There’s never been a better time just to be you and enjoy your home. Wendy Darke, designer at Design Inspiration in Pontyclun tells us...

ANYTHING GOES...

Spring has Sprung, the daffodils are bouncing their golden heads in the breeze and the nights are drawing out. The garden is starting to come to life with colour slowly seeping back into it after the seemingly endless, dark, cold and grey days of Winter.

Want to know the good news? There has never been a better time just to be you and enjoy your home, expressing your own style and individuality. and creams and add bold colour and design. Basically anything goes but for those of you who want to be led, rather than lead, the designers from the top manufactures have put together exciting new collections of wall coverings and fabrics.

From the delicately drawn florals in muted, soft tone colour combinations, through to the bolder, uncompromising jungle/tropic designs that add ‘blocks of colour’ and feature prints, these move the fashion for ‘feature wall’ to the window for a much more modern and contemporary look. Colour combinations introduce charcoals, lime and kingfisher blue for a luscious palette, whilst chartreuse teamed with anthracite, cardinal red with slate, fuchsia, aubergine and bitter chocolate are all evident as the hot new acid bright colours to have.

Stunning looks can be created using the opulent textures available to create an indulgent, tactile and glamorous feel such as metallic flock wallpapers which shimmer and shine, printed silks and taffetas embroidered with beads, deep figured chenille’s along with soft dense velvets, linens and lavish accessories, such as trims and tiebacks with beads, crystals and feathers. Colours are rich and exotic - teals, stones, scarlet, fuchsia and charcoal will lead the way.

As was popular last year the influence of ‘Retro Chic’ which has striking comparisons to the 50’s and 60’s will continue to be apparent, comprising strong colours and bold geometric designs. Pattern mixed with pattern will be the order of the day - not for the faint hearted! We happily live with an eclectic mix by blending old and new - chrome based swivel chairs upholstered in a woven, geometric design may sit with a more traditional sofa. French hand painted furniture and mirrored cabinets look comfortable with striking wall coverings, teamed with luxurious textures such as moleskin velvets and embroidered or printed silks. Walls take on a completely new light by decorating two, three or even perhaps all the walls!

You may wish to surround yourself with luxury and the colours borrowed from Mother Nature’s exotic side. Organic natural forms will be prevalent such as tailing leaf designs blended with wool, mohair or linens, whilst there are touches of glitz in the form of gilt metallics. We’re seeking harmony, comfort and stability from our surroundings and the choice available has never been so vast.

If you’re thinking of updating your home, the helping hand of an interior designer can be essential at this time. They will help to guide you through the thousands of products available and this is more important than ever, with so much colour and design you can so easily make an expensive mistake. A designer can help you tailor the look and give your home that individual style that you desire, creating sympathetic decor to suit your taste, whilst reflecting the current trends and times in which we live. They can bring a modern feel utilising fashionable, bold colours and designs into a period property, whilst retaining the original features. Similarly, a modern apartment can benefit from some more period pieces, for example, a traditional chair covered in a bold modern fabric can be made to look simply stunning.

As for 2009, trends will move forward with bolder colour and the emphasis firmly on inspirational design. So, if you’re thinking about updating your home this season, aim to have fun and more importantly, remember that anything goes!