According to design guru Kelly Hoppen, the secret in decorating is in layering. Just like your outfits, layering is a great way to mix and match different textures and colours. Don't be afraid to mix velvet with cotton, strips with checks.

If your bedroom needs warming up, try a cheaper alternative to painting walls and change your bedcovers. Companies such as Tesco, Matalan and Argos do some great bedroom duvets and sheet sets. And invest in some plump pillows and cushions: they'll make your bedroom look warm and inviting.

If you want to add a splash of colour to your grey, winter days, try accessorising. Warm, rich colours such as burgundy, red, forest green and even yellow are all the rage on the fashion catwalk, so extend this trend into your home. But be aware that trends change, as does your taste, so try a richly coloured vase, pillow, lampshade or slipcover. They're much easier to replace when summer comes and you want to move onto lighter, sunnier colours.

If you're ready to take a bigger leap, consider replacing your carpet. Bold colours will look fabulous in a large area or room with little furniture whereas neutral shades will provide a calming backdrop to busier rooms and have a lighter impact on smaller rooms.

Each colour has a slightly different emotional effect on us. Here are some of the effects:

Yellow
First colour seen by newborn babies and is the most cheerful, but also the most exhausting if viewed for a long time. Yellow is considered to improve memory, stimulate the appetite, but can increase hostility.

Blue
Most popular colour worldwide as it relaxes the nervous system, and children with blue rooms have been proven to achieve higher IQ results.

Green
Is the most restful of all colours, reminding people of nature and health. It is also associated with growth, wealth and balance.

Red
A physically energizing colour, it is the colour of love, passion, danger and rage. Red is said to help digestion and increases strength.

White
The colour of purity and innocence, white suggests cleanliness, hope, joy and enlightenment. but also indecision.