Colonial look touch of the hasa tribal.

LESS IS MORE

Colonial is a wonderful style that feels comfortable, travelled and sophisticated - it's also great for family homes as it will appeal to all age groups. The key ingredients are natural finishes, lots of wood, tribal touches and animal motifs. But remember less is more - don't overdo it or your room will feel like a jungle. Look to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore for inspiration at www.raffles.com and let your imagination travel.

FEEL YOUR WAY

For walls that feel as good as they look, try adding textural covering. Here, grass cloth paper gives a neutral colour tone with added depth and richness coming from the texture. This wallpaper is tricky to hang, so call the pros or invest in extra rolls to allow for mistakes. For real woven paper try Seagrass, pounds 17.99 per sqm from www.urbaneliving.co.uk or get the look with Phantom by Umbra, pounds 24.99 a roll, www.tangletree-interiors.co.uk.

YELL TIMBER We added lots of timber to transform a modern, boring space into a panelled retreat. We did this by adding one inch stained timber strips to cover the seams of the wallpaper. A timber paint-effect on existing skirtings and a new coving completes the look. Ronseal do brilliant stains and their Paint And Grain will create the look of wood but practice before starting. For more information visit www.ronseal.co.uk.

ON THE SHELF If you have a small space like the niche next to the door here, transform it with fitted shelving. We asked our chippie to make us floating shelves from veneered MDF which we stained to match the wall timber. The result is clean and modern and the perfect place to showcase our colonial accessories. Try the Opus Mango Block Shelves from Next for an off-the-shelf alternative - pounds 40 for a set of three from www.next.co.uk.

BALANCING ACT Take a balanced approach to design by using pairs of items in symmetrical fashion. Two tray tables flank the sofa, while lamps balance out our sideboard with art as a centrepiece. Keep a balance between plain and patterned by countering the walls with plain carpet and sofas. For a similar sofa try the Carolina three-seater in sand, pounds 269, www.sofasofa.co.uk. For tables try the Capri Butlers Tray, pounds 29.99, www.cargohomeshop.com.

EXOTIC TASTE Add colonial-style visual touches to give your room an identity badge and finish off the look. Use bold, plantinspired art or accessories with faux animal print like the mirror featured here. Don't go wild with fake animal print or your room will look like a polyester game reserve. The Inspire animal print mirror is pounds 97.89 from www.homebase.co.uk and Zebra print velvet cushions by Julien Macdonald, pounds 16 from www.debenhams.com.