Stylist Secrets

If you overcrowd a space with too many objects, the eye won’t know where to look and will get confused. On a more mundane level, lots of objects left lying around attract dust, so hide clutter away and display only your most striking objects.

Stick to just three or four colours, and choose accessories that compliment the shades you’ve used to decorate the room. Remember the little things – if you have lots of books out on a table, for instance, the book jackets will be adding to the colours of the room, so just choose two or three which work with the overall colour scheme.

Texture is the buzz word of the moment, and the textures available from the designers at the big fabric houses are just sumptuous. Lack of texture is the main reason people are dissatisfied after they finished decorating. Try adding curtains in a heavily textured fabric, cushions in complimentary silks and velvets or shaggy or knitted wool. A nubbly woollen or embroidered throw arranged on a sofa will bring an immediate change to the room, softening it and adding small patches of light and shade.