Looking afresh at terracotta, there are many ways of introducing this strong colour and using it to your advantage. Terracotta can add a sophistication to a study or boot room adding depth and vibrancy. These rooms are made interesting by the use of a dark colour and you can compliment it with accents of neutral tones so as not to be overpowering.

A good contrast to this colour would be a black in a lamp or the exact opposite in a cream skirting and woodwork which will emphasise the clarity of the dark orange. Another contrast would be to use a soft pink tone to punctuate the darkness.

In nature we see terracotta teamed with natural greenery in plant pots. Using this combination would give you a striking and fresh take on the colour.

Metallics also work well with this shade. A brass lamp or copper bowl look good against a painted wall.

This down to earth colour can bring heat and light into your house. Autumnal tones are for cosy and mellow effects.

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Try thinking of bringing the outside into the home by using the themes of rural life, the natural products from the trees and animals around us as inspiration to decorate your home.

In this way wood provides both a serene and rural ambience and a practical style that will enhance any home.

It is surprising how many ways in which wood can be incorporated into a design scheme.

The obvious way to use this calm, natural product is on the floors. A solid wood floor will give you a hardwearing and clean surface that will last a life time if it is maintained. The choice of oak, beech, walnut and pine means that there is something for everyone. The glow of the wood gives a room a depth and calm like no other surface.

Wooden furniture can be made comfortable and chic by using soft pliable materials with it as a contrast. A wooden frame with a velvet or cow hide seat will be funky and modern as well as stylish.

In smaller ways, wooden accessories are now available. The sculptural wooden lights of Tom Raffield provide elegance and charm. They link with the outside space as they are made from purely natural materials and lend an openness to a kitchen space and an interesting dappled light effect at night.

A rustic environment can be luxurious and so by using the wooden theme with the softer textures of fur, wool and linen, you can embrace the hues of autumn and snuggle up in the house of your dreams.

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With the revival of a sixties vibe, paint manufacturers and fabric houses have created a vast number of new variations on the ginger theme. This has been influenced both by the step back intimate movement to mid century and an interest in the use of vibrant colours in tribal and ethnic designs.

Taking the colour orange as a starting point, we find other shades that can be used in the home to add the warmth of the orange but without the scream of colour.

In fabrics this tone is best in a silk or Palin velvet since any pattern tends to overpower and just be too much.

For subtler use of orange on the walls, look at apricot, peach, salmon, pumpkin and butterscotch which can be styled with a caramel leather and a soft brown faux fur throw. Neutrals are a must to off set this strong flavour but use creams and off whites as you need to remain in the same tonal palette.

Dulux have jungle ginger or Morroccan sands that can be teamed with copper accessories and dark wood floors.

One note of caution, avoid Charlotte’s Locks by Farrow and Ball. You can have too much of a good thing!

Visit or Gallery for more inspiration and modern interior design ideas or go back to the homepage and contact us on 01223 360797.

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