So are you a pale and passionate? or dark and daring? Whichever your personal style, colour is one of the most transformative things you can do to your home, says local interior designer, Jojo Humes Brown.

It can change a space from cold and uninviting to a cocooning space that invites you in, from bland blah walls to bold, beautiful backdrops.and all for the price of a pot of paint.

But once the paint is dry, hopefully you are standing back and admiring your handiwork, and now are thinking what next?

When I design a room I look at it like a recipe, It has to be layered, textured and exciting. It needs the right blend of lighting, flooring, furnishings and accessories as well as colour, contrast, different areas of interest and most of all history.

Often the best part of my work is when I return to see my clients homes and they have put their own stamp on them, the loved and treasured art, bequeathed books, a great vintage find, it all adds to the history and layering that makes it the place they love to be in.

Any room has to reflect the personalities of their owner, but it is paramount that it should also be supremely comfortable as well as functional, practical and inspiring.

I have been known to impart a trade tip to my clients, in that the rule of thumb I use is as a guide is a 70/20/10 ratio. So if your walls and flooring are one tone then perhaps your headboard and valance can be a contrasting shade and the cushions on your bed are your fun injection of colour and excitement. But don’t forget, when I say neutral I don’t just mean cream or white it can be grey, navy, taupe, or even black. These darker shades will really up the ante and give the sometimes forgotten excitement that we all need.

I like to enthuse my clients and inject confidence into their decision making, whether your taste is for the dark side or a more paler palette, there is always room for a little (or a lot of) alchemy.

Find out more at jojohumesbrown.co.uk

Photos by Rufus Owen