On-Trend Colour Combinations – Yellow and Grey

If you like the thought of a neutral lounge that is light and airy, but you wish to have more warmth then a light creamy yellow may be your answer. This works wonderfully in a small lounge that needs to combine lots of light with the cosy factor!

Begin with white walls all around and a dark wood floor - perhaps giving it a new stain if needed; in the end you will just catch a glimpse of the flooring around the edge but it will make all the difference in a darker, bordering colour. An area rug brings in comfort but opens the space in a textured white. Choose sofa and chairs to be arranged around a coffee table - this is your opportunity too to bring in that creamy yellow with upholstered sofa chairs.

Grey comes in the picture with chrome accessories, metallic coffee table and softly patterned white and grey cheap cushion covers. Finish the look with floaty ready made curtains UK that add height to the room when hung from ceiling to floor - choose white with that same creamy yellow coming in with a pattern or motif.

Image: Bright, Bold & Beautiful

All Things Bright & Beautiful

Don't let the cold days and the thought of winter dampen your spirits! Brighten your living space with a bright and cheerful colour scheme to beat the winter blue without redecorating. How? - easy add some large floral cushions to your sofa to be right on trend this winter.

Although neutrals are still 'big' this year the injection of bright autumnal oranges and reds is a great way to keep your home looking bright and beautiful right throughout winter and into spring. The trend for hand-made soft furnishings also remains on-trend; simply buy curtain fabrics online and be spoilt with the plethora of super patterns and designs to make your own cheap cushion covers, curtains and blinds.

For a retro look take a step back to the swinging sixties with large psychedelic patterns and bold floral prints in orange, lime green and purple. Choose lime green curtains to add a real pop of colour to your rooms or keep neutral with cream eyelet curtains ready made for a more subdued look.

It may also be time to steer away from the stereotypical Christmas colours and inject colour and a whole new revival of informal chic elegance to your home!

Image: Haven and Home

Living Room Interior Design Ideas: Creating Zones

I thought I'd do a little more on creating zones in an open plan living room - or a large living room by giving you a few hints on how to start new interior design ideas.

It could be that you have all your main furniture and are just thinking of ways to arrange it all and make the most of each item. It isn't a bad idea to start with some graph paper and a pencil, downsizing your floor space to fit on your notepad and playing around with the possibilities of floor plans - just focusing on larger pieces to begin with.

Split the main part of your living room into a relaxing area and an entertaining one. The relaxing side may have some extra comfy lounging seats/sofas, a bookshelf, fireplace and small coffee table. Your entertainment half will have more seating, a unit for placing the television,gaming consoles and a clever storage unit with ample lighting provided by an assortment of table lamps UK.

There are some fabulous ideas to take inspiration from; along with colour schemes and how to make the most of what you have by using re-vamping existing soft furnishings by purchasing curtain material online to make cheap cushion covers or Roman blinds. The possibilities are endless if you let your imagination run wild!

Image: belle maison

Adding Colour To Your Home

Looking to brighten your interior? Colour plays a vital role in our homes, having an impact on our well-being and although not everyone has a favourite colour and so you might take ideas from the latest colour trends for interior decorating.

Thankfully, there is never just one colour trend so everyone should be inspired by at least one of the following colour trends for 2010:

* Serene Colour Palette - Try cool blues, mineral greys and muted teals.

* Futuristic Colour Palette - Try intense reds, purples, zesty yellows and turquoise.

* Elegant Colour Palette - Try dusky lilacs, pinks, bronze and gold.

* Harmonised Colour Palette - Try natural greens, coral and warm greys.

* Playful Colour Palette - Try mixing it up with bright colour, earthy tones and clean pastels.

Adding colour in small quantities, such as choosing cheap cushion covers in a new colour may be a good start rather than subject your system to a complete shock – not only will you be able to see how a new colour affects your well-being – if you come to loathe the colour it's easier to change, and more cost effective, than having to completely redecorate.

Image: Haven and Home