Pantone has, for the first time, announced a combination of two colours as 'colour of the year' for 2016. These two colours are 'Serenity' and 'Rose Quartz' which can be expected to dominate the décor scene, this year. According to Pantone, these shades are a harmonious pairing, which reflect a mind-set of tranquillity and inner peace.

The light pastel blue of Serenity is representative of the vast blue expanse of the sky. If you have warmer or dark tones of wood or upholstery, then curtains or sheets of Serenity would bring a contrasting effect to the room. This shade would also work wonders in a space with plain white walls by adding cushions or rugs of the cool blue. It would help recreate a calming ocean-side feel indoors.

Rose quartz, as a crystal, is used for healing of emotional distress, heartache and anxiety which are three of the most common problems people face in their lives these days with the kind of lifestyles we lead. The rose shade has the ability to capture the essence of solace and a warm welcoming embrace. You can have an accent wall of this colour or even tiles on the floor, to transform your space for the New Year. Another option would be to have fresh flowers, such as carnations or roses of the pale pink variety to add an element of freshness and invitation to the room.

In today's times, people are in search of balance due to their high stress lifestyles and these shades are a perfect representation of those needs. What also makes both these colours relevant to 2016 is the idea of gender neutrality that has picked up pace in the past year and is only bound to get stronger. Customers do not want to be told what colours or patterns are feminine or masculine as they prefer to choose or mix by themselves. So, both the colours of 2016 can be used individually or in combination to create the perfect look you desire because both the shades are refreshingly gender neutral.

1. Declutter
Imagine that you have to climb into a train for a holiday. How would you like that experience to be? Would you be lugging a bag that is bursting with things to the point of breaking or would your bag be well contained with only the things that you actually use and need for the trip? I think the answer is obvious. So, on the next trip around the Sun, it's time that you unpack and repack. By this, we mean that it's time to look around your home and get rid of every single thing which you don't see yourself using and which is not absolutely necessary.

Yes, this is a scary process to begin, if you haven't ever done it before. So just call some friends over and do it together. Your house will benefit from the cleansing of old and stagnant energy and the best part is you'll now have space for new things!

2. Add a splash of colour
This is the simplest way of making a design change and creating a new look to your house. Pick a single bright colour for an accent wall or pick a colour palette and paint walls in multiple rooms. It is a fun process for the entire family to get involved as well. The kids will be able to choose the colours they like and the adults can have their say for the rest of the house.

Why stop here? You can add pops of colour to your home by getting a dinner set in a bright shade or vases in contrasting colours. Even choosing to have all white walls can make a dramatic difference to a space because all the furniture and upholstery will stand out well against it.

3. Individual Style
Often, when we seek out inspiration, it is from what others have already done - be it on Instagram or Pinterest. While this is fine to do, why not try finding what inspires you? For instance, if you have a picture in your home of a sunset which your family enjoyed together, you could use that as a starting point. You could then easily re-create that memory with a similar colour palette on the wall or motifs on the cushions.

Maybe you visited a garden and were moved by the flowers you saw and smelled. You could then transform your bedroom into that garden by mixing and matching flower patterned sheets with pale lime coloured walls. To give a breezy effect to the space, use lightweight flowing white curtains and voila, you have managed to personalise your room in a way that is truly 'you'.

You may ask, what is it that makes some homes so beautiful and cut above the rest? Well, you may think the use of furniture, light, colours, etc. Yes, these are some obvious answers but there's a secret, only designers will be able to tell. The secret is the use of textures in a room. Textures can enhance the beauty of a space and take them to another level.

Now, everything has a texture, you may think. So, what are we really talking about here? The kind of textures we are referring to, are wood and fabrics. Their patterns and movement make the room come alive. These things make a room feel inviting and cosy. They look interesting to the eye and add a personality to the whole space. This makes absolute sense as to why texture is so big right now among interior designers.

But like everything in life, the cardinal rule is to strike the right balance. A lack of textured elements can make a space look cold. However, it is quite subjective; to one person a space full of texture could look pleasing, the same space might look disturbing to another person. The key is to find a balance you are comfortable with or the kind of textures that suit your tastes.

What we've done is put together a mix of ideas for you to choose from. See what you like and then decorate. Have fun with textures.

Textured Textiles
The easiest and the most fun way of incorporating textures are through textiles. Fun bed sheets, covers, sofa fabrics, rugs, throws all add to the fun. They can add colour to a plain room, design to a simple space.

Textured Rugs
Right from woollen rugs to ethnic design ones; rugs add instant warmth to any room. They set a tone for a space and work the texture up. Go black and white, stripes, dots, motifs, prints, go crazy with the patterns.

Plants
Plants are the original textures. They instantly purify the air and the mood of a space. They add colour without being too jarring. From living rooms to office spaces to bathrooms, plants add their own texture which is very hard for the eye to miss.

We hope you found these tips helpful. Now, start adding your own mix of textures to have a spectacular experience with design.