Fresh ideas for paint and windows

In choosing a window treatment it's not all about being on trend, says Jenny Brown from Luxaflex, but rather choosing a look and style that suits your home.

“This will always give your home a new lease on life,” Jenny says. Her three fresh design trends for 2015 cover a wide range, from velvet drapes creating a moody setting to sheer blinds and shutters that bring the outdoors in.

Paint choices will impact your choice, she says, with deep greens a colour trend for Dulux and Paint Place this year. “Dulux, in particular is giving a generous nod to the desire to have greenery in both our homes and workspaces,” says Jenny, which will work with sheers and shades in light materials.

“Look for green feature walls and emerald homewares to become prominent, indoor plants (and pots) to grow in popularity and vertical gardens to dominate balconies and courtyards,” she says.

While Paint Place’s Forge Ahead trend has “a muddier and moody colour palette at play”, getting back to nature is a strong desire for homeowners, she adds.

Colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr says Dulux’s new seasonal pastel colours provide a contemporary scheme for the latest looks.

“Colour in the home can instantly transform a space and add value and appeal, however deciding on a colour scheme can be a daunting task,” Andrea says. “Homeowners and renovators can now feel empowered to become their own decorator. Soft pale pinks and muted mauves can be used together, or in conjunction with neutral whites, to create calm, sophisticated spaces.”

TV and film is inspiring a revival of the medieval interior, with homeowners looking to history for inspiration with sumptuous fabrics in velvet, damask patterns on walls and brass decor making a comeback, says leading UK-based trend forecaster Victoria Renshaw .

Luxaflex’s Jenny Brown says the rich red in Pantone’s colour of the year, Marsala, shows the baroque interior aesthetic is set to return.

“It’s deep, romantic qualities will give your home a soulful and seductive edge, so expect to see more of it pop up across homewares and fabrics,” Jenny says. “If you want to play to this, look to the introduction of the latest Silhouette Shadings Designer Series fabrics in classic neutrals to evoke classical elegance in a contemporary and striking way.”

The bright and bold blues of Dulux Affinity and Dulux Porpoise Place work well to highlight key architectural features, Andrea says, with a patterned carpet or rug to set off the wall colour.

For a more calming feel and look, offset a moody blue with the rich neutral to create a sedate and tranquil atmosphere.

“Partnering dark shades with lighter earthy-based hues not only is a liveable scheme that is timeless; but creates a space with depth,” Andrea says. “Furnishings in multiple textures, from leather to wool, softens the imposing colours which in turn relaxes the space.”

For colours that are easy to scheme together or with white in a casual or formal room, there’s the palette drawn from greens and mineral hues. Finish windows with shutters for a crisp and classic look. Interior designer Georgia Ezra from GABBE says Dulux’s earthy deep-green Armada and grey-green Domain are the colours to watch and use. Georgia says emerald is a spot-on choice for a pop of colour, while Domain offers a moody look. “It works well with interiors and I am seeing it on doors for a point of difference,” says Georgia, with pastels her other on-trend choice for this year.

“These greens create a tranquil and serene setting, and can blend seamlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces,” Andrea says.

Adds designer and stylist for Dulux, Bree Leech: “Domain is a mid green with the perfect amount of grey undertone to soften its boldness. This relaxed calming colour works effortlessly with many other hues and the warmth of natural timber. It has the power to create beautiful casual spaces, formal rooms and bedrooms.”