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Interior design and home decor has become big business and we all want a slice of style in our homes. Home decor and decorating equipment has been one of the big sellers of the last year, and it's no wonder, we can't look at social media without seeing gorgeously styled homes, and with TV shows too, interior design is everywhere.

5 ways to make a visual impact with interior design

So how can we make a visual impact in our homes with interior design?

Colour is the most obvious way to add real impact to a space, really think how you want the room to feel and function, also the dimensions of the space and whether the room gets plenty of light or not will really affect what works in your space. Dark colours can add real drama to a room, and can be used to bring in the dimensions of a large space to make it feel more welcoming and cosy, whether used on one wall , all four or whether you use the ceiling as a fifth wall, colour really counts. Of course if you want to create a calm, light room you may want to tone down the colour palette, neutrals are big news right now, so light and bright doesn't have to mean white. Oatmeal and biscuit shades add a restful feel to a room along with warmth meaning light spaces don't have to feel stark. Colour can also be used for zoning spaces, adding a colour block above a desk creates a work area, or maybe create a play area in a living room with zoned colour choices.

Lighting is an effective way to add visual impact to a room, and help to create the mood for a space, bright lights for tasks, like spotlights in the kitchen work for practical reasons, dimmed pendants or lamps work great in a dining room making a more informal relaxed space for enjoying a meal with friends. Lighting can also be used to draw attention to areas of the room, like an uplit statement plant or lamps to light up art works or photographs really make a visual statement in any room.

Art is a really personal way to add visual impact to any space, and can often be created easily by yourself without having to be particularly artistic. Slogan artwork is everywhere and is so easy to create yourself with Freebies from font bundles , make your own design with phrases that mean something to your family, and frame yourself at home for instant art at a fraction of the cost. Or maybe grab yourself a canvas and some paint samples and create your own abstract art, fun to do and an inexpensive way to make a statement in any room of the house.

Mirrors are fantastic way to add visual impact to any room. I love a bold mirror, I am coveting a large round one, just need to find a place to put it. Forget boring rectangular mirrors, think crittall designs, round or even freeform shaped mirrors that add style to your room and that's without the light and feeling of space a well placed mirror can create.

Textures can really create depth and visual impact in a room, for me soft furnishing can really bring a room to life. I'm a very tactile person and love the feel of plush fabrics like velvet on a sofa or a soft rug under foot. Adding layers of textures is easy with soft furnishings like cushions, blankets and throws, they really elevate a space and add the all important cosy factor.