Image: Clair Strong Interior Design Autumn has well and truly arrived so I’m looking ahead to next year’s interior trends. Today I’d like to talk about colour. At the International Home and Housewares Show back in March, Pantone Colour Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman revealed the colour trends we could be seeing next year. They…

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design It’s that time of year again. The world feels like it’s finally waking up after months of hibernation. The sudden rush of colour is one of the biggest benefits of spring. Not just in nature, but in fashion and interior design too. The colours we most typically associate with spring…

Mustard yellow is one of my favourite statement colours. It’s a rich, retro-esque hue with surprisingly cool design credentials. Like olive green and fuchsia pink, it can feel a bit intimidating but in just the right doses it makes an impact like no other. I’ve rounded up some images to show you just how special…

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design There’s a new neutral in town. And it’s one you might have never expected: pink. Not a bubblegum Barbie bright but a soft, romantic blush. It’s as versatile as any other neutral, blending effortlessly with other hues and giving rooms a sleek, sophisticated vibe. It’s feminine, yes, but used in the right…

Image: Clair Strong Interior Design When it comes to room design we spend hours deliberating over wall colours, flooring, curtains and furniture and no time at all on the ceiling. I say it’s time to stop neglecting the ‘fifth wall’ and treat it is as the wonderful blank canvas it is. If it was good…

Many people are a bit nervous about using colour, and stick to safe neutrals in their homes. There’s a place for both, but colour can be like a magic spell, you cast it on your home and suddenly the space is completely transformed. You’re missing out on all the fun if you only ever decorate…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design A few times recently I have been approached by clients who wanted to talk about ways to work with pastels in the home. Designers in recent years have promoted stronger, vivid colours or neutrals but this focus is now extending to include innovative ways to work with colour schemes…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design For many years’ artists, scientists and researchers have been interested in the psychology of colour. They found that colour can have a profound effect on the human mind and emotions; evoking memory, affecting mood and influencing behaviour. It has been shown that colour can have physical effects, increasing blood…

The use of vibrant colour in your home can completely transform your space. However, I know that many people are afraid to go bold; it is so much more dramatic than neutral tones, after all. It’s quite a commitment choosing electric blue for your walls or neon window treatments, but it’s a commitment that can…

Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design For more than 30,000 years man has been using colour for decorative purposes. It was first used in early cave paintings and its use later extended to clothing, body adornment and home interior design. Today, we make much more use of colour in every day life, and there are…