Walls painted in Regency Blue (left) and Pale Berlin; plate painted in Delicate Blue, all £37 for 2.5ltrs of Absolute Matt emulsion, Little Greene Make your kitchen seem larger and more airy, and somewhere you’ll want to spend time in, with an uplifting colour scheme of sunny blues. Use two or three shades on the walls to add depth. Emphasise the space of an open plan dining/living room with varying tones of azure, turquoise and sky blue mixed with lots of white, light wood and glass. To avoid the interior design scheme looking too stark, soften the effect with a large-scale co-ordinating rug. Cream chairs with bleached beech frames and polypropylene seats and backrests in Matt Sky Blue, H81.5xW40xD50cm, £173 each; Levante table with tempered glass top, metal frame in Matt Sky Blue and bleached beech legs, H76xW140-220x D90cm, £1,334; Apotema rug, made from chenille/cotton, W170xL240cm, £465; Cathedral ceramic candlestick in Matt Air Force Blue, H13.5xW36xD14.5cm, £93.50, Calligaris

‘Vivid blues, such as azure and sapphire, are perfect for an invigorating look,’ says Janet Dixon, chief designer at Barker & Barker. ‘And whether you use them all over for maximum effect or picked out in decorative accessories, this trend is a simple way to add vibrancy.’ If you’re trying out a new colour scheme, sometimes less is more, and this show-off sofa proves the point – keep everything else in the room neutral to allow the glamorous piece to be the centre of attention. Nightingale Teal Blue velvet sofa, H86xW214xD86cm, £1,525; kilim rug in Grey, W170xL240cm, £299; Deco Decadence side table, H56xDia.45cm, £475; Alameda mirrored console, H81xW139xD47cm, £495; Circus Stripe floor lamp, £499; Le Souci de la Souris portrait, £195, all The French Bedroom Company Big floral designs look wonderful in dreamy blue hues and make the revival of this trend look so up to date. Use a bold wallpaper in a bathroom or en suite for maximum effect, or keep to one wall in the hallway.

Big Pattern Paola heavy-duty wallpaper mural in MRV-03, £217 per W49xL330cm roll, Mr & Mrs Vintage at Out There Interiors ‘Blue is currently hugely popular in interior design because it is a calm colour that looks rich with greys and taupes – shades that are still being used as a backdrop canvas everywhere,’ says bespoke rug designer Jennifer Manners. ‘I think the more muddy and less pure the tone of the blue, the more luxurious it feels: sea-glass blues, steel blues and pale blues give a sense of serenity that makes a space feel inviting.’ Create a Mediterranean-style space with roughly painted walls on plaster in calming chalky blue. Accentuate the look with rough wooden floors, flowing linen curtains, country-style furniture and lots of plants and greenery. Walls painted in Plumbago, £19.99 for 1ltr of limewash, Bert & May. Route Home bath towels in blue and black, from £35 each, Zuzunaga. The Frost Fair of the Winter of 1683–4 on the Thames, with Old London Bridge in the Distance, C.1685, £269.99 for H61xW81cm metal print, English at Art.co.uk

Hexagonal-shaped tiles are a big trend this season, and give a softer look than square or rectangular designs. Pick out different shades of soft blue to create a delicate kitchen or bathroom splashback. Melograno Artista Mix 4 glazed ceramic tiles, W200xL180cm, £210 per m², Reed Harris Stripes, florals and abstract prints work together when they’re in the same palette, so combine cushions of different patterns and shades in your interior design.plain blush blackout eyelet curtains Indoor/outdoor polypropylene cushions filled with Polyfill, from left: Mingled in Denim, £57; ikea anno inez curtainFlora Crewel in Denim (in Navy on right), £78; mothercare blackout curtain linings

Trimaran Stripe in Navy, £55, all Dash & Albert Europe A pale blue and light wood dining set in a large conservatory or extension makes a refreshing change. Complementary blue crockery and accessories will add the finishing, design-led touch. Cranleigh extending American oak dining table, H76xW165–206x D89cm, £1,029; Oatley dining chairs in Blue Grey fabric with mahogany legs, H91xW56xD61cm, £319 each, all Multiyorkeverest air curtains mohali ‘Blues are often overlookedas one of the most attractive colours for small, dark rooms – using a warm, strong blue forces you to create a wonderful lighting scheme and turn the area into a really dramatic and impressive space,’ says Edward Bulmer, director of Edward Bulmer Pots of Paint. ready made curtains 240cm drop nzMark Riese, creative director of Urban Living Interiors, adds: ‘To avoid a cold look, use textures, plus warmer tones and hues that work together.’gilbert's curtains kidderminster

‘Blue is the complementary colour to gold so, for this year’s look, accessorise a predominantly blue room with warm metals, such as gold, rose gold or brass, rather than silver,’ says Julia Begbie, deputy director of studies at KLC School of Design. Curtains made from Tara cotton-mix fabric in Petrol, £35 per m; Boutique Hotel Monaco rug, £525; Puccini iron and veneered walnut extending table, £1,699; Puccini faux-leather dining chairs, £299 each; Levin brass and glass ceiling light, £240; Boutique Hotel ice bucket, £30, all John Lewis The ultramarine hue of this paint is Sir Terence Conran’s favourite colour. It’s a strong, intense shade with a slight violet tinge that’s warm and inviting and creates a contemporary look in both modern and traditional interior design. Pair it with a warm neutral for an elegant look. Wall painted in Cornflower Heart (right) and Seed Pod, both £36 for 2ltrs of emulsion, Paint by Conran Create a stand-out look with a bold, iconic wallcovering.

Team with Mid-century modern furniture, dark flooring (white or cream is too much of a contrast) and sleek accessories. Dots wallcovering with 3D textile finish in Royal Blue, based on Le Corbusier’s Polychromie Architecturale, £26 for W70xL100cm, Urban Living Interiors An oversized indigo rug teamed with white furniture and walls makes for a vibrant, uplifting room setting. It’s the perfect look for a light-filled extension or large bedroom. Pick out the colour of the rug on cushions. Still rug in Royal Blue with Ivory, made from hand-tufted New Zealand wool and bamboo silk, from £350 per m², Jennifer Manners This year’s seaside trend is much softer and more elegant than previous years – there’s a Scandi hint of grey, rather than bright Mediterranean blue. ‘Breezy blue is the perfect palette for a tranquil feel,’ says Emma Hopkins, marketing manager at Crucial Trading. ‘Introduce this trend with the use of seagrass or coir rugs and runners. Alternatively, pair with pale woods and warm greys for a Scandi feel.’

Not sure which blue to choose? A multicoloured blue rug or carpet is a great starting point – pick out the different shades in furniture, upholstery and accessories for a co-ordinated effect. Quin cabinet, made from engineered wood and plywood, H180xW100xD40cm, £499; Parson dining chairs with beech legs and linen-mix fabric in (from left) Quarry Grey, Ocean Teal, Powder White and Castle Grey, H85xW45xD52, £199 for two; Iona dining table, H76xW240xD100cm, £500, and bench, H44xW240xD40cm, £279, both made from solid fir wood with grey legs; Braid handtufted cotton rug in Tonal Blue, W160xL230cm, £249; When using wallpaper in a kitchen or dining room, keep the pattern calm so as not to clash with furniture and appliances. This boat scene works perfectly. Zingara wallpaper in Cerulean Sea, £57 per roll; skirting board painted in Jack Black, £27 for 1ltr of Traditional oil gloss, both Little Greene. Type 75 Maxi pendant light in Alpine White, Anglepoise. Geronimo chairs, £290 per pair, Loaf.