This is how to make perfect colour choices in your home

Maybe you need some Colour Psychology in your life. Devised by psychologist Angela Wright, the method, which uses seasonal colour palettes found in nature, aims to help identify the colour preferences and styles of each personality group.

• WINTER DECOR STYLE: Marlowe brass table lamp, £140; Calvo black metal bookcase, £895; Buttons pink vase, £15; Kynoch black patterned bottle vase, £45; Adoni white/black vase, £20; Posy black tall vase, £25; Cuscino three-seater sofa, £1,700; Regenc

"This is a real game-changer if you've ever faced painful procrastination over a paint colour, or agonised over an investment buy," says Sophie Robinson (sophierobinson.co.uk), best known as a judge on BBC Two's The Great British Interior Design Challenge. "Colour's fashionable currently, with two strong trends - one for jewel, rich shades like teal, forest green and orange, or so-called gelato shades, like mint, lilac and pink.

• AUTUMN DECOR STYLE: Simone (170x240cm) multi-coloured wool rug, £500, Habitat. Picture: Lol Johnson/Habitat/PA Photo/Handout

"Sadly, so many people get overwhelmed by the choices, that they often just chicken out of colour altogether and stick to neutrals like grey or white," adds interior designer Robinson, who has teamed up with Habitat to launch a campaign using Colour Psychology - which she says gives people "a framework, so they can clarify what they like and confidently pull a scheme together. They'll be able to combine colours, patterns, textures, furniture and artwork, and create the feel they want for a room.

"What I really love is that this concept is actually very instinctive. It gets us out of our heads and back in touch with our gut, so we can make more emotional and bolder design choices, which I'm all for! Even better, the result will be a home that resonates more deeply with a person's taste and personality and, more importantly, will be one they won't tire of."

Where to start

"Decide which season's colour palette - spring, summer, autumn or winter - most appeals to you and resonates with your character. You may like another palette as well, which is quite common. For instance, I'm a spring personality in the main, but I also like the strong shades of the autumn look, so that's my subordinate palette. In terms of design, you can mix any two together quite successfully," says Robinson. "Once you've identified which season you are, or the season you want your room to feel like, the choices you make in terms of colour palette, fabrics, accessories and furniture flows much more easily. The result is a room that feels as good as it looks."

• SPRING DECOR STYLE: Eye (170x240cm) rug, £350, Habitat. Picture: Lol Johnson/Habitat/PA Photo/Handout

If spring is your colour personality...

Light and bright sum up the spring palette, and for this colour personality type, Robinson says: "You're the sort of person who's energetic, full of life, young at heart and optimistic with a positive outlook. You love anything cute."

"You favour warm and clear colours, so they have a lightness to them. You'll embrace new design, so styling will feel modern yet welcoming, and as a feature, you like busy prints bursting with pattern and energy," Robinson adds. "Clean lines, pale wood or painted furniture appeal, as does a little sparkle from glass and glossy surfaces, complemented by smooth, shiny textures."

• SPRING DECOR STYLE: Hands pink (45x45cm) cushion, £25, Habitat. Picture: Lol Johnson/Habitat/PA Photo/Handout

If summer is your colour personality...

"If you're graceful, elegant and reserved in character, then you belong to the summer colour tribe," says Robinson. "You have a love of nature and your overall look is understated, never showy, with muted, subtle colours and painterly, flowing patterns.

"You can interpret it in a soft, romantic, floaty way - but with a touch of formality and symmetrical arrangements and structure. Attracted by tradition, you'll often look to the past for inspiration for your look, and favour aged patinas and distressed finishes."

• SUMMER DECOR STYLE: Olivia stoneware dinner collection, from £8, Habitat. Picture: Lol Johnson/Habitat/PA Photo/Handout

If autumn is your colour personality...

"Autumn types are organic, robust and abundant," declares Robinson. "They're passionate people with a strong connection to nature, attracted to rich colours and furniture, with a substantial or textured feel.

"They want their spaces to feel welcoming, cosy and relaxed, so you'll see lots of collections of sentimental importance, and their love of art and education means they'll also have a library of books on display. Authenticity is an important element for them, and they like a rustic style, and anything celebrating craftsmanship and heritage," she adds.

• AUTUMN DECOR STYLE: Fenner two-seater sofa, orange velvet, £1,500; Nyx black/red metal floor lamp, £190; Orrico brass hammered coffee table, £250; Ophelia orange/yellow patterned vase, £30;Ameixa bottle vase £45; Merco black/white ceramic vase, £30;

If winter is your colour personality...

"You love drama and strong design statements," says Sophie. "You need your home to be a reflection of your self-assurance and are likely to choose pioneering or iconic designs. Your colour palette's sharp, cool and bright, and you enhance the effect with striking patterns, like geometrics.

• WINTER DECOR STYLE: (L-R) Calvo metal bookcase, £895; Judson clear glass decanter with cork, £30; Adoni white and black vase, £20; Buttons pink vase, £15; Kynoch black patterned bottle vase, £45; Newstead black and gold candelabra, £25; Grid yellow 

"In terms of style, there's a coolness and attention to detail throughout, and you're drawn to the latest tech or luxury furnishings. This look can be interpreted in a minimalist way or with a dramatic maximalist scheme."

• DESIGNER: Sophie Robinson in a Summer style setting. Brennan shelving unit, £325; Futami, set of two, planters, £60; Ripple vase, £30; Jadis small planter with tray, £10; Brilliante lustre vase, £30; Blair white vase, £30; Olivia stoneware