My favourite coral colour is Coral Glow in the Benjamin Moore range. This tone captures the perfect balance between pink and orange that distinguishes this shade.

Coral works beautifully as a background for classic paintings. Its deep richness offsets gilt or wood frames and enhances the brush strokes of any picture.

The fronds of sea weeds and gentle movement of underwater anemones are used to good effect in several wallpapers. Jean Monro’s Coralie wallpaper is a sweet version of a coral reef theme. Coming in three colourways (pink, green and yellow), they remind you of the variety of colours in the reef life.

A traditional, but equally gorgeous underwater themed paper, is by Seaweed by William Morris. This arts-and-crafts paper is bold, capturing the sinuous curves of the fronds in jewel colourways

The Little Mermaid should not have all the fun.

Dive in and use this image from nature to decorate your home

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Most notably fabric and wallpaper have taken the image of the bird in many variations to produce lovely colourful options for your room.

Whether is a gentle dove or a dramatic peacock there will be something to suit your taste.

The whimsical Chimney Swallows by Designers Guild is fabric with a strong image of the bird in flight . In the blue colourway is a gorgeous addition to a bedroom for curtains.

Birds aren’t always such a dominant feature in a fabric. The subtler usage of storks is used in the gentle Moss Bayou by Raoul textiles. This watery cotton linen has a faded feel reminiscent of French window dressings. A perfect choice for a sophisticated living area.

A bolder take can be illustrated in the indigo colour-way of Pheasant by Christopher Moore. This is very clipped with the static bird resplendent in clear foliage. Good in a kitchen this fabric is traditional but timeless.

Almost any room can be adorned by these avarian creatures. Once you look you will discover your inner bird watcher .

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An early example of the shape and style of this fruit being used in architectural design is the Dunmore Pineapple house near Falkirk dating back to 1761. Built by the Earl of Dunmore as a summer house, its large, bulbous shape overlooks a walled garden and contains a hothouse for growing pineapples.

In the domestic setting, this spiky fruit is also seen in many fabrics such as one called Pineapples by Barnaby Gates, available in four colourways. This fabric would look fine in a conservatory or a south facing bedroom. Sanderson also use this exotic image in a fabric called Pineapple Royale. This is a durable linen mix which would grace any dining room. To compliment this, add one of the botanical prints from the Royal Horticultural Society on the surrounding walls.

In wallpaper it has been used to great effect in a Mathew Williamson design called Ananas. This is a more abstract interpretation of the fruit and is playful and colourful. This would work well in a kitchen diner or a study. It’s a fun and imaginative re working of the staple.

Often the shape of a pineapple appears as the base of a lamp or in various other home accessories such as ceramics and glass objects. The combination of the tropical ambience, the unusual shape and dramatic leaves means this look will always have a place in home decor. It’s both special and familiar adding that touch of quirk and charm to any room.

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One of the most stunning wall coverings is produce by De Gourney. This luxury wallcoverings firm owes its development to the founder – one Claud Cecil Gurney who was enchanted by the art forms of the Far East and who developed a love of Chinoiserie. The trailing blossoms dotted with oriental birds of all descriptions are a high art form and worth the cost as they are stunning and exotic. Peacocks and humming birds fly and perch among the branches of this fabulous setting created in panels.

For a more edgy take on the look, try the designs of Timorous Beasties. Their Fruit Looters wallpaper depicts a bower of flowers in vertical sections. Nesting amongst these plants are colourful birds. Yellow feathered creatures and others with bright blue plumage peck at the fruit in the scene.

A traditional wallpaper and fabric with a bird image is the old stalwart by William Morris, the strawberry thief.

This bold image endures and is still a great choice particularly in the red colourway where the speckled breasts of the song thrush really stand out against the scarlet background.

Lastly looking for fun we can go to Obsborne and Little who have teamed up with Quentin Blake to produce the perky and delightful Cockatoo wallpaper. These bright little birds are sitting on jungle leaves. Their multi coloured plumage and beaks are fun and just perfect for any child’s bedroom.

Strictly for the birds these images are not, just as in nature the beauty and variety of avian design cannot fail to satisfy.

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