Spring

Colours are fresh, bright, clean and warm complemented by light coloured wood. Furniture, cushions and decorative accessories have rounded corners, making them easy on the eye and easy to live with. A tendency towards green-fingers means Spring homes are generally home to numerous well tended indoor plants.

Springs aren't afraid to get stuck in and get their hands dirty. Hard-working and practical, they love getting a bargain. Springs are sociable and enthusiastic with lots of energy and flexibility. Extroverted and friendly, they tend to make new friends easily, though will avoid weighty issues and conflict where they can. Springs are quick thinkers so if they do find themselves in conflict they can normally negotiate their way back out of it! Their easygoing sociable nature often makes them look and seem younger than their age. Spring homes are usually contemporary, modern and well kept – must be the spring-cleaning tendencies!

The nature colours we associate with Spring are reflected in the Spring palette. Yellows dominate the Spring palette, reminiscent of fresh flowers and sunlight and act as undertones across the palette embuing a sense of warmth. Dark colours and blacks are banished. Warm neutrals in hues of light greys, creams, ivories and beiges act as the backdrop in place of pure white. Fresh crisp greens reflect the green of young leaves. Reds have pink undertones.

Springs love conservatories and rooms where they can bridge the gap between inside and out. French doors, large sliding doors and pristine lightweight curtains maximise sunlight.

Colours to try:

Spring quick check:

• Sociable, welcoming, informal.
• Contemporary, airy, light, basking in sunlight.
  
• Warm, bright and clear palette.
  
• Windows and window treatments designed to maximise natural sunlight, soft curtains or blinds likely.
  
• Small floral patterns and gingham checks – picnic feel.
  
• Accessories include glass and crystal, coloured or clear, brass and golden finishes such as gilded objects. Room to display keepsakes important.
  
• Watercolour artworks keep the look fresh, clean and bright.
  
• Textures and fabrics are soft, often translucent to play with the sunlight.
  
• Light woods, avoids chunky furniture as they reduce the sense of space.
  
• Green-fingered, fresh flowers, pot plants commonplace.

Mixed seasons

Living alone you can decorate everything true to your season, but what happens when you live with others who may have completely different colour personalities?

Ever seen a couple trying to redecorate their home and select colours? If they both agree readily on the same colours they will generally share a common colour personality, which means that the combinations that appeal to one will generally appeal to the other. If they both can't agree on anything, chances are they have different colour personalities. If this sounds like your household, don't despair! Accommodating the personalities of different family members is easy when you know how:

• Allocate each family member a favourite room, such as their bedroom, and let them select furnishings and colours for that space that suit their colour personality. That way in at least one part of the house they will feel truly at home in. Bedrooms are an ideal room for this.

• To incorporate the seasons of other family members accessorise the room with one item from each family member's dominant season. For example, to appeal to an Autumn personality in a Spring room you might add an ethnic artefact to reinforce their dominant personality.

• Colour personalities do overlap. Look for the common ground and use that as the basis for your colour scheme. For example, Springs and Summers both like curved shapes, Springs and Autumns both like warm palettes, creams, ivories and wooden furniture, Springs and Winters like large windows with simple window treatments and cool palettes, Summers and Autumns like mid toned woods and share taste in mellow muted colours, while Autumns and Winters enjoy intense dark colours and opt for textures rather than patterns.