Creating a well designed home isn't about following fashion or keeping up with the Jones'; it's about creating an efficient, beautiful space that will help to increase your standard of living, according to TV's interior design duo Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister.

"Indeed, it's a fact that a well designed home will help make you and your family happier, more harmonious and much more successful. This summer is the season to banish beige and let colour in! And we're not just talking about a suspicion of colour or a few accent tones! In fact, summer living room colour schemes will be bold and confident! So follow our tips, free your imagination and start creating!"

Go Green
It's time to go green, as summer approaches we'll be using soft tones of this gorgeous colour to create an exciting, eco aware, neutral palette. Selected in tones of fern, palm, pine and sage, green can be used on its own to sumptuous effect, or mixed with clear blue or aqua to create spaces with a sense of outdoor-friendly living. Combine timber finishes with leather and stone to establish a confident look that's lushly natural. Darlings, it's all in the mix!

Posh it up
The return of hedonistic sophistication and elegance (last seen in the 1990's) will really spice things up chez vous! Go 'luxe' by incorporating monochromatic elements with mirror finishes and metallic ornamentation and silk finishes to take your home into a new dimension of luxury. Offset the warm feel of gold finishes with rich dramatic fabrics, such as velvet or suede, which are a veritable feast for the fingers! And, for a burst of colour, punctuate a black and white background with soft delicate pink or trendy taupe.

Get Crafty
Home crafting is back! Yup, we're filming in North America at the mo' and, all of a sudden, craft classes, sewing sessions and glue gunning are all the rage! And, as this feel good summer trend continues to gain ground, on both sides of the Atlantic, the good news (especially for those who aren't handy with a sewing needle!) is that you can simply be inspired by rich patchworks and textured blankets without having to DIY! Hoorah! So get out there and either buy the handmade look from your local department store or simply use paint colours that elicit the sense of sanctuary characterised by hand crafted items. Combine different colours such as rich reds, warm browns, and pumpkin orange to create a 'tapestry' approach to décor that's cosy, welcoming and friendly.

Scents and sensibility
Adopt a multi-sensory approach to your home by making sure it smells as good as it looks. OK, so if you live in the country it's all very well to simply open your windows and let the freshness flood in (farmyard permitting!) but, for those of us who live in the city, we need to discover new ways of bringing the country indoors! Which is where the Ambi Pur 3volution plug-in comes in handy! The fragrances Fresh New Day and Relaxing Countryside will transport even the most ardent city dweller to a quiet countryside. Ambi Pur 3volution combines three complementary but alternating perfumes which are released in a continuous cycle, one after the other, every 45 minutes, so your nose never gets used to the aroma and you always smell it. And it's available from all good supermarkets for just £7.99 (RRSP).

To keep noses and eyes extra happy, ensure that clutter is kept to a minimum and that rubbish is cleared out of your home on a daily basis - that way your inner sanctum will always smell fresh and clean.

Take it easy
Please, no more 'cookie cutter' interiors! As far as this season is concerned good design and decorating will be all about doing your own thing and stamping your own identity on your home. Design, generally, will become a much more personal affair and, as far as we're concerned, that's great news. So…stop simply 'lifting' style from catalogues, stop running with the crowd and stop copying your neighbours! Now, more than ever, it's time to do your own 'thang'!

Indoors / outdoors living
If you really want to pull out all the stops, then consider removing your rear windows and popping in French doors instead! Next, add a deck finished in a complimentary tone to your indoor wooden floor to create a veritable infinity effect. Blur the lines between indoors and out by furnishing your garden (outdoor kitchens and display cabinets will be big news this year) and use outdoor colours, indoors. Use fresh smelling fragrances like Ambi Pur's 3volution Seaside Breezes to complement the overall effect. Gorgeous!

Get Fresh
Spring/summer season is all about new life and new thinking so, with this in mind, try moving your furniture around for a brand new, no cost look. Even something as simple as a change of room scent can seriously change the mood so opt for something that's sunny, fresh and light. Try Heavenly Flowers available in Ambi Pur 3volution - it's like having fresh flowers without a vase or try the complementary Ambi Pur Blossoming Flowers scented candle for a stylish finish.

Pink as a masculine shade
With UK men's retailer Moss now selling more pink shirts than white and Marylebone Cricket Club thinking of changing the colour of their balls from white to pink (they consider this shade easier on the eye) perhaps it's time for the rest of us to look at pink in a new light; as a great decorating colour and a potentially perfect shade for a unisex living room. Tip: avoid adding too many frills and keep everything delicately muted to ensure you don't scare your boyfriend off with a Barbara Cartland tribute!

Bureau de change
Spice up your home office technology with coloured accessories. You don't have to be grey to be efficient, so let your laptop reflect the inner you by using bold colours, large graphics and organic shapes.

Picture It
Most of us associate birds, nests and eggs with the summer months and with this in mind it's great fun to fill our homes with reminders of these lively symbols. Pretty ornithological prints and other bird-related accessories, such as imaginatively painted birdhouses, are also fun to have around as the seasons shift.