It definitely helps if you choose an overall color scheme for your flat. If you have one major scheme, and all your colors go well together, that will create a cohesive feel for your flat. You can definitely match your accessories (pillows, art, curtains, etc.) to your overall color scheme, but you don't have to. If your big pieces (couch, furniture, bedding, rugs, kitchen features) match your general colors you'll be fine. Basically, don't feel like you have to match every single thing in your house to one of five colors. Choose paint colors and the big things in a coordinating scheme, then don't be afraid to add touches of something different to each room. You don't have to stress so much about matching if your rooms have a cohesive feel. Another way to accomplish that is choosing an overall style for your home. I.e. don't have an ultra modern dining room and a southern traditional living room. They won't feel like they fit together. If you tend to like contemporary pieces, aim for that style in every room of your flat, not just one or two. This even comes down to the details - I noticed you have some pretty ornate molding in the room with the red wall. If you like traditional styles, keep it! If you like modern, replace it will something more simple and streamlined. If you're not sure, post some of your favorite rooms and we'll help you figure out your style. Also, I would suggest using lots of lighter, soft colors in a flat that is north-facing. The light, bright colors will keep a room from looking too gloomy. Dark accents are fine to balance it out, but you won't want a lot of heavy, dark wood pieces to darken the space too much. Your light countertops are a great way of keeping the light colors in the kitchen. Try to keep the bigger pieces in lighter to medium dark colors, rather than the black/brown end. I think your couch will be just fine - it's a great neutral. Just add some light accent pillows.

Hi. I hope you don't mind me saying but the stage area may be outgrown quite quickly unless you put in a big stage but I'm not sure there's the room. If you do go for a stage, I'd put it in the top left corner as you come through the door with the bed in the right corner with the pink style canopy (which should just fit?). Personally I love the canopy pictured against the wall (you can also tuck drapes out of harms way) and it will grow with your daughter. Your daughter certainly knows her own mind btw! The striped wallpaper would be good on that back bed wall with a canopy. You could mix striped wallpaper with patterned on the other walls if she wants that ie the stars? I would probably try and keep it a little simple though with the feature wall and duck egg on others if you want the room to last. I love the pink and green lights in your pic, maybe someing similar with pink and duck egg? . Maybe try some decals in the dressing table area or go for the star wallpaper?

Hi Diana. Re your windows I would look at something like this (dining room pics in link) http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2015/05/window-treatments-tricky-recessed-corner-windows.html 0r have a voile blind inside the recess and the curtains hung outside to give more height to the room. I'd go for a pole that doesn't contrast with the wall colour. Farrow and ball blackened may work for the walls (which way does the room face? I'm assuming some of the pics are a little dark as you didn't have any light behind you when taking the pic?!). Were you planning on dressing the feature window? As you've got cool and warm greys I'd layer them so a warm grey sofa with a cool grey or maybe blue ikat cushion. I'd have seating at right angles to the fire, sofa to the right of the fire with a lamp table closest to the fire and 2 accent chairs opposite, patterned ones might be nice. I'd go for large art over the fire rather than a mirror as you've got the window, perhaps a landscape. In terms of the look you want, perhaps look at velvet for the sofa. Lamps will add cosiness, a driftwood lamp will give the natural look. Add texture for the seating, perhaps a patterned cushion in front of a textured one and a textured throw on the other arm of the sofa. Also use plants and perhaps some faux flowers (I like oka faux hydrangea but it needs to be mixed with foliage). Perhaps a brass glass coffee table to add some warmth with some coffee tables books and the flowers!

Hi Ellie I actually have been thinking the same. We are not 100% sure if we would be able to do the kitchen next year but the idea of planning the colours and how they flow from one room to the other is very wise and maybe the hallway should actually be last room to be decorated. We know once we do our kitchen we will need to replace the hallway floor as it’s the same as our dining room so lots to consider really. I think what we might end up doing is just to get a Neutral colour from Dulux for example and freshen it up a bit. There are parts where the paint has been peeled due to the use of a stairgate so it needs paining now anyway but like you said, maybe not to use an expensive paint or do a dramatic change until the extension is finished. Thanks for your comment and help. ☺️