The colour blocking trend has transferred from the pages of fashion magazines onto the walls of our homes, with spectacular results. There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to picking colours, but if you want maximum impact, using contrasting shades is key. Try mustard yellow and a smoky, deep violet or emerald green and a crisp white. For a more subtle sense of depth, choose two complementary colours, such as steel grey and dusky blue.

A clever tip is to choose colours that already play a part in the space, as this will ensure a continuous colour scheme. Painting a period home or a space with defined features? Choose one colour for the walls, another shade for your alcoves and a brilliantly bright hue for your chimneybreast. Anchor the look with accessories in similarly vivid colours.