Create a home e on the Raj; Gabrielle Fagan on how to make it an Indian summer in your home all year round.

A FTER our disappointing summer, it's understandable we're relishing early autumn's sunny days and hoping they'll linger for as long as possible.

We're enjoying what's known as an "Indian summer" - a spell of warm, hazy weather that can occur in September, October or even November.

But wishful thinking won't ward off winter's icy winds and storms forever, so it's time to find a lasting way of conjuring a warm atmosphere - by treating rooms to a dose of hot-house style this autumn.

Turn to a decor scheme inspired by India, with the embellished furniture and jewel-rich colours of its interiors perfectly in tune with our growing desire to banish yesteryear's cool, bland room schemes.

And it's timely that a major n1ew exhibition is celebrating the nation's rich decorative style and culture.

Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts, is on show at London's Victoria & Albert Museum from October 10 to January 17, and features stunning collections including paintings, gem-encrusted jewellery, saris and even an opulent throne.

Luckily, you don't need the wealth of those bygone rulers to create a contemporary interpretation of India's style, as it's been embraced by high street stores and online companies, so there's an array of affordable treasures and gems which will help give homes an exotic glow.

You could simply feature one key ethnic-inspired piece, maybe a carved dark-wood side table, or add shimmering, bejewelled lamps, silky throws and a scattering of sparkling beaded cushions to transform a room into a decadent, sumptuous sanctuary.

Finish with a dash of spicy colour - reminiscent of a colourful Bollywood film set - on a wall and you might be able to put off turning on that heating for a while.

Summer's sultry days needn't be a distant memory if you choose from our feast of hot homeware.

SET THE SCENE Go truly authentic with bold wall colours characteristic of India, such as green, deep and vibrant orange, terracotta, red or - most contemporary (but only for the brave) - hot pink!

Alternatively, walls painted in soft whites or pastels are an ideal, simple backdrop if you're displaying richly-coloured accessories.

"In India, bright colour is treated as an essential component to the decorative scheme," says Judith Miller, who features a host of inspirational colour schemes in her beautifully illustrated book, Country Colour (Jacqui Small, pounds 30).

She explains that, just as precious jewels were used to decorate the Taj Mahal, so colour is used to radiate in an interior.

Her advice: "It's especially effective when used with bright saturated florals, fabrics with strong contrasting pattern and silks."

HOT BUY: Iconic Sixties fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki's collection of decadent flockembossed papers for Graham & Brown could have been devised for this style.

Particularly suitable is a hot pink floral Ophelia paper in Hollywood Cerise, or a metallic Grape version featuring black flock flowers on a gold background. Papers cost pounds 60 a roll.

FAR EAST FABRICS Floaty fabrics in bright colours, often with several contrasting shades used together, are a seductive way to dress windows or equally as effective as ultrafeminine hangings for a four-poster bed.

Source from specialist fabric shops or markets, or from online companies such as www.indianaccessories.

com HOT BUY: Block out a depressing view of dark clouds and showers by making a blind or curtains with a dramatic black and fuchsia pink bloom fabric. Lydia fabric is pounds 11.99 a metre from Dunelm Mill.

FURNISH AND FLATTER Decorative, embellished furniture with intricate carvings, or pieces with a beaten metal finish, are eminently suitable for a little palace that you can call your own.

An attractive Haveli nest of three carved tables with a sheesham wood veneer is pounds 199, from Tesco Direct. Or, if you're on a smaller budget, Dunelm Mill's white painted Mango wood cabinet, with elaborate carved door, is a snip at pounds 49.99, as is its Filigree carved mirror, pounds 39.99.

If you're completely won over by this style, Graham & Green has a beautiful range, sourced in India, of metal-covered furniture reminiscent of the palaces of Rajasthan, and a selection of handcrafted inlay furniture.

These are investment buys: a floral embossed white metal chest has a price ticket of pounds 975 and a Bronze finish coffee table costs pounds 350.

And there's plenty to plunder at newly-launched company Niki Jones, whose range is already drawing compliments. Striking bone-inlay chests start from pounds 435, and a black and white bone inlay Jaipur mirror costs pounds 84.95.

HOT BUYS: A white metal cabinet with crystal handle, pounds 130 from The Orchard at www.notonthehighstreet.com or an embroidered velvet footstool, pounds 50 from Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen's collection at Matalan.

CAPTURE AN EASTERN GLOW Lighting should be subtle, otherwise the glamorous, seductive feel of this look will be lost.

Laura Ashley's glorious lighting selection includes a deep pink Bryony glass pendant with glass fringing, pounds 100, or a Bluma ball pendant, pounds 175, glittering with suspended crystals.

Lamps on side-tables cast a soft glow, and QVC has featured Eastern style with a beaded amber lampshade and Peacock embellished base, pounds 44.25, and it also has three gold jewelled candles, pounds 13.50.

HOT BUY: A Champagne tiered pendant light, in silver and crystal, pounds 175 from Bhs's Maison collection.

Stockists LAURA ASHLEY: 0871 230 2301/ lauraashley.com Dunelm Mill: 08451 65 65 65/dunelm-mill.com Graham & Brown: 0800 3288 636/grahambrown.com Graham & Green: 0845 130 6622/grahamandgreen.co.uk Niki Jones: 0141 959 4090/nikijones.

co.uk John Lewis: 08456 049 049/ johnlewis.com M&S: 0845 302 1234/ marksandspencer.com Matalan: 0845 330 3330/ matalan.co.uk Not On The High Street: notonthehighstreet.com QVC: qvcuk.com Really Linda Barker: 0845 330 2880/reallylindabarker.co.uk Tesco Direct: tescodirect.com The Travelling Souk: 01865 821 835/thetravellingsouk.com Victoria & Albert shop: 020 7942 2696/vandashop.com Victoria & Albert Museum: 0844 209 1770/ vam.ac.uk Bhs: 0845 196 0000/bhs.co.uk The Natural Collection: 0845 3677 003/ thenaturalcollection.com

CAPTION(S):

Above, Temple jewels quilt set, pounds 54, from QVC; and, right, M&S Indian Summer leaf embroidered cushion, pounds 35 Left, Golden Throne of Ranjit Singh h,