The ultimate guide to COLOUR & DECORATING

Decorating with colour is about creating ambience, interest and memories within your home, and this handbook has all the information you need to get started. From discovering your perfect palette to navigating decorative dos and don'ts, you'll be on your colour journey in no time.

- VICTORIA KINGSBURY

Colour your world with an invigorating palette of paint, fabrics, wallpapers and art that will get people talking, for all the right reasons. Neutrals play their part when decorating a home, but having fun with brazen brights and deep, moody hues is a way to tell your own story, celebrating your individuality and personality. Colour has the power to evoke memories, change your mood and even enhance creativity, so why not inject your rooms with intense colour that sings to you, and fills your home with a whole new energy. "Colour makes you feel welcomed, uplifted and joyous," says designer Anna Spiro. "Once you live with it, you can't live without it."

And we're not just talking huge swathes of paint on walls here, colour can be introduced in many creative ways, building up layers in your home that work together in harmony. "Introduce colour using fabulous paint colours on walls, joinery and trims," says Anna. "Wrap walls in wallpaper, add layers of art and colourful patterned upholstery."

Like the start of all decorating projects it helps to put together a moodboard and plan how different elements will come together. This is also a great way to build up your confidence and be sure of your choices before going full steam ahead with the paintbrush. If you're not sure where to begin, let us take you on a masterclass in decorating with colour and pattern in this inspiring handbook, where we show you three different palettes and how to pull them together. There's also expert advice from Anna, as well as some handy pointers from Dulux's colour and communications manager Andrea Lucena-Orr.