During long, dark winter days and nights, cocooning spaces in inky tones offer a cosy retreat from the world. But with the changing of the seasons, the way we use our homes also shifts. Whilst I absolutely love a darkly painted room, during the spring and summer it is lovely to make the most of bright and airy spaces. As the days get longer and warmer I long to throw open the windows and welcome the sunlight in.

When planning an interior decorating scheme, it’s important to think about how the rooms connect and flow throughout a house. Internal doors are rarely kept closed all the time, so think of the view from one room into another as a vista offering a tantalising glimpse of what lies beyond. In the same way, connect inside and out by considering how a room relates to the views from its windows. Create a sense of continuity between inside and outside and you will find that your gaze will be drawn outwards through the windows and your room will instantly feel bigger. A great way of doing this is to use whatever colour you have on your internal walls outside as well, on the garden fence, a bench, or some pots.

Blur the boundaries even more by using the same colour on both walls and window frames. Having no contrast here means that you become less aware of the frame itself and the eye is not distracted by anything but the view.

If you don’t have a room with a view, taking inspiration from nature is still the perfect way to help bring the outside in.  A few stems of foliage gathered from the garden or a hedgerow, or a bowl of bright lemons make simple statements. You could also bring a longer lasting element of growth and rejuvenation to a room by introducing flowing naturalistic pattern with a gorgeous floral wallpaper like F&B’s Helleborus.

Not all colours found in the natural world are soft and muted neutrals; think of vibrant spring greens such as F&B’s Yeabridge Green No. 287, a fresh avocado green reminiscent of lush grass, or bright shots of acid yellows like Yellowcake No. 279 or bursts of rhubarb pink. Beautiful accent colours can easily be added to a neutral palette. However, just as in nature, try using strong bright shades in small pops unless you’re feeling really bold.

As most outside spaces are filled with natural light, you can be brave though. Consider what sort of atmosphere you want to create and choose accent colours a shade or two darker than you might choose to use inside. Lime White No.1 with its underlying green or earthy String No. 8 will blend beautifully into rural surroundings. Whereas either of F&B’s charcoals, Down Pipe No. 26 or Railings No. 31, suit more contemporary or industrial buildings, creating a strong, dramatic look.

Clear, bright colours such as F&B’s St. Giles Blue No. 280 will create a joyful, Mediterranean feel. Black, or off-black, makes a fabulous backdrop for planting as it makes the leaves look really lush and green. Whereas softer, organic shades such as Vert De Terre No. 234 or Lichen No. 19. will provide a subtle, muted backdrop, allowing beautiful blooms and strong planting schemes to take centre stage.