Transform your home from shabby to chic - by bringing the outside in!

The arrival of autumn has brought with it a host of exciting new interior design trends, providing homeowners in Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and the West Midlands with the ideal opportunity to revamp their home in preparation for more time spent cosied up indoors.

To help those stuck for inspiration, Taylor Wimpey North Midlands, which has a collection of professionally styled showhomes at its developments across the region, has teamed up with Debbie Evans, creative director at top interior design company, Show Business Interiors.

Together they've compiled a series of top tips on how to use the new season's trends to give your home a brand new look.

Carl Cooke, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, explains: "The arrival of autumn heralds a host of new interior trends from which homeowners can take inspiration - including many that are used to create stunning looks in our very own showhomes.

"And whilst these are the work of interior design professionals, recreating a similar effect in your own home is achievable, regardless of your skills or the amount of space available."

So where do you start if you don't have a footballer's budget or the talent of Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen? Debbie, who has been designing inspirational showhomes for Taylor Wimpey for almost 11 years, offers her top tips for transforming your home...

The colour scheme - take inspiration from autumnal themes which are currently popular in the interior design world. Move towards a deep, rich colour scheme of burnt oranges, rusty reds, golden yellows and dark earthy tones, and keep these in mind when choosing paint, wallpaper, furniture and accessories.
Lighting - this should be warm and inviting to create a glow in a room rather than a gleam. Use concealed side lighting or diffused overhead light shades finished in natural fabrics or materials. Introduce metallic and reflective surfaces, in muted hues such as bronze or pewter, which can be used to bounce the light around the room.
Incorporate pattern and detail - both are very current and 'on trend', particularly the reproduction of natural patterns like leafs, tree bark and stone effects, which dominate many of the new wallpaper ranges.
Furniture - wooden furniture is enjoying a comeback, especially pieces that feature a strong grain detail. Walnut is the wood of the moment as it is dark and interesting but oak is becoming popular again. If you prefer something more modern, then glass is also a key trend for this season but should be coloured, rather than clear.
Keep it interesting - incorporate texture, weaves and patterns in your curtain and upholstery fabrics using tones of sands, soft greys and caramels. Inject splashes of colour through the use of cushions and throws which are made from sumptuous fabrics such as wool or faux fur.
Accessories - look out for songbirds and hedgerows, both strong features in the garden, which are currently popular and present in crockery and kitchenware ranges.

Debbie concludes: "The main features of autumnal schemes are very much the key trends favoured by the interior design world at the moment, giving you a bumper harvest from which to furnish your own home."

See Also: Property News (6705), Taylor Wimpey (1853), Shropshire (31), Staffordshire (29), Derbyshire (33), West Midlands (16)