Life in bright colours

Zingy pink, lime green, violet and neon dominate the fashion and design palettes this season. Trish Lorenz speaks to top blogger Holly Beck to find out how to use them at home

Colour is everywhere right now: fashion palettes for spring/summer 2013 are poptastic, with zingy pink, lime green, pale violet and neon details about to make an appearance in your wardrobe.

And it's a trend that's been translated into interior schemes with unusual speed. Dulux (dulux.co.uk) released its 2013 colour forecast this week and is predicting that "the dusty pastels of Impressionist paintings, quirky tones inspired by the Fifties and a touch of fluro bright" will be popular in the coming months. According to the paint manufacturer, there's a move towards colour layering at home: different shades of pastels across the walls of one room or bold orange and pinks sitting side by side on furniture.

If you're interested in updating your interiors but nervous about where to start with colour, Decorate Workshop by American blogger Holly Becker is published this month and offers a useful step by step guide to designing your home, with great sections on how to experiment with colour and pattern. Becker has a no-nonsense approach to colour. "Just do it and don't over-think it," she says. "Look at your wardrobe and see what colours you respond to and take a note of what colours draw you in when you're out and about."

If you're feeling intimidated, start small. You don't even have to pick up a paintbrush to add colour. "A stack of colourful cushions, a bright throw on the sofa or a display of glass vases, there are lots of ways to brighten up your home," says Becker. "I always start with a single jumping off point – an item that inspires all the other things."

A trend to look out for in 2013 is the move towards using small flashes of colour rather than painting the entire space. Find architectural details you can pick out – a door or window frame – or paint a section of one wall. "The inside of a doorway is a great place to experiment with neon," says Becker.