Letting colour into your home

The decor mood colours demystified...

Red is strong, hot and seductive. It's best as a vibrant focal point, but also harmonises well with softer orange and pink. For bedrooms, try deep rose or softer blush pinks.

Yellow is bright, clear and uplifting - and gives an illusion of space in hallways or small rooms.

Orange is a playful and energetic colour that creates a warm and cosy atmosphere.

Green is a good all rounder that's easy on the eye. Softer shades create a calm atmosphere, while bright lime brings energy.

Purple and violet are particularly good for feature walls - try a warmer aubergine for alcoves or behind fireplaces.

Blue is peaceful and calming, and pale shades work particularly well in open-plan spaces.

Zingy orange is welcoming and warm

Background painted in Crystal Surprise 3, £19.49 for 2.5 litres, Dulux (0870 444 1111*; www.dulux.co.uk). Swan chair, £435, Iconic Interiors (0800 915 5313; www.iconicinteriors.com). Roxie dinner plate, £22 for a set of four, Habitat. Napkin and band, £11 each, Ceramica Blue (020 7727 0288; www.ceramicablue.co.uk). Glasses, £4.99 each, Zara Home (0800 026 0091; www.zarahome.com). Macaroons, £7.95 for a pack of eight, Fortnum & Mason (020 7734 8040; www.fortnumandmason.com). Envelopes, from a set of Cherry Blossom cards, £7.99 for a pack of eight, Te Neues (020 8670 7522; www.teneues.com). Double Happiness ballpoint pen, £75, Shanghai Tang (020 7235 8778; www.shanghaitang.com)

Zesty bursts of lime go a long way

Background painted in Kiwi Burst 1, £19.49 for 2.5 litres, Dulux, as before. Babell three-tier cake stand, £20, Heal's (0870 024 0780*; www.heals.co.uk). Top tier: Cecelia chopsticks, £10 for a set of six colours, Habitat. Martini glass, £95 for four, Shanghai Tang, as before. Middle tier: Candy forks, £18.50 for a set of four, and Fantasy yellow tumbler, £36 for a set of six colours, both Ziggi Ziggi (01707 275333; www.ziggiziggi.com). Bottom tier: Medici medium wine glass, £10.75, BTC by Design (0844 557 8882; www.btcbydesign.com). Crystallised fondants, £20 for 230g, Fortnum & Mason, as before. Mimi yellow vase, £9.95, LSA International (01932 789721; www.lsainternational.co.uk)

Be clever with contrasting colours

Red plank table, £595, The Conran Shop (0844 848 4000; www.conranshop.co.uk). Moretti rainbow swirls tumbler, £95, Vessel (020 7727 8001; www.vesselgallery.com). Pink urn vase, £44, Ceramica Blue, as before. Coral plate, £8, Oka (0844 815 7380; www.okadirect.com). Yellow curvy vase, £25, Ben de Lisi at Debenhams. Fornasetti vase, £284, Aria (020 7704 1999; www.ariashop.co.uk)

Sea greens and azures bring vibrant style to living spaces

A16 Green chair, £99, The Conran Shop, as before. Clockwise from back: Small rubber vase, £12.95, Menu (01908 307020; www.panik-design.com). Colour block wedge shoe, £99 a pair, 36-42, Boden (0845 677 5000; www.boden.co.uk). Medici medium wine glass, £10.75, BTC by Design, as before. Glacier dessert bowl, £10, Ziggi Ziggi, as before. Blue and green art glass vase (on top), £12, Star by Julien Macdonald at Debenhams.

Vamp up a dull corner with bright, sexy reds

Gala runner (used as background), £10, and Rosso folding table, £45, both Habitat. Bubble lamp base, £65.39, and shade, £36.78, BTC by Design, as before. Blaze bottle (with clear glass stopper), £42, and Blaze candle bowl, £20, both Dartington (01805 626262; www.dartington.co.uk). 1960 Panton chair scale model (14cm high), £94 for a set of five, Utility (0151 708 4192; www.utilitydesign.co.uk). Miniature plate and book, from a selection, The Dolls House Emporium (0800 011 4411; www.dollshouse.com)

Grab attention with a little gold accent

Kinnersley espresso cup and saucer, £24.95, and Kinnersley tea plate (bottom), £22, Watts at Bouf (020 7378 3418; www.bouf.com). Williams Edwards saucer (on tea plate), £50 for box set of cup and plate, and Marion Rebecca sugar pot, £78, both Fortnum & Mason, as before. Gold porcelain spider, £99, Vessel, as before.

Passionate purple equals boudoir glam

Rosso folding table, £45, Habitat. Fra Angelico book, £39.95, Phaidon (020 7843 1234; www.phaidon.co.uk). Purple plate, £3.99, and goblet, £4.99, both Zara Home, as before. Pebble tall tumbler, £245 for six, Vessel, as before. Sienna knife and fork, £2.99 each, Zara Home, as before. Purple daisy vase, £45, Maggie Williams at From Britain With Love (01872 501145; www.frombritainwithlove.com). Similar silk roses, Withycombe Fair (01643 706355; www.withycombefair.com). Lipstick, from a selection, Bourjois.

Sweet pinks and a flash of turqoise are a treat

Parc folding chair, £39, and Cecelia plastic spoons, £7 for a 12-piece cutlery set, both Habitat. Pink bowl, £30, Designers Guild (020 7351 5775; www.designersguild.com). Persika vase, £5.99, Ikea. Soizick handpainted coffee cup and saucer, £220 a pair, Crystallised fondants, £20 for 230g, and Ginger chocolate squares, £12.50 for a box of 36, all Fortnum & Mason, as before. Rouge Volupté lipstick, from a selection, Yves Saint Laurent. Similar ribbon available at John Lewis.

Be daring with the boldest summer pastels

Large fruit bowl, £27.50, and plastic cutlery, £22 for a 12-piece set, both Graham and Green (0845 130 6622; www.grahamandgreen.com). Small blue bowl, £7, and mini green bowl, £5, both Ceramica Blue, as before. Floral scarf, £15, Designers Guild, as before.

Yellow makes you smile

Mustard Eames chair, £282, Designers Guild, as before. Thermos pot, £19.50, Pinks & Green (01206 735886; www.pinksandgreen.co.uk). Tutti mosaic mug, £6.95, LSA International, as before.