TO KICK-start your summer of DIY, here’s some sound advice to help you make the right decorating decisions by being better informed and more confident in your colour choices.

Crown Decorating Centres marketing manager, Paula Taylor, explains how to choose colour with confidence and avoid those decorating disasters.

Selecting colour for your home is not a science, there are no right or wrong answers, but there are guidelines that can take the guesswork out of the process and ensure you make great design decisions first time round.

You may have an idea in mind of how you want a room to look, but not know how to achieve it, or you may be open-minded and overwhelmed by endless interior possibilities. Either way, it is crucial that you narrow down the options to focus on a style statement.

In the home personal preference is of course key.

Some people opt to stick to minimalist whites and greys or creams and neutrals which lend themselves to the on-trend Scandinavian palette, whereas others respond to strong vibrant colours.

The trick is to find a starting point. It can be anything from working around a favourite cushion, ambitions to create a light and airy space or recreating a favoured period-themed interior.

Once you’ve found that initial inspiration the best way forward is to embrace the style and follow your theme through to create an overall look which visitors can admire and which you feel really reflects your personality.

On-trend themes to fire the imagination include:

Period: the elegant Victorian and Georgian eras remain in vogue because they are strong style statements. Effective in any home, regardless of its age, this period style works best when we fuse traditional colour, furniture and pattern for a co-ordinated approach and a definite sense of sophistication.

Classic: if in doubt keep it simple with a simple yet elegant interior. The classic look is understated yet luxurious with a colour palette ranging from whites through to greys, duck-egg blues and muted browns.

Contemporary: clean lines, maximising space and minimising clutter are the watchwords for a contemporary look. Shades of grey and monotone schemes are bang on trend with splashes of neon colour to stand out against a neutral backdrop.

Vintage: the vintage look is coming of age and moving on from the traditional florals to embrace nostalgia with a contemporary twist. Think of the classic lines of the fifties and sixties and think Orla Kiely wallpaper teamed with muted blues, greens and oranges.

Rustic: The farmhouse kitchen look with exposed wood and hardy materials are key elements of the lived-in rustic style. The brilliant news is it’s easily achievable in a matter of hours with great products like this exposed wood effect paper from Galerie. Combine it with soft steel and vibrant green colours for the ultimate modern style statement.

Eclectic: a great way to combine your favourite homewares and update your décor – the eclectic style takes influences from a wide variety of cultural, ethnic and period sources, combining to create a unique and individual look. If you’re not fazed by mixing bold colours and shapes, give it a whirl.

The important thing is don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Our in-store experts are happy to discuss ideas on how to mix paint colours and wallpapers successfully and how to make décor reflect your personality.

For details of the nearest store visit crowndecoratorcentre.co.uk.