One of the most challenging, yet enjoyable aspects of creating bespoke kitchens is choosing the right colour scheme. The colours need to be in keeping with the overall style of the space as well as bright and cheerful. Choosing the paint colours for the walls and the materials essentially boils down to a process of elimination. Once the unsuitable colours have been filtered out, you will be left with a simple and easy to choose from palette.

One of the primary considerations when choosing a colour scheme for bespoke kitchens is the size of the space. For instance, small kitchens should not include dark coloured woods in the cabinetry and dining furniture, as these will only serve to make the room appear smaller. On a similar note, when it comes to the wall colours, it is often best to avoid darker shades of greens, blues, purples and reds. Instead, look for colours that brighten the space; white or yellow are excellent choices, as they give a small kitchen a spacious, 'open' appearance. If you still want some other colours in the room, then there is always the option of adding bright coloured kitchen appliances to the countertops, or a colourful curtain to the window.

Those with larger bespoke kitchens have more options when it comes to selecting colours for the room. They can afford to play around with bold colour combinations, as the wide open space will ensure that a striking colour scheme will not overwhelm the style of the space, as can easily occur in smaller kitchens. Whilst in this sense, larger kitchens offer more options in terms of the decor, it is still important to stick to a few key guidelines when choosing colours for the furniture and the walls. The decorative theme of the kitchen should still be in keeping with the decor in the rest of the home, as a brightly coloured kitchen in an otherwise neutrally decorated house can create a disjointed and jarring effect. It is usually best to choose colour tones that are within the same palette as the rest of the house.

In larger kitchens, white walls can look just as crisp, clean and chic as in a smaller space; however, there is always the risk of the room appearing cold and uninviting if white is chosen as the main colour. To counteract this effect, it is best to add some dashes of colour and texture. Take advantage of the open space of a large kitchen and add a red dining set or some other bold coloured accents.

The amount of natural light available in the kitchen is another important factor when making colour choices for the room. If there are big windows, then those with a standard sized kitchen can afford to use a slightly darker colour palette. If using darker tones, remember to add some feature lighting, so that the space will still appear spacious in the evenings, when the light from the window is gone.

Many people today work from home. When doing so, it is vital to have a space that is specifically work orientated so that the person has somewhere in which to concentrate solely on their job. When creating a home office space, many people initially think that it must be purely functional and practical. However, with the choices of decor available today, it is entirely possible to have both a stylish and sensible home office space.

Some of the basic pieces often needed for a home office include storage units, desks, filing cabinets and book cases. One of the problems of working from home can often be a distinct lack of organisation, so it is vital to have the right pieces of furniture in the room to ensure that you stay on top of work. Without the right amount of storage units and cabinets, it is all too easy to misplace or lose important documents and other paperwork.

The same organisational principles apply in a home office as do in a professional office, although of course with a home office, you have the opportunity to customise the room to your preferences. Having bespoke furniture made is an excellent way to ensure that the space is fully suited to your needs.

Creating a desk that fits nicely into the room and has plenty of built in storage will ensure that a small home office looks spacious and is easy to keep organised. Similarly, bespoke furniture pieces such as shelving units can be made with your storage needs in mind, so that each unit fits your books, files and paperwork inside perfectly.

Saving space is usually one of the main priorities for those installing a home office. The furniture in this room should be multifunctional where possible and this is where bespoke office furniture shines in terms of its practicality. Many people want to use their office space as somewhere to relax when the work day is done; if this is the case, then a foldaway desk can be incredibly practical, as it will save room when it is not in use and will still offer plenty of work space when it is needed. In terms of seating, it is not always necessary to purchase an unattractive office chair. Having a bespoke furniture specialist make a chair will ensure that it supports the back when you are working, but also looks chic and stylish when you want to use the room for a relaxing night in after the day is over.

Lighting is, of course, a very important factor; it needs to flatter the space, but also be practical and provide the right amount of light for working over a long period of time. When choosing a location in the home for the office, it is essential to consider the light sources available. For working during the day, natural light is best, so try to choose a room with a large window if possible, as this will put less strain on the eyes when sitting at the computer for hours at a time.

The appearance of contemporary furniture changes from decade to decade; unlike traditional pieces, contemporary furniture tends to have a short shelf life in terms of style. However, by choosing a piece that can be repainted or reupholstered, you can ensure that the chair, table or other piece that you've purchased stays on trend as styles and decorative fashions evolve.

Most contemporary furniture pieces tend to have some typical characteristics; these include crisp, clean lines and an understated design. In terms of materials, designers today use everything from wood, to metal and glass in their creations. The beauty of modern furniture is that there are no rules; unlike, for instance, Victorian furniture, which in its day was made according to strict guidelines, these days, furniture designers are pushing the boundaries and coming up with new and innovative styles and structures. Combining design elements found in various countries is now a more popular choice with bespoke specialists; Japanese, German and Scandinavian design features are particularly popular.

Much of the contemporary western furniture designs have a strong Japanese influence. This influence has been slowly edging into furniture design in Europe and the USA since the beginning of the 19th century and has grown in popularity with each consecutive decade. The elegance and simplicity of typical Japanese interior is perfectly suited to what we consider to be 'contemporary' today in furniture design. Similarly, Scandinavian interior decor has always has that clean and simple look that modern designers tend to favour. Colour tends to be an important factor in modern pieces; bold and daring choices tend to contrast well with the simplicity of the furniture's structure.

Sometimes, contemporary furniture, much like high fashion, seems to lean towards style more than functionality. The aesthetics of the piece tend to be the most important aspect. However, in everyday life, practicality is just as essential as style, if not more so. This is why, when choosing a new piece of modern furniture, careful thought must be given to the functionality of the piece as well as the overall look. Take the time to check if the piece will fit comfortably into the room where it is to be placed and whether it will serve its purpose as well as looking good.

If you are on budget but adore the look of modern furniture pieces, there are some simple and affordable ways to add a touch of the contemporary to furniture you already have. A one day project of sanding, painting and varnishing your old chair or dining set can transform the entire look of the room. Use bold colours such as red to really make a fresh and modern statement. Flick through some decor magazines and look for patterns that appeal to you; recreating a simple version of a contemporary pattern on a wooden surface (whether it's a coffee table, a chair or a cabinet) can be a great way to bring a hint of the contemporary into your furniture.

Creating a luxurious living room is one of the first things that many people choose to do when they move into a new home. After all, the living room is where most people spend a great deal of time, so it makes sense that the decor in this space would be foremost in their minds when they are decorating their new abode.

If the living room is spacious, it can sometimes be a challenge to create a luxurious space that still retains a certain cosiness. This room should be about comfort as well as style, as the majority of people use their living room as a place to relax. Reading, watching TV and socialising with friends and family are all done in this space, so it's important to find a balance between creating a beautiful space and creating a functional, restful room.

The furniture will almost always have the most significant impact on the appearance and functionality of the room, so choose wisely. Bespoke furniture is often the preferred choice for those who are decorating their living rooms, as a single piece of hand crafted furniture can make a luxurious but cold room feel far more snug and welcoming.

Having a piece of furniture designed that is multi-functional can be a great way to make the space seem cosier. One example of this might be a dining table that can be used by the kids when they need to do their homework, but can also be extended to be used as a chic dining piece when you have dinner guests.

Dividing the living room up is a popular method of creating a multi functional space. This can be done by simply creating two versions of the same colour scheme on the walls.

Another option is to buy a beautiful vintage dressing screen to divide the space; this is a really chic way to make the most of a larger living room. These types of dividers come in a vast array of designed, heights and widths, so whatever decorative scheme the room happens to have, you can easily find a screen to suit. For those who like this idea but want something unique, a bespoke furniture specialist could easily design one of these to your exact specifications.

Along with the furniture, the accessories can really make or break the room in terms of style. A series of small paintings or prints, hung on the walls in an artistic manner, can add a very elegant touch to the room. The right lighting is, of course, essential too; avoid harsh overhead lighting by using dimmer bulbs on the ceiling light fixtures. For activities where strong light is needed, such as reading, you can always add a chic table lamp to a side cabinet.

Wooden bespoke shelving along the wall of a living room can create a sense of structure in the room and is also very practical for storing books, DVDs and CDs. One creative way to make use of such shelving is to display a series of family portraits or even a collection of sculptures or art deco vases.

When shopping for new dining room furniture, it can be difficult to follow the current trends whilst staying true to your personal tastes and preferences. A combination of both is usually best. A dining room furniture set is a big investment, so it's important that what you purchase today will still appeal to you a couple of years from now. Bespoke furniture has become a popular choice with many people who are redecorating their dining room, as it offers uniqueness and style at an affordable price.

Dining room sets come in a range of styles, from traditional and classic, to simple and elegant, to modern. Formal dining furniture is still a popular choice for many, as this type of set has a timeless look that will not date quickly. Dining sets made up of bespoke furniture are a great idea for those who are caught between wanting something that is 'on trend', whilst still having a classic style that will look good years from now, as bespoke furniture can be made with a combination of both modern and classic elements.

Many people today live in flats and houses where space is limited and so they need dining room furniture that makes the most of what little space is available. They often want multi-functional furniture that serves many different purposes. For instance, those who do not have tables in the kitchen may want to use the dining room for all of their meals, rather than just dinner or on special occasions. Modern homes generally have clean lines and simple decor, which gives the rooms of the house a fresh and contemporary look. The dining room furniture should be in a similar vein, with rectangular and square tables being the best choice for many. Speak to your furniture designer about how best to fit the shape of the table in with the room, so that it doesn't take up too much space, but still offers enough table area for everyday meals and activities.

A lot of houses today have open layouts, so the dining room area may not be entirely separated from the other rooms of the house. To create a cosier feel in such a room, use darker woods for the furniture and consider using upholstered chairs in deep, rich colours such as emerald green, royal blue or burgundy.

For those who enjoying entertaining and having dinner parties, but are short on space in the dining room, then a custom built, extendable dining table is an excellent choice. These types of tables usually have two ends that can be laid out to increase the table size, or folded over to create more space in the room. In smaller dining rooms, lighter coloured furniture is usually the best option, along with some strategically placed mirrors, which will make the room appear far more spacious than it actually is. With carefully designed dining room furniture, you can transform a small and plain room into truly luxurious and elegant space, where it is a pleasure to spend time.