I hope you all had a lovely Christmas break and made the most of the festive holidays. Just when we were just getting used to our homes filled with colourful Christmas decorations, the time for taking them down always comes around so quickly. We all know it can be a little scary when you take your Christmas decorations down and rooms you once loved now look bland and bare. But this is actually a great time to feel inspired and give your room a fresh new look. Just as fashion changes so do colour tastes and this year I joined a group of Crown Colour experts where we put together the Crown Colour Influences for 2011 which I’m going to share with you over the coming weeks.

This year we will see a whole new combination of colours coming into style and a key look will be nude shades combined with strong bold colours. Muted rooms will come alive with a bright pop of colour on one wall or through the use of accessories. The look for 2011 is all about subtle glamour and elegance.

This week I’m going to share with you the fabulous shades used in the Natural Primaries Influences and show which rooms these colours will work best in. Natural Primaries is a simple palette which takes its inspiration from Africa and includes some vibrant and strong colours such greens, reds and browns. To achieve this look in your home you should think about using shades such as Tuscan Olive, Coral, Prairie Gold and Mocha from Crown Paints which will create a powerful and enriching atmosphere when used in a living room space or master bedroom. Combining these shades with the more subtle tones of Lady Jane, Expectation and Pashmina will evoke a sense of calmness and comfort.

Colour is a very personal choice and it’s important to remember that when choosing colour schemes in your home. I love to look into colour schemes and designs from other eras as it can give some real inspiration to colour combinations. It’s all about individuality what’s personal to you.

Happy decorating,

Neville