We’ve teamed up with British designer Sophie Conran to bring you some exclusive interior top tips to help transform your home from drab to fab.

Decorating your home can be an overwhelming experience.

Here are Sophie’s top five rules on how to create a comfortable home with your very own personal touches:

Tip 1.

When faced with the daunting task of decorating an empty room I always start by creating a story board. I collect and pin images from magazines, bits of fabric or carpet and I paint on specific paint colours. That way you start to build a picture, and you can see what works.

Tip 2.

Once I have done that I will usually pin fabrics and bits of wallpaper to the walls themselves, and live with it for a bit. The way they will look changes so much with the light at different times of day, so it is important for you to see that to be sure you like your choices. Don’t rush!

Tip 3.

Antique markets and auction houses are my favourite places to go for new bits for my home. I do a little prep, so have a list of the prices I need with the measurements of the space they are to go and always carry a tape measure with me so when I see something that looks like right I can measure it up and don’t get the dimensions wrong. You’ll end up with the most fantastic, unexpected unique pieces. So go, and keep and eye out for little gems.

Tip 4.

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make a room look and feel good. Be organised with your budgets, and spend time researching where you can get the best value for money.

Tip 5.

Things don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. If you go into a room and it’s all perfect, you don’t feel comfortable. A home interior is not an abstract thing, it should have character, it is about people, it’s about the way you feel, the way you interact. It’s about family and friends, it’s the backdrop to your life.

Visit www.sophieconran.com