Kelly Hoppen’s secrets of stylish living

Remember: quality equals longevity

Make no exceptions. Invest once in good-quality finishes and furnishings and they will never let you down.

Order creates harmony

A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. You can have everything you've ever dreamed of in your home, but if you don't take the time to display objects with care and consideration it will never look right.

Focus and passion are the ingredients of good design

Focus on the design you want to achieve and use your passion to see you through to the end result. Planning is everything.

Lighting rocks!

Don't think of it as beams of light but as a form of sculpture - creating silhouettes and shadows. It has the potential to make or break a room, so use it to your advantage. Position lights to highlight detail or draw the eye away from architectural flaws. Use a mix of task lighting (such as reading lamps), mood lighting and decorative lighting.

Create a home that suits you like good clothes

When you decorate your home, you create a space to live in now. Not tomorrow, next month or next year - now. It must reflect your passions and personality, and fit you like a glove.

In the bedroom, choose your bed linen first

Start with a basic fabric and add to it with colour and texture. Good-quality, plain bedlinen is like an artist's blank canvas on which you can create a masterpiece.

Shutters are the way forward

Over the years I've used many different window treatments, but I always come back to my old favourite - the plantation shutter. I used to have a problem selecting shutters because I never liked the sizes or the colours that were available, so I created my own range with a big selection of colours and finishes, including anything from high-gloss lacquer to driftwood (take a look at www.kellyhoppenshutters.com). Shutters don't age or date and are actually a modern way of dressing your windows - they give you privacy as well as being stylish. You can even hang curtains in front of the shutters if you wish to soften the shape.

Star pieces are important

Find something you love that excites you, and make it a feature in your home. Whether it's treasured artwork, a focal piece of furniture or a fabulous collection of favourite items, it will bring pizzazz to a room through form and texture.

Be inspired by nature

You can't go wrong with a natural colour palette as a base for a room, but don't forget that bright colours are included in nature's paintbox, too. Using natural form is a wonderful way to accessorise your home. I like to use flowers, sculptural plants, wood and coral.