This really should have been the first blog of the year as it is decorating 101 for most of us embarking on a new project. It is quite rare for a room to feature just one colour overall, even the simplest of rooms consist of a multitude of shades. As a professional interior designer, I have a number of methods that I use to ensure that I choose the best possible combination of colours.

The first method to consider using is the colour wheel. I wrote a blog on it last year but I think it is important to revisit it. A colour wheel consists of 12 segments based on the primary colours of red, yellow and blue. The secondary colours of green, orange and purple are created by combining the primary colours and are also shown on the wheel.

If you are using a colour wheel to help you decorate, theory tells you that you can create a scheme from just one segment of the wheel - and of course your scheme would be co-ordinated as you'll just be working with one colour.  This is obviously more of a guide for say two or three features in a room, for instance your walls and floor. Look to try darker and lighter tones of your chosen colour to create variety in the overall design scheme.

Another way to use the colour wheel is to choose colours that sit alongside each other, for example green and yellow.  Other options for a co-ordinated room include using colours that are opposite each other on the wheel, or using three colours spaced equally apart on the wheel.

While the colour wheel is a great way to get started in choosing colours for your room it is important to remember to plan for areas of neutral tones or white. Pattern is also a great way to incorporate your chosen colours from the wheel. The chosen combination can be used in a pattern throughout the accessories in the room.

The second method for colour ordination is something that everyone can do as it requires you to start the process with something you love. You might have an all time favourite colour that you want to use or you may have seen a patterned wallpaper or fabric somewhere and you want to incorporate its tones. You can call into any Crown Paints stockist and they will be able to match the paint colour to your sample so you will have the perfect shade.

Once you have your chosen colours that you know work well together as you have seen the evidence you can then use the colours in the room. The key here is not to aim for equal proportions of the colours as they will compete. Often it's the lighter tone or neutral shade from the sample that has inspired you that you'll want to use over large areas and the boldest colour that is used the least.

The last suggestion for picking co-ordinated colours is my personal favourite – mood boards. Start with a plain piece of cardboard that you will be able to glue or pin items to, cork boards work well for this, then you can start looking through magazines or websites and pick out looks or pieces of furniture that you love.

You can then call into your local Crown Paints store and pick up colour cards or testers to see what colours might match up with your look. For a list of Crown stockists near you please take a look at the stockist locator on our website - http://www.crownpaints.ie/our-locations/18

For the best guide to what works, try to keep your samples proportionate to each other. Start with the biggest area that you will be decorating which oftentimes will be the walls, this will probably be followed by the flooring and so on. Pieces of fabric you would like for the curtains or colour or a proposed colour card for vases will be smaller again. This will give you the most accurate idea of the balance of colour in your completed room.

Happy decorating,

Neville