Welcome a new year. Welcome a new season. Or even welcome a new lifestyle. Whatever your new start, it’s always a great idea to welcome a new colour into your interior décor.

Colour ideas can come from anywhere

Borrow ideas from wherever you find them. If you like to follow popular suggestions, consult colour guides.

Described by Pantone as the ‘happiest and warmest of all the blue hues’, the company’s 2022 Colour of the Year is Very Peri – a ‘dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone’.

It is certainly an attractive and energetic colour and there are endless ways you can combine it with other décor features to create whatever mood you like.

In the simplest way, you can create a striking effect with a beautiful, sweet-smelling bunch of lavender in an exquisite vase.

The colour also looks stunning as a feature among classic shades, from white to charcoal grey. Imagine relaxing in a breezy summer room with the touch of luxury a treasured piece in periwinkle blue or a deeper, richer shade would add.

Or, for warmth and comfort, a beautiful sheepskin blanket with our Moroccan cactus silk cushions and a luxurious vintage carpet in the ‘colour of the year’ (or in cream, rose or wine) will transform your bedroom into a haven you’ll never want to leave.

But remember, inspiration is just the start. And, more importantly, ‘colours of the year’ come and go, so it’s your style and preferences that really matter.

Decorate to invigorate

A colour change is a mood change. If you are looking for energy and strength, you might investigate:

• Orange – the colour of flamboyance, energy and enthusiasm
• Red – signifying passion, strength and desire
• Green (the stronger, primary shades) – evoking generosity, vigour and renewal.

These colours can also be quite overpowering, and even exhausting in the long-term, so are ideal when used as decorative touches, or as highlights among more muted tones.

What colour is relaxation?

If you want to retreat or escape, you probably have a ‘just for me’ space in your home. It will feature calming hues and colours that promote relaxation. Colour therapists say blue, violet, pink, softer greens, grey, tan, white and yellow are restful colours, which means there are plenty to choose from, giving you room for change. After all, ‘a change is as good as a rest’, which is exactly what you’re looking for.

Your relaxation shade is an individual choice. What ‘peaceful’ colours have in common though, is that they are abundant in the natural environment.