A home is like a wardrobe: to a certain degree, how you decorate it comes down to personal taste. But there are rules too. Much like it’s sacrilege to fasten the bottom button of your blazer, it’s a crime to clutter your flat with stuff that makes it look worse than when it was unfurnished. So to help guide you in the art of decorating your domicile, we hit up six interiors experts for their need-to-know tips. Come on in.

Make It Your Own

“Start with a blank canvas and let your personality come through the things you love,” says Geraldine James, Selfridges’ Home buyer and interiors expert. “If you have a passion for music or art, make that the focus of the room. If you love to cook or entertain, invest in professional, sleek cook- and dining ware that you’ll enjoy using and will want to leave on show. “Picking just a few key pieces that are important to you will create more space and a modern feel whilst still reflecting your character.”

Selfridges Home

Get Lit

“Lighting can make or break a space,” says Rob Owen, senior interior designer at the Manser Practice. “Many modern spaces tend to have a vast array of ceiling downlights, which don’t create any drama as the light they offer is too uniform. “Using a variety of task lamps, table lamps and floor lamps around the space will allow you to control the mood you are trying to achieve.”

Berkeley Group

Test The Walls

“When you’re thinking about repainting a room, be brave,” says interior designer Adam Bray. “Think about how you really want to live; if you have a burning desire for an ink black bedroom, go for it. “It’s really important to live with a colour for a while so it’s worth buying sample pots and a roll of lining paper, painting as much as you can be bothered, and then pinning the paper up and seeing how the colour is at different times of the day or night [before committing to a colour].”