Lockdown has made us focus on our homes more than ever before, and with the summer ahead of us it’s a perfect time to embark on a redecoration project.

I have been thinking about our relationship with colour and the way we use it in our homes. One thing I have learnt from working in interior design is the importance of being courageous and confident with colour. To quote Terence Conran, “decorating is fun”, but many of us lack the confidence to follow our creative instincts.

Follow my tips on living with colour to make your home space somewhere to enjoy.

Colour confidence
There are so many paint colours to choose from – it’s bewildering – we tend to fall back on “greige” because it’s the safest option. A good way to work out what colours you like is to look around you, start with your wardrobe and your choice of clothes – the chances are if you are comfortable wearing a colour you will be comfortable living with it.

Cut out pictures you like from magazines or create a mood board on Pinterest. You’ll soon start to see the same colours emerging. Don’t be afraid to be flamboyant – so good for Instagram pics – if you like it now the chances are you will continue liking it, and you can always re-paint, but you probably won’t!

Furniture with fizz
Another way to liven up a room is to use a contrasting or toning colour on a sofa, chair or item of painted furniture. It’s amazing what a difference you can make by recovering a tired chair in a zingy modern fabric.

For a recent project, we recovered my client’s vintage dining room chairs in a bright orange zig-zag fabric – they look amazing.
A shot of unexpected colour on a piece of furniture can also inject real personality into a space – I painted my outside garden seat a lovely teal colour – it really makes the deep pink roses on my terrace zing.

Accent with accessories
If you want to play safe you can always inject some bold colour by experimenting with objects and furnishings that can be easily changed. Inject some bold colour or pattern into a scheme with cushions, glass-ware or lamps.

I love a bright pleated, patterned lampshade (check out pooky.com). My daughter’s mustard raffia placemats and sunflower arrangement liven up her table and contrast with the deep blue walls in her modern dining area. A friend’s lime green utensils add a pop of colour to his grey neutral kitchen.

Something to make you happy
For that individual touch, add something unexpected – I recently invested in some fun waste paper bins made of recycled paper in bright coloured funky prints – they look so good in my sitting room and home office.

It’s time to give your creativity free rein – have fun with your summer decorating projects!