Monday blues are said to reach an all-time high on the third Monday of January every year, AKA Blue Monday. Said to be the gloomiest day of the year, what is it that makes this specific Monday more depressing than any other Monday? Well, it’s the perfect storm of post-Christmas financial pressure, failing New Year’s resolutions and dreary January weather. Oh, and there’s the fact that the much-loved festive season is suddenly behind us.\n\nSo, how do you stay motivated and inject some cheer into the ‘saddest’ day of the year? At Lick, we’re big believers in the power that colour can have on your mood. Read on to discover 5 simple ways to make your Blue Monday a little less, well, \nblue\n by adding hints of uplifting colour into your space. 

Colour psychology: how do colours affect our emotions?\nNaturally, we turned to our Lead colour specialist Tash for answers. \n\nOn the relationship between colours and emotions, Tash explains: “In psychological terms, colour is emotion. Colour has a specific influence on us on all levels: mentally, emotionally and physically. And colour psychology can help us to understand how colour can influence our mood, our behaviour, how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with others.” \n\nShe went on to elaborate on how it works, “When light strikes the human eye the wavelengths are converted into electronic pulses. These impulses pass to the Hypothalamus (where the emotion comes from) creating an emotional response.”\n\nSo, what does colour psychology tell us?

Colour psychology can help us to understand how colour can influence our mood, our behaviour, how we feel about ourselves and how we interact with others.

So, how can you make colour psychology work in your favour? Bring vibrant, energising colours into your home! Surrounding yourself with uplifting colours can have a positive impact on your mental health. Get inspired by these colourful bedroom and living room ideas and start bringing some energy into your living environment. A little less stress and more zen can improve our physical health too, boosting our energy and giving us healthier skin. Just ask DeMamiel founder Annee DeMamiel, who shares her tips on how to deal with stress and how it can affect our skin & body. Sign us up.\n\nHere are a few easy ways to bring mood-boosting colours into your life through interior design: 

Boost your mood with some colourful flowers\nFlowers are a super quick, easy (and cheap) way to add some instant colour to your space. You don’t need a big fancy floral arrangement, just pop down to your local supermarket and grab yourself a small, fresh bouquet of whatever strikes your fancy. \nFor a vibrant vibe, opt for pinks, oranges and yellows. Or you could work with the colours of your soft furnishing and walls and use your flowers to accentuate the colour scheme of a room.

Connect to nature by investing in some indoor plants\nIndoor plants are a millennial craze for a reason (search for #plants on Instagram and you’ll see what we mean). They enhance your mood, purify the air that you breathe, \nand\n add an easy dose of style. As Tash says, “Green is restorative, restful, and tranquil. Lighter greens can be refreshing and rich green helps us to connect to nature.” \nWe’d recommend adding some green into your bedroom space. Pop a plant on your bedside table or windowsill, or hop on board the trend of cascading plants on the shelf above your bed. Either way, plants add a splash of colour and liveliness to your room. \nHave a track record of killing plants? Opt for succulents all the way. They’re super cute and very hard to kill.  Perfect for those of us without a natural green thumb. 

Deck your walls with colour\nAdd colour \nand\n your personal stamp into your space by decking your walls with your fave pieces of art or your most-loved photos. Not only does this add an instant personal touch to your home, but you can also bring an array of vibrant colours into your space without the commitment of painting entire walls with it. Mix and match colourful pieces with black and white prints and photos to create a cool and artsy vibe. \nFind affordable prints of your favourite pieces at local markets, art fairs, and online. Get them framed and pop them on the wall. Easy. 

Add bursts of colour in your soft furnishings\nAnother way to bring in colours that’ll make you happy \nand\n look good? Through your soft furnishings. Make a statement with a vibrant coloured piece of furniture, such as a yellow sofa. We know, it sounds daring, but hear us out. As Tash says, “Yellow is bright and cheerful and brings positivity to the heart of the home. Its warm and welcoming hue radiates happiness and optimism. Yellow 01 is great if you want a sunny, happy way to start the day”. \nNot quite ready to commit to a yellow sofa just yet? Bright cushions are a great way to add a pop of colour without going all the way. Or you could dress your windows in blinds that are bolder and brighter to contrast with a more muted colour scheme, such as our sunny Sun 01 roller blinds. \nRemember, the way you decorate your home and the colours you choose should be a reflection of your own taste and personality. Get some ideas on how to choose colours for different rooms based on personality with our posts on kids’ bedroom ideas and home office ideas.

Ready to start boosting your mood by using colour psychology in your interior design? \nExplore our range of Lick paint colours \nand add a splash of what makes you happy through paint, even if it’s just a single statement wall or a couple of kitchen cupboards. Buh-bye Blue Monday. 

There is a misconception around studio apartments that they cannot be both functional and beautiful. But we at \nMy Bespoke Room\n, UK's #1 rated interior design professional, are here to prove this theory wrong!\n\nRecently, our Head of Design, \nLucy Henderson\n visited Lick’s Lead Colour Specialist, \nTash Bradley\n and created some incredible videos as they toured her stunning studio apartment in South London. Check out the \n#MeetTheExperts \nvideo series and take a look below to see our top tips for both renters and buyers of studio apartments.\nConsider how you use your space\nMake sure that before you dive into our fantastic ideas that you know which space is most important to you. For example, if you often play host to your friends and family then it’s important to prioritise your entertaining space, like your \ndining\n and \nliving room\n areas. If you often watch movies with your guests then you may want to leave a wall clear and instead use a projector to host your next movie night. It’s cheaper, practical and has a certain excitement and nostalgia to it.\n\nLikewise, if you value a good night's sleep, then make sure you separate your bedroom and living space to allow a place to wind down. This was the first thing on Tash Bradley’s list when she moved into her beautiful studio apartment, as she wanted the bedroom to feel separate from the rest of the flat. After all, when you live in a studio, an \nopen plan kitchen and living room space\n is absolutely fine, but in the bedroom, you want that feeling of going to bed. Use a more soothing \ncolour scheme\n and a relaxing \nlighting scheme\n to help ease your mind from the soaps on TV and a long day's work.

Studio apartment idea: build your own walls\nOne of the simplest ways to separate rooms is by visually blocking sections off. Many people buy plastic room dividers but this can look very basic. You can \ncarve out space in your home\n by using some of our more innovative interior design techniques.\n\nWhy not use a bookshelf as a makeshift room divider? Not only will it look more sophisticated but also means you can create as much or as little privacy as you like by decorating the shelves with house plants, \ncurated memorabilia\n and obviously, books!\n\nIf you’re looking for something that will take up very little space or maybe something more flexible, then you may want to think about using curtain dividers. These are especially popular for separating the bedroom area from the rest of the space. You can either set up a curtain rack to divide the area or even attach curtains to the ceiling around your bed.

Dividers are great for creating zones but they often make the separated room quite dark as you’ve blocked the natural light. One way to get around this is to use panelled glass wall dividers. These are fantastic for creating a “\nbedroom zone\n” while letting light in and giving some small degree of privacy.\n\nIn fact, Lick’s Head Colour Specialist, Tash Bradley uses this in her incredible studio apartment in South London. Tash gave Lucy a tour of her stunning home – \nclick here to take a peak.\n\nStudio apartment idea: create the illusion of space\nIt’s incredible what you can do in your studio apartment to make it look like you have more space than you do. Mirrors, glass or tiles reflect not only the space you already have but also the light, which makes all the difference!\n\nThe more natural light you have, the more spacious and soothing your space will feel. Try to keep from blocking this precious light with bulky furniture. Opt for pieces with a slim profile and with legs rather than bulkier options to cover as little floor space as possible.\n\nThere’s some seriously ingenious multipurpose furniture out there that can help you use less space than usual, like ottomans which can be both a coffee table and have an additional soft footstool section. However, be warned that you shouldn’t use too many multipurpose items as it can become impractical. You may find yourself spending most of your time folding and unfolding combination tables and moving furniture around to serve multiple purposes. Make sure you keep it simple!

When \ndesigning small spaces\n, scale is key. If you have low ceilings, choose lower height furniture to give the illusion that there’s more height than there actually is. Other tricks that will give the illusion of tall ceilings are hanging your curtains well above the window and having them drop all the way to the floor. This creates the feeling of airiness and height. Paint tricks such as painting the skirting boards and above a picture rail the same colour as the walls will give the same effect. Soon your studio apartment will seem twice the size!

Studio apartment idea: zone using paint and pattern\nA lick of \npaint\n can make all the difference! There are multiple different approaches you can take when designing a studio apartment. We recommend \nzoning your room\n with different patterns, prints and colours. You may want your dining room zone to have an energetic shade of blue while your bedroom may have a softer hue, like \nPink 01\n or \nBlue 01\n, for a relaxing sanctuary. Discover more \nbedroom paint colours\n.\n\nPainting the walls and furniture isn’t the only way to zone your space. You can also select rugs to section parts off as well as using different lighting intensities in each section depending on its purpose. For example, bright lighting will be needed in the kitchen but the living room can have a more cosy and ambient lighting scheme.

You could go in another direction completely and decide to paint the room, furniture and all in one colour to blur the lines between each space and make the room appear bigger. This can look a little bland and uninspiring but an excellent solution to this is to paint a \nthree-quarter painted wall\n all the way around your studio apartment.\nStudio apartment idea: opt for problem-solving storage\nIt may seem obvious that \nstorage is crucial\n when living in a studio apartment but you may not know how many storage solutions are available to you!  We suggest you use all the available space you have, including your walls. You can use shelves, but also use your walls to store your dining chairs for easy access and to not clutter your floor space.\n\nBuilt-in storage is always a massive help but it either comes with the apartment or you have to spend a fair amount of money building it. However, you can solve this by purchasing multi-purpose furniture. Divan beds, benches, ottomans and even nesting tables can all come in really handy for saving space. You want to keep your flat as minimalistic as possible but you still need to put your belongings somewhere!

Studio apartment idea: use everything!\nLeave no stone unturned when it comes to decorating your studio apartment. Everything should be incorporated into your design scheme and everything should have a purpose when space is scarce.\n\nEven your kitchen appliances can be decorated too to match the look you’re going for. You can decorate your fridge with curated pictures of your family or even paint part of it to match your colour scheme and use rent-friendly wallpaper to decorate another part. Or you can completely hide your kitchen with the use of built-in doors - like magic!

Need an expert to help you transform your space into a stylish home? Our professional designers will help completely transform your room and help you make the most of every inch! Get started today by completing \nthis 15 minute brief on MyBespokeRoom\n or booking in a \nvirtual colour consultation\n.

Kelly Hoppen CBE is one of the most well-known figures on the interiors circuit. You can imagine then just how excited we were to curate a palette of six new neutrals paint colour with her. After all, she’s internationally recognised for her mastery of colours in the neutral camp so who better to develop \nLick x Kelly Hoppen palette\n with us than the queen of neutrals herself?\n\nRead on to meet Kelly Hoppen CBE; the interior designer, product designer, author and TV personality, and discover \nour new collaboration: Lick x Kelly Hoppen\n.\nKelly in brief\nClean lines and neutral tones, warmth and opulence, East meets West – that’s Kelly Hoppen home’s trademark and what’s put her on the map as one of the most sought-after interior designers on the planet. She’s kind of a big deal.\n\nFrom super yachts and private jets of the rich and famous to hotels and homes, her portfolio is one that spans four decades, countless continents and has scooped up an impressive number of awards and accolades (an MBE in 2009 followed by a CBE in 2020 no less for her commitment to British creativity and international business).\n\nHaving co-designed the likes of rugs, tiles and fabrics in the past, now, she takes on colour creation alongside our resident colour specialists to blend six tonal neutrals from easy greys to the beige that’s been missing from her design life for forty years and counting (more \nadvice on how to use beige paint\n right this way).

How would you describe your signature style?\nKH: “Purist luxury fusing East and West to create balanced harmonious interiors.”\nWhich interior trend inspires you the most?\nKH: “I don’t follow trends and never have. I follow instinct and am inspired by my clients’ wishes using my physiology of design based on layering of textures of every sort and the creation of space using my signature grid line methods.”\nWhat’s the story behind these six colours you’ve created for Lick?\nKH: “My love of the 'perfect neutrals’ is long documented. Over the years I have used certain palettes of fabrics that have resulted in me creating the perfect basic six colours that will work in any interior design scheme.” Psst… read our tips on \nhow to style all six colours.\n

If you could describe the palette in one sentence, what would it be?\nKH: “The perfect neutral palette to enhance any design.”

Why is painting a room so important?\nKH: “I think paint has become a much more superior item in a room. People are painting more mindfully than they used to be. It is a really great way to change a room. Paint is reupholstering your walls. For me it’s expression, it’s happiness and it’s energy. So that’s how I look at colours. That's why I love colour in either a whole room or a wow statement or a pop of colour to enhance.”\nWhat has been your biggest pain point when choosing a paint palette for a space?\nKH: "Paint was often a last minute afterthought of running to the shop, mixing it and then running back to slap it on the wall, and then often it would be the wrong colour. Hence why I love the Lick samples! Because you can stick them up on your wall and look at the colours in day and nighttime light and really see how the colour changes. I also love how Lick believes in the architecture of applying paint – it’s about so much more than just slapping it on.”\n“When you have confidence in colour you make the right choice for your walls.”\n“When I was 17 my biggest fear in design was choosing the paint colour. Because I used to go down and get it mixed and I would come back and it would never be the colour that it said it was. The Lick palette makes things so much easier, because you’ve given people a range of shades in six or seven colours so that they then have the confidence to choose. When you have confidence in colour you make the right choice for your walls. It’s such an easy thing to do, but it’s been such a pain before. And you’ve made it simple.”\nIf you could only choose one colour from the palette to use in a project, which would it be and why?\nKH: “It would have to be \nBeige 05\n as this is so new and a colour I have needed for forever.”

Tempted to paint the town neutral? Read up on \nhow to style Lick x Kelly Hoppen paints in your home here\n, get painting your home using the \nLick x Kelly Hoppen Timeless Neutrals paint colours\n and don’t forget to tag us in decorating pics!

If you have a shed in your garden, you’ll know that it’s more than just a spot to stash that never-used treadmill or other abandoned piece of gym equipment (hey, we all have one). A good-looking garden shed can contribute a lot to the overall ‘look’ of your outdoor space. \n\nOne of the main ways you can transform your shed from a simple storage space to an aesthetically pleasing garden attraction? Revive it with a lovely, durable paint colour of your choice.\n\nSo if you fancy sprucing up your shed for a little bit of garden eye candy, keep reading. We break down all the essential tools you need to paint a shed, how to paint a shed and the \nbest shed paint\n out there.\nTools you’ll need to paint a shed\n\nLet’s kick off with what you’ll need: \n\nMild cleaning solution\nA bucket filled with water \nCleaning sponge \nSanding block \nPaint brush \nA tin of weather-resistant \nexterior and masonry paint\n\nWhat is the best paint for sheds?\n\nWhen choosing paint for your shed, durability and wearability should be your priorities. Obviously, you want a fabulous colour that’ll spice up your garden space - but it also needs to stand the test of a fair few British rainy seasons. \n\nOur \nrange of Lick exterior and masonry paints\n is designed to be weatherproof, self-priming and highly durable. Perfect for all those tired-looking garden sheds out there. 

How to prepare your shed for painting \n\nBefore you start slapping the paint on, there are a few essential prep steps to get your shed surface ready: \n\nClean the shed surface.\n Boring, we know. But an essential step to get that shed surface paint-ready. Use a bucket of water and a mild cleaning solution to sponge down the surface. \nSand down any old paint. \nTo prep your shed for its gorgeous new paint, it’s time to say goodbye to the old. Sand it down to get rid of any old, flaky paint bits. Our \nwall repair kit\n comes with a 120 grit sanding block.\nMake sure the surface is completely dry. \nOne of the mantras of painting - never, ever paint a damp wood surface. \n\nCheck out our blog for all the steps you should take to \npaint wooden furniture\n and other surfaces with Lick. \nHow to paint a shed - the step-by-step process\n\nStep 1 – Apply primer (if needed)\n\nWhile this step isn’t essential if you use Lick paint (all our paints are self-priming), we’d recommend it for previously painted surfaces or drastic colour changes. \n\nStep 3 – Apply your first of coat of Lick paint \n\nTime to actually paint the shed AKA the fun part. Start to apply your first coat of Lick paint colour of choice evenly over the surface of your shed. Feeling like going bold and colourful? Try our \nyellow shed paint\n.\n\nStep 4 – Allow the first coat to dry \n\nYou’ll be pleased to find that this part requires absolutely zero effort on your part. Sit back with a cuppa and wait for that first coat of shed paint to dry. \n\nStep 5 – After at least 4 hours of chill time, apply that second coat \n\nWe’d recommend two full coats to give you that professional paint job finish you’re after. \n\nAnd there you have it, a spruced-up garden shed that’s \na lot\n more exciting to look at than it was a few hours ago. Save the shed decluttering session for another day.\n\nExplore our range of \nexterior and masonry paint colours\n.

Even as adults, we sometimes get overwhelmed when it comes to new changes and experiences - be it decorating a new house, or just changing the plate set in the kitchen. With so many colours around, it’s often hard to choose ‘the one’ for our space, which might result in hours spent doing thinking, planning, and the occasional ‘Are you more a ‘green’ or a ‘blue’ person?’ quiz. But what about the little ones? How do we pick the best colour for a kids' bedroom?\n\nChoosing a colour for the little ones is actually really easy with the right preparation and a good dose of understanding what makes them tick. To get started, ask yourself this question: 'How would I describe my kid in three words?'. Think about their likes and dislikes, how they’re spending their time, what fascinates them. Maybe they’ve already marked the walls in your home with watercolour handprints and little rainbows… or maybe they enjoy quietly reading a book in the sunshine… or maybe... yes, collecting bugs is a hobby too! \n\nTo celebrate September - the month when kids start the new school year, we’ve chosen to focus on some easy DIY and painting ideas for children's bedrooms and play areas. With our ‘Back To School’ theme we’re hoping to give you a bit of inspiration for your decorating projects, but also, as ambitious as it sounds, to help you understand your kids better. \n\nIn order to do that, we asked our Colour Specialist \nSam Bramley\n (a superstar at Lick and supermum at home) to dig deeper into the different kids' personalities and come up with a colour palette for each one of them. Here they are - 9 colour schemes for 9 kids personalities: The Gamer, The Explorer, The Artist, The Limelighter, The Wild Child, The Dreamer, The Bookworm, The Pink Lover, and a special one - Colourful Spectrums.

The Gamer\nYou probably know this personality pretty well. The Gamer type is playful, whizz, always moving around and exercising some freshly learned action moves. For that personality, Sam chose our \nGrey 01\n, \nGrey 03\n, \nBlue 04\n, \nBlue 06\n and \nOrange 02\n colours. Pair them well and you'll create a fun ambience that will keep the little one curious and energised.

The Explorer\nThis is for the one who's always curious, the one who wants to see everything. The stone collector, the bug enthusiast, the brave detective. For all the explorers out there, Sam picked our \nGreige 02\n, \nGreen 01\n, \nWhite 01\n and \nGreen 08\n. These colours will easily bring the outside in, creating a feeling like you're playing in nature. When picking a colour for The Explorer, make sure that it's an earthy one, preferably with green or grey undertones. Our Greige palette is the perfect choice for that.

The Artist\nIt's important to encourage the kids to be creative and explore their talents fully. If you find that your kid is fascinated by music, art, writing, or even if they're just really good at building sandcastles, encourage their activities and help them develop their skills from a young age. To help you with that, Sam has chosen a colour palette that consists of \nWhite 01\n, \nYellow 02\n, \nPurple 02\n, \nGreen 08\n and \nRed 03\n. Using one or more of these shades will create a colourful world full of inspiration and bright new ideas. You get bonus points if you engage your little one in the decorating process - for example, ask them to help you with some DIY ornaments that you can later hang on the wall above their bed.

The Limelighter\nHere's for the confident, budding actors and go-getters. Let them embrace their full glow by decorating their bedroom with \nWhite 01\n, \nYellow 01\n, \nBlue 05\n or \nGreen 01\n. Each one of these colours will improve the mood and balance the energy in the space.

The Wild Child\nThat personality type just oozes energy. For the kids with 'ants in their pants' and the ones who are always up for mischief, Sam picked our \nWhite 01\n, \nGreige 02\n, \nOrange 02\n, \nYellow 02\n and \nGreen 01\n. All of these colours are earthy and calming, they will work together with the kid's vibrant nature but at the same time balance it in a way that will inspire, motivate and soothe.

The Dreamers\nThe dreamers are the ones who sometimes live in an imaginary world, have imaginary friends and host imaginary tea parties... but hey, at least there will be no spills on the carpet! To stimulate their thoughts and make them even more creative, surround them with calming, neutral, pastel colours and make them feel like they're in a fairytale. To achieve this, use our \nGrey 01\n, \nWhite 05\n, \nPink 01\n, \nBlue 03\n or \nBlue 01\n. If you're feeling adventurous, you could easily combine all of these colours and paint a soft rainbow behind the kid's bed - perfect for sweet dreams.

The Bookworm\nThe Bookworm is thoughtful, sensitive, and enjoys some quiet time alone in a calming atmosphere. To create that, use our \nWhite 05\n, \nPink 02\n, \nYellow 01\n, \nYellow 02\n or \nOrange 02\n. These shades will help transport them to magical kingdoms and enchanted meadows and make the time spent in their bedroom a constant adventure.

Pretty In Pink\nFor the princesses and the princes, here's a colour palette that embraces the softness of the pink shade and creates a pastel, bubblegum, unicorn-y atmosphere that's perfect for play areas, feature walls or simply the whole bedroom: \nWhite 02\n, \nPink 01\n, \nPink 03\n, \nGrey 01\n.

The Colourful Spectrums\nAll kids are special but some of them need a bit more to feel calm, safe and, well, home. For the kids with autism, ADHD and special needs, Sam suggests a calming, peaceful colour palette that consists of \nBlue 01\n, \nBlue 03\n, \n(blue grey) Blue 04\n, \nGreen 01\n, \nGreen 08\n, \nPink 01\n, \nPink 02\n and \nPink 03\n. All these colours will improve the focus, calm the anxiety and help the kid deal better with stressful times and other environmental factors.

For more inspiration and colour tips, follow us on \nInstagram\n.\nNeed some colour advice? Book a \ncolour consultation session\n with one of our colour experts and they'll help you transform your home in no time.\nCheck out our 5 easy \nkids bedroom ideas\n. Or if you're looking to decorate an adult bedroom, read our recommendations for \nthe best colour for a bedroom her\ne. \n*Cover photo by Gemma \n@gemellisx\n - check out her profile for some beautiful interior inspiration.\n\nShop our designer paint colours\n

Meet Tash Bradley. Lick’s bubbly and vivacious Director of Interior Design, it’s her mission to help you better understand colour, the way it can influence our everyday lives, and the spaces we call home.\n\nTash spent her working life in the creative industry; first as a professional artist, and then in the world of marketing. In the last 10 years, she has specialised in colour and interior design, working alongside her mother in property development and home decoration, as well as studying interior design at the University of Arts London. More recently, Tash completed a degree at Advanced Colour Methods for Industry Professionals in applied Psychology of Colour.

As Director of Interior Design, Tash describes her role as having three pillars: “colour consultancy, product development, and content creation. My goal with all of these is to help you create your dream home. Think of me as your decorating friend. We will do it together. We will get you there”. Whether through live Q&A’s, webinars, how-to videos, or colour theory lessons.\n\nNot only is she the chief curator of the Lick colour palette and wallpaper collection, but to date, Tash has carried out over 1000 colour consultancies for clients across the UK, EU and US, giving them the confidence they need to transform their homes.

What do you love most about your role as Director of Interior Design?\nMy favourite thing about my role is my colour consultations. Every time I get off a call, I leave feeling excited and inspired. I get so much joy out of helping people who are stuck in their decorating journey to transform their homes. I love talking through the aspects of colour psychology and getting them to understand its power. It’s so rewarding to be able to speak to our customers first-hand, understand their pain points, and feed this back to our team so that we can continue to evolve and improve the way we educate and help our customers.

Where do you think your love of colour and design came from?\nGrowing up with a mother who was not only an interior designer and property developer, but also a trained psychologist and lecturer, gave me the foundational knowledge about colour psychology before I even studied it. I learned from a young age the power of interior design in improving a person’s lifestyle and wellbeing.\n\nWe moved around a lot as kids as my mother developed and flipped lots of houses, and in each house we lived in, we were given a full creative licence to decorate our room the way we wanted. This was so integral to my creative development as a child. My mother really empowered us to be expressive, and create our own little sanctuaries that reflected who we were and what we loved at the time.\n\nWhy do you believe colour psychology is so important and how does it influence the work that you do?\nColour is a language and colour psychology allows us to understand it. We take in colour before we take in the form. When you enter a space, the first thing you see is colour, followed by sound, smell etc. We react very emotionally (and often subjectively) to colour, which in turn impacts the way we behave and interact within a space.

Colour is a language and colour psychology allows us to understand it.

Colour psychology is an integral part of identifying the shades that speak to a client’s space, style, personality, and lifestyle. In order to understand what would work best in my client’s home, I have to first understand how they want to feel in their space and how they emotionally respond to different colours. This is because some colours can be triggering to some people and hold different associations. I endeavour to understand (and help the client understand) which colours produce positive associations and which don’t, in order to help them create a home environment in which they can feel happy and safe. Our homes, after all, are our sanctuaries and impact our mental health more than we know.\n

Our homes, after all, are our sanctuaries and impact our mental health more than we know. 

Where do you source your inspiration?\nI love flicking through magazines, and (like all of us) scrolling through Pinterest and Instagram. But I can get quite lost in the latter two. These incredible online platforms offer a wealth of inspiration, but it's also easy to get lost in them. For me to get inspiration I need to leave the house. I truly believe the best colour combinations are found in nature. I get so much visual stimulation from getting outside and letting my eyes dart around, picking up patterns, shapes and forms.\n\nIf a client is struggling with what colours they like, I always tell them to do one thing; go outside. Take pictures, pick up shells or flower cuttings—anything they are drawn to. Bring them all inside and lay them out, like a mood board. You’ll start to see the tones, textures and patterns you are naturally attracted to. This will give both them and me a better idea of the colours they should decorate their space in, as subconsciously they are gravitating towards those colours because they make them happy.

How would you describe your interior style?\nI would describe my style as farmhouse meets eclectic, but I don’t design my space for Instagram or because I think it’s a decor trend. I design my space for me and my husband. Everything in our home holds sentimental value and has a story attached to it. Whether that’s a painting or a trinket we’ve found on our travels. We love every corner, every ornament, and every colour in our home. Because it is our little sanctuary, a safe and comfortable retreat for not only us but also our friends and family. I’ve found that if you feel comfortable in your home, it will make others feel comfortable and welcomed too.

Sam and I are both bubbly people, and in many ways, our home reflects that. You’ll know as soon as you walk in that I’m going to be chatty. Whilst I like my walls to be warm and neutral, my accessories are bright and colourful. I need colour in my life. It energises me and makes me feel joyful.

What’s your favourite Lick colour?\nI don’t have a favourite, they are my babies! I love every single colour equally.\n \nWant to get the Tash Bradley eclectic farmhouse look? Take a \npeek inside her Somerset cottage\n that she and her husband renovated, or \nbook a video consultation today\n.

No matter which industry you decide to start a business in, there’s no one ‘right’ way to launch and grow it. When it comes to the world of interior design, the added element of creativity involved makes it a bit more of a challenge, but an exciting one! One of the best ways to learn how to grow your business? By seeking out the wisdom and experience of other entrepreneurs in your space. \nThis week, we caught up with Kate, a seasoned interior design business owner who also founded \nThe Interior Designers Hub\n. We asked Kate for her expert advice on how to set up and grow your own profitable interior design business. Here are her top tips: \n1. Set goals for your business\nAs you start to grow, it's not enough to operate on a wing and a prayer. Work out how much revenue you want to make in a year, and work backwards from there. How many clients and projects will you need to take on to meet your target? This also helps you be more targeted with your marketing and more selective about the clients you take on.\n2. Get crystal clear on your messaging\nBuild a recognisable brand by being clear about your design style, and keeping your communications consistent with your brand ethos and values. Everything you put out there should reinforce your brand. For example, if you’re all about \nsustainability\n, make sure that everything you share highlights the sustainable aspects of your projects, products, and so on.

3. As you grow your business, realise and accept that you can’t do everything on your own\n\nBuilding an excellent team around you is essential to your growth and success. Make sure that your whole team is properly onboarded and mentored to maintain the ethos of your business.\n\n4. Make sure that your backend processes are as slick, efficient and friction-free as possible\n\nFor instance, do you have a client onboarding process? What happens when someone makes a telephone enquiry? How do you manage the ordering of samples? What’s your invoicing process? How do you chase late payment and non-payment? \nMaking sure that you’ve thought through all these processes and that your team is trained to deal with them will help you deliver a smooth customer experience.\n5. Focus on client relationships\n\nYou’ll find that a lot of repeat work comes in through past clients and from recommendations from existing clients. Nurture your client relationships and stay in touch by sending a regular newsletter, an occasional personal email, and a Christmas card.\n\n6. Reach new audiences by collaborating with other professionals in your field.\n\nResearch suppliers and influencers in your local area and contact them to ask about collaborations. You can hold joint webinars, run workshops together or even simply write blog posts for each other; it all keeps your content fresh and allows you to reach new audiences that may be interested in your services. 

Check out the \nThe Interior Designers Hub\n for UK accredited qualifications in interior design, as well as mentorship, training and support from a close-knit design community. \nBecome a Lick Pro member for exclusive trade discounts, priority service and helpful tools \n\nInterior designers, help your clients transform their homes with our all-new \nLick Pro membership\n. Become a Lick Pro member and you’ll get access to trade discounts on our ever-expanding product range, priority customer service and helpful online tools. Sign up \nhere\n or email \npro@lickhome.com\n to order your free paint brochure. 

They say that love is blind but when it comes to interiors, that’s definitely not the case. Our research shows that over a third of Brits \nwouldn’t\n continue dating someone if their interior choices gave them the proverbial ‘ick’, and nearly half of you think that good decor makes a person more attractive. What's more, nearly 1 in 2 Brits think that home decor is a better indicator of someone's personality than their fashion choices. As Tash Bradley, our Head Colour Specialist explains:\n

How we style the interiors of our homes and ourselves are really good indicators of who we are, so it makes a lot of sense that colours also play a part in the dating world.

“How we style the interiors of our homes and ourselves are really good indicators of who we are, so it makes a lot of sense that colours also play a part in the dating world. Often couples who have similar interior decor styles and attitudes to their home can find more harmony in their home life.”\n\nThis is not to say, however, that a successful relationship relies on having the same decor style - just a little bit of compromise. So, we’re here to ensure your decorating journey is a harmonious one, with our definitive guide on how to decorate your home if you and your partner have different decor styles.\n\nCouples’ home decor tip: focus on what you both love\nOur International Colour Consultant Charlotte Cropper says “a good starting point is to focus on what you have in common”. Perhaps they’re partial to that urban \nindustrial decor style\n whilst you like all-things \nmodern farmhouse\n? Don’t worry - it’s not time for one of you to move to the city and the other out to the country. Just start by thinking about what these styles have in common: rustic woods, metals, industrial pendant lighting, exposed architectural features, house plants, and a neutral backdrop. In fact, fine tuning your decor choices in this way can actually make design decisions that bit easier.

A good starting point is to focus on what you have in common.

Couples’ home decor tip: find a way to compromise \nThis is just good relationship advice full stop, but finding a way to compromise is key to decorating your home if you and your partner have different decor styles. You might love neons but they prefer neutrals. That’s ok. You can still incorporate colourful elements against a neutral backdrop. Whether that’s through \ncolour blocking\n, \nneon signs\n or \npainting or wallpapering your ceiling\n. There are lots of ways you can inject a little colour into your home even with a \nneutral colour palette\n.\n\nCouples’ home decor tip: create a personal sanctuary \nThat said, we all need a space that feels like a bit of us. According to our Colour Specialist Sam Bramley; “it’s part of our makeup to have territory and to mark it, to make us feel safe. So expressing yourself in an agreed area is good for harmony at home”.

It’s part of our makeup to have territory and to mark it, to make us feel safe. So expressing yourself in an agreed area is good for harmony at home.

Whether that means your very own man cave, a la Jim Chapman or a dressing room that’s a total boudoir. Even if you don’t have space for an entire room, use the principles of broken-plan living to carve out a space that is yours. Whether that’s a reading nook or yoga corner create a personal sanctuary that’s unapologetically you.

Couples’ home decor tip: do it gradually \nOne for the \nmaximalist decor\n devotees and \neclectic decor\n clutter bugs, if ‘more is more’ is your design mantra but your partner prefers things minimalist, then tread lightly. Don’t overwhelm them by creating an entire \ngallery wall\n all at once - add to it gradually. You can also add a few scatter cushions here, a couple of trinkets there, the odd plant pot where you can. Just go slowly and allow them time to adjust.

Couples’ home decor tip: find a colour scheme you both love\nThe colours in our home affect both our mood and how we feel about our partner, whether it’s a first date or long term lover. Whilst almost half of Brits claim they’d be happy if their partner's bedroom was painted white, almost two-thirds of women claim they dread finding out their partner’s bedroom is painted brown. “If your partner hates green but you love it, look at the \nundertones,” \nsuggests Charlotte Cropper. You could go for a neutral with green undertones or even a teal.

This was the case with Jim Chapman when decorating his family home; “I \nlove\n green, but my wife doesn’t”. So they managed to find a happy medium with their gorgeously rich \nTeal 03\n in the living room. Check out how they decorated their family home by watching the home tour below:

Couples’ home decor tip: create a joint bedroom sanctuary\nThe bedroom is a space you both share and want to feel like a joint sanctuary. It’s also a very emotional space, and according to \ncolour psychology\n, different colours conjur different emotions. So think about how you want your bedroom to make you both \nfeel\n. Whilst almost half of Brits claim they’d be happy if their partner's bedroom was painted white, almost two-thirds of women claim they dread finding out their partner’s bedroom is painted brown. In fact, according to our research; brown, orange and black were the most dreaded colours to find in a bedroom.\n\nSo, if your less decor-savvy half is after one of these, some alternatives could include; \n\nGrey 07\n or \nGrey 08\n in place of black\n\nRed 01 \nor \nRed 03\n instead of orange\n\nBeige 05\n or \nBeige 02\n as an alternative to brown\n\nOr if you’re desperate for pink but your partner wants a neutral, look for a white with pink undertones, like \nWhite 06\n or\n Pink 01\n masquerading as white, as seen in Tash’s bedroom below.

One of our top tips is to ask yourself a number of questions; what do I use this room for? When do I use this room? And don’t forget to consider \nwhether your room is North, East, South or West facing\n. Once you’ve nailed these, you can whittle down your choices and pick from the paint colours that are left—a much more diplomatic way to choose. And if you’re really stuck, speak to the experts and book an \nonline consultation with our Colour Consultants\n—happy to help settle all your interior queries.

You’ve heard of neutrals, but have you heard of the new ‘twist’ on this interior design colour scheme? Say hello to the “new neutrals”, an increasingly popular palette that you’ll spot all over Instagram and Pinterest home decor accounts over the next few years.\n\nNever heard of it? Discover 2021’s rising colour trend: ‘new neutrals’ and learn why you should bring these colours into your home.\nRising interior trend: the new neutrals\n\nSo, what are new neutrals?\n\nEarthier than the cool greys and classic whites that you may normally think of when you hear “neutrals”, new neutrals are neutrals with a bit more character to them. They’re typically more warming colours that can help you create that calm yet uplifting space to retreat to from the outside world, without being totally devoid of colour. And they fit right into current popular design trends, with most styles this year geared towards helping us create a comforting and nurturing home environment.\n\nIn the words of \nVanessa (one of our in-house Colour Consultants)\n, with new neutrals “....it's no longer about greys and white. If you're thinking about adding warmth to your home, consider introducing new neutrals such as greige and softer pink tones. With grown-up pinks leading the way, it is no wonder we have seen a growing trend in muted tones being used as a neutral base for many design schemes.”\nWhat are the new neutrals?\n\nLet’s talk colours. Here are some of the most popular shades in the new neutral colour family:\n\nGreige paint\n\nDescribed by Vanessa as “the perfect blend between grey and beige”, greige offers a clean and contemporary feel, whilst the beige undertones add a touch of warmth and cosiness. Intrigued? Learn \neverything you need to know about greige paint here\n.\n\nWe love greige so much, we have two shades of it. \nGreige 01\n is a muted green grey blend, while \nGreige 02\n is a wonderfully warm greyish taupe.\n\n\nShop greige paint\n

Beige paint\n\nBeige is the perfect backdrop colour that suits any decor style. And you can find varying shades of beige. For instance, \nBeige 01\n is a lovely, light caramel with subtle yellow and grey undertones, while \nBeige 02 \noffers a slightly deeper brown with a hint of grey. For a soft, earthy beige with notes of grey and yellow, opt for our \nBeige 03\n. Find out \neverything you need to know about beige paint\n.\n\n\nShop beige paint\n

Pink paint\n\nInterestingly, the most popular colours we’re seeing at the moment are pink and green. Soft pinks such as \nlight Pink 01\n and \nPink 02\n are a great choice if you’re looking for a light colour to substitute your traditional neutrals.\n\n\nShop pink paint\n

Green paint\n\nGreen may not be the first colour that comes to your mind when you think neutral, but surprisingly, there are some more delicate shades of green that can serve the same purpose. For instance, \nGreen 01\n is a soft green with a warm yellow base and a mellow grey undertone which gives it that neutral effect. \nGreen 09\n is also an uplifting green with soft yellow and grey undertones, making it a very neutralising, soothing colour.\n\n\nShop green paint\n

Add a touch of warmth to your home and learn how to style the new neutral paint colours in your home. Explore our full collection of \npaint colours\n and find out \nthe best neutral paint colours to use for dark north-facing rooms\n.

A lot has changed over the last couple of years. Changes to our lives that seemed temporary: the home office, the need for outdoor space, a yearning for simple living (not to mention a newfound appreciation for DIY) have become long-lasting. During the pandemic, we were forced to rethink how we used our space. Naturally, this has had a massive impact on our decor choices. That's why we're taking a look at the biggest interior trends to look out for in 2022.\n2022 interior design trend: homes as emotional spaces\nOften overlooked is our emotional connection to our homes. Over the last couple of years, that emotional connection has only strengthened as our homes have become our literal safe haven. \n\nAs our \nColour Consultant\n Charlotte puts it, "Now more than ever, our homes are a place where we want to feel sheltered, protected and supported". So how does this translate into interior design trends? Well, would-be decorators are paying greater attention to \nhow colour psychology affects our emotions\n, and we're seeing lots of gentle, nurturing colour choices.  Warming \npinks\n are like a hug in a paint tin, whilst \nbeiges\n create an earthy, grounding effect. For the full low down, take a look at our \n2022 colour trend predictions\n. 

Now more than ever, our homes are a place where we want to feel sheltered, protected and supported.

2022 interior design trend: healthy homes\nMore than just maintaining our physical wellbeing, having a healthy home is about preserving our mental wellbeing too. It’s time to create a sanctuary within your home by instilling a bit of that spa-like zen, evoking the senses, and sorting out your \nfeng shui\n. Things like incorporating house plants to help us feel closer to nature, carving out zones in our home for meditation, hit classes or yoga, and decorating with gentle paint colours, are all predicted to stay relevant next year and beyond. Essential oil diffusers in scents like bergamot, ylang-ylang or lavender can alleviate anxiety, whilst the child in us feels a sense of security surrounded by soft, tactile, swaddling blankets or throws.

2022 interior design trend: cosy living\nCosiness isn't a reaction to the weather: it's a reaction to the world outside. It's a feeling so many of us want to evoke in our homes—as demonstrated by the continued popularity of the hygge trend. "I encourage people to find those nooks, those spaces where you can snuggle up with a blanket and feel safe", says Tash, our Lead Colour Specialist, "Our living rooms and bedrooms should always have an element of cosiness to them. A place you can retreat to". During the pandemic, our homes were our cocoons, our sanctuaries, and this has been reflected in our decor choices.

2022 interior design trend: craft & DIY\nAccording to Fameed Khaliqe; “we are living in the golden age of craft”. What we are seeing is an increased demand for design that is bespoke, authentic, and hand-made. Why? Because fine craftsmanship stands the test of time. As we move away from ‘fast fashion’ as a society, we too are moving away from ‘fast design’. More and more, we've seen our community of decorators looking to vintage or \nupcycled furniture\n, rather than buying brand new. \n\nAn emergence of ‘makers and doers’ has occurred in the last decade, with people being hooked to the creativity (and affordability) of DIY;  "It's about putting your own touch on it, which makes anything you make feel more loved. It's about feeling pride in your work, standing back and saying, "I made this!" explains Tash. "Anything crafted instantly adds texture, personality, and a grounding feel".

Anything crafted instantly adds texture, personality and a grounding feel.

From the cottagecore movement to embarking on \nDIY wall panelling\n across the world, the arts and crafts movement is gaining traction, and it has a positive environmental element too. \n\nIt's a great way to know \nwhat to do with leftover paint\n. From \npainting your garden furniture\n, \ngetting crafty this Halloween\n, having a go at these \neasy DIY Christmas decorations\n or these \nhandmade Christmas cards\n. The list is \nalmost\n endless.

2022 interior design trend: smaller, simpler living\nWhether you're renting or buying, property prices are on the up. That's why more and more of us are opting for simpler living. "Our generation wants freedom", says Tash, "When you're tied to bricks and mortar, you're restricted. For some, the idea of a smaller home that they can lock up and leave for a month to go travelling is the answer". \n\nFrom studio flats and tiny homes to fully embracing van life and the open road, when it comes to design, they each require one thing: being really smart about space. From built-in storage beneath the stairs, bed, and floorboards to grown-up bunk bed-cum-office layouts, prepare to be amazed at how you can create a simpler living space without going totally minimalist. We've loved seeing at-home frills like subway style tiling, geometric-patterned flooring, fixed beds piled high with throws and cushions, and even the odd log fire in tiny homes and vans. So, if you're looking to declutter your life, take a look at these \n6 minimalist kitchen decor ideas\n.

2022 interior design trend: broken-plan living\nA post-Covid alternative to \nopen-plan living\n, broken-plan living was born from a need to use our spaces differently—whether to create more privacy or separate work from play. It's about using key design elements to break up the space without breaking the flow. Distinct zones can be created by using different floor finishes, creating partitions or strategically placed furniture. \n\nFor example, using large open-shelving not only acts as additional storage, but it can also create a home office, whilst different flooring can differentiate between kitchen and dining areas, as can a kitchen island or butcher's block. An L-shaped sofa can carve out a cosy living space whilst tall, leafy plants can act as a partitioning screen.

2022 interior design trend: biophilia\nOne of our favourites to date, \nbiophilic design\n, is the interior trend that keeps on growing. Linked to reduced stress, enhanced creativity and clarity of mind—it's no wonder that some of the world's top companies have implemented it in their workplaces. Charlotte explains, "As humans, we are so interconnected with the natural world. Our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as our productivity, depends on us spending time in nature". Some of the key considerations include lots of natural light, internal and external views of nature, and opting for natural and handmade materials and fabrics.

As humans, we are so interconnected with the natural world. Our physical and mental wellbeing, as well as our productivity, depends on us spending time in nature.

And how does this translate into our home decor? Take a leaf out of the \nJapandi trend\n or \nScandi-interior style\n and opt for bare windows or blinds over curtains to allow maximum natural light and provide unobstructed views of the outdoors. Inside, incorporate lots of indoor plants into your home decor.\n\nUsing colour schemes inspired by nature, like our predicted 2022 sustainability colours, is a great way to bring the outdoors in. Take a look at these \ngreen bedroom and living room ideas\n and our range of \nbotanical wallpapers\n for some inspiration.

2022 interior design trend: shy tech & digital cosiness\nYet another Covid-coined word to add to the dictionary; “‘shy tech enables you to connect to technology in a positive way", says Tash Bradley, our Lead Colour Specialist. Nowhere is this more important than in the bedroom, where many of us choose to go tech-free. Whilst in the early noughties, your brand new flatscreen might have taken pride of place, today many decorators are looking to disguise it.

Shy tech enables you to connect to technology in a positive way.

In the bedroom, you could use a tapestry to ensure no blinking lights are visible after bedtime, whilst in the living room, you could use a cupboard to disguise your TV or home office. Wall-to-wall built-in shelving, piled high with books and trinkets, can also help to mask a large TV. On the other end of the spectrum, many designers are going digital in order to benefit our homes. From salt lamps to sun lamps, these little bits of tech can actually create an air of digital cosiness. Whilst designers like James Turrell take the concept of mood lighting to a whole new level.\n2022 interior design trend: expanding outdoors\nWith our newfound appreciation for our gardens, they've become as vital a part as our indoor living spaces. 'Outdoor space' topped property searches during the pandemic and our need for it shows no sign of wavering. \n\nMerging our indoor and outdoor living spaces is set to be a big trend next year, as detailed in our predictions for 2022’s garden trends, where we saw outdoor dining, open-air kitchens, and outdoor entertaining spaces all taking centre stage. Even if you don't have access to a garden or balcony, planting a window box with your favourite flowers or herbs will have the same soothing effect on the eye. Whilst the act of caring for your plants can be both relaxing and rewarding.

We hope this closer look at 2022's biggest interior design trends will give you some decor inspiration for the year ahead. Take a look at \nour colour trends of 2021\n and see if you too have found yourself adding a bit of nature into your home.

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The biggest interior design trends to look out for in 2022