookshelf for instant impact.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFor added effect, paint shelves and the background wall in a strong contrasting shade – for example yellow ornaments and books and a deep blue-painted wall.
Colour up: A contemporary Skandi ceramic vase in red, £25, Bhs. Pink resin bust, £15, from Matthew Williamson at Debenhams.
Mood recipe
If your kitchen’s looking a little drab, give it an instant pick-me-up with some brightly-coloured canisters and accessories and smart seating.
Colour up: Painted maple and chrome Toronto chairs, from £59 each, available in white, blue, green, red and yellow, Marks & Spencer.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdA Pittsburgh 5-piece storage set in poppy red, £16.66, and a 12-piece bright band dinner set, £16.99, Argos. La Cafetiere Rainbow Red Cafetiere, eight cup, £21.95, Beautiful Homes Direct.
Store smart
Clear up the clutter and add style to a room with units that are bold and eye-catching.
Colour up: Make storage stand out with a bold red Lack wall shelf unit, £50, Ikea. House by John Lewis is a range where you can customise pieces according to your needs. Its Oxford 1x2 Unit has two white drawers and one cupboard door set, in red, £258.
Study in style
Make a work or hobby area special by zoning it in a vibrant colour shade such as orange, which is known to stimulate creativity, then kit it out with zingy storage and desk accessories that will naturally draw you to the space.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdColour up: Bright orange is just one colour choice from Dulux Paint Mixing range. Moroccan Flame, matt, 2.5 litres, £24.29.
Keep papers, fabric or craft samples handy in pretty trunks from Butterfly by Matthew Williamson for Debenhams: small trunk £15, medium £25, large £50.
Snazzy seating
A sofa usually dominates a living room as the largest piece of furniture, and it will star if it’s upholstered in a funky fabric with the rest of the backdrop neutral.
Colour up: Klippan 2-seat sofa, £179, covered in Dottevik red and white polka dot fabric, Ikea. A nest of Kilo oak and steel side tables with colourful tops, £70, or one occasional table, £25, Habitat. Add a red felt oblong cushion, £20, Bhs.
Room makeover
Colour is the equivalent of make-up for rooms.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdInstead of blusher and eye shadow, think of adding little pops of colour in decorative accessories to make rooms instantly visually appealing.
Colour up: Retro flock of flying ducks, £49, available in a variety of punchy colours, from Very Nice Things. Set of four bright glass tealight holders, £7.99, The Contemporary Home.
Bright light
Lamps are jewellery for the home, and new table lamps are one of the easiest ways to revamp a room.
Colour up: Splurge on a Kartell Bourgie multi-coloured metallic table lamp by Ferruccio Laviani, £296, Heal’s.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAn Isaac desk lamp, £14.98, comes in lime, coral, blue and green, B&Q.
Dazzling dining
One of the easiest ways to bring instant blocks of colour to a neutral room is with a set of dining chairs in a rich shade.
Colour up: Lime green chairs, upholstered in Designers Guild velvet, from £495 each, are available to order bespoke from Sofa Design.
Best for bathrooms
This practical space needs to be uncluttered and there’s no room for fussy detail, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include clever touches.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdColour up: Saguaro green and white hat stand, £150, looks like a jolly green cactus and could be a witty touch to brighten up bathtime. It’s an Italian design from Touches of Class. A stool is always handy for sitting or holding a pile of towels, and a metal stool, £49, Very, comes in a deep green.
Bright boudoir
Bedrooms can benefit from warming splashes of colour to make them cosy sanctuaries in the winter. Add interesting touches from bedding to accessories.
Colour up: A L’Amour pink velvet two-drawer chest, £595, is a real touch of luxe with its velvet upholstered finish, from Alexander & Pearl.