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There's no reason to feel gloomy now the festivities are over. After all, the days are getting longer and brighter – and a new year is a good excuse to ring some changes. So here are some tips and likely trends for 2017. Emerald attraction: The Wallis sofa by Pinch Design for Heal's upholstered in Varese velvet Dreamy green For those moving house and seeking new schemes, here's a fresh idea. Pantone's colour of the year is a spring-like green. The company says the shade is inspired by ‘flourishing foliage'. Certainly, it has a hint of Brussels sprout. No, you may not want it on your walls, but it might encourage us to review the colour, which can be zippy or sumptuously rich. At Heal's, green is the signature colour for spring. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 2 Next A multi-million pound retreat made from the wings of a… What next for buy-to-let mortgages? Rates predicted to fall… Builder who flattened his Grade II listed 19th-century… Share this article Share ‘Rich fabrics in zesty hues will be seen throughout the collection from cushions to sofas. Staying on the botanical trail, statement prints are a favourite,' says Sabina Miller, Heal's head of buying.  The Pendel sofa by Pinch Design for Heal's is a signature piece, covered in G.P. & J. Baker's glorious Nympheus fabric. (£3429, ‘Naturally occurring green tones are popular among our clients, from sage to forest to even perkier chartreuse colours,' says Russell Pinch, of Pinch Design. 'Even neutrals are brighter with pale de-saturated blush, plaster and pale blues', says textile designer Genevieve Bennett.  Spaces to Zone-out Could 2017 be the year that a peaceful nook with a book becomes more alluring than mindless internet surfing and gormless TV watching? Well, we can hope. Designer Abigail Ahern thinks we should create digital-free spots in our homes with a deep seated sofa or armchair, sheepskin throws, and chunky knits. Snuggle up: This Tibetan sheepskin throw is in the sale for £114.75 at Abigail Ahern ‘In store we are creating lots of low-tech zones with beautiful individual pieces,' she says. A Tibetan sheepskin throw in Dove, Storm or Warm Grey is in the sale for £114.75 (down from £135), Sheepys also has a gorgeous range of British sheepskin rugs and cushions from £89, Embrace British craft The New Craftsmen, a company which celebrates British craft, doesn't worry too much about trends (‘We look for pieces from throughout the British Isles that represent enduring values and beauty,' says founder Mark Henderson.  Heritage piece: The Brodgar bench by Gareth Neal and Kevin Gauld available from the New Craftsmen (£3,350) ‘Whether it's the hand-thrown contemporary tableware of James and Tilla Waters from Wales, or the slipware of Devon-based Doug Fitch and Hannah McAndrew who use methods that are centuries old, or the blending of Orkney chair-making with the flair of the London-based designer Gareth Neal. ‘For us, it's about what will give lasting pleasure,' says Henderson. COOL BLUE KITCHENS We still love blue and, according to a survey from the home design sharing website, Houzz, we're trying it in our kitchens. ‘There are more than 10,000 UK images of blue kitchens on Houzz and "blue kitchen" was a popular search term last year,' says a spokesperson. Those not brave enough for blue walls can easily accessorise with some swish blue products. You could, for example, buy an Aga in Dartmouth Blue, reminiscent of ominous skies, which is being produced as a limited edition for 2017. And blue and white crockery is always comforting. There's nothing like thick-striped Cornish-ware to transport you to the seaside, (mugs from £12, Ravishing red: Reuben red by Master Paint Makers inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection  Artistic flair For the first time, London's Victoria and Albert Museum is offering a 40-colour paint range inspired by its collections. Trajan's Column is a white shade in homage to the plaster cast of the Roman Triumphal column dating from the 1st century AD, and Reuben Red reflects the rouge used in Victorian fabrics. For a more decorative nod to the museum, Tile Giant has a new range based on pieces from the V&A archive. You could explore the green theme in your bathroom with the Olive Puddle or Racing Green Puddle glaze tiles (both £93.50 per sq m, Slick surface: The concrete hauteville chair by Lyon Breton available at Amara for £349 Concrete Idea  Those fed up with the Danish hygge theme (taking pleasure in the ordinary) and feeling over-heated in candle-laden homes will welcome the trend for concrete, with its slick, cool outlook. Online retailer Amara pinpoints it as the material of choice for 2017. It offers some chic accessories from Lyon Beton, which specialises in the hardy material. There's the concrete floor lamp (£165) and magazine rack (£125). It also sells wallpaper imitating various shades of pavement (£199 for a 9m roll, Skinny Linear What is it? Good question. It's a penchant for clean, fine, black lines in geometric shapes. So, it might not work in a cosy cottage with wonky walls. But, it could be neat and stylish in a student bedroom or city flat because it has a light touch. It's a theme for Habitat next year. Fine lines: The Tingo shelving by Habitat provides an interesting framework for storage ‘The Quad ceiling light has a multi-linear composition, with a fine black wire in overlapping geometric shapes that cast beautiful shadows when lit,' says Polly Dickens, creative director for Habitat. ‘We've created the sleek Nestor tables (from £595) with their marble tops floating on skinny frames — and the Tingo shelving (from £795) designed by Matthew Long has a sloping shelf detail for a quirkier design.' Statement piece: An armchair by Doshi Levien for their new collection with John Lewis High desing  London duo Doshi Levien have created a 13-piece premium collection called Open Home for John Lewis, which will be available from February.  The idea is that the products look great from all angles and, therefore, can be placed anywhere in a room. It features curvy armchairs, a modernist sofa and lamp from £199, data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links"> Read more: johnlewis.co.uk Cornishware® ¿ Classic British Kitchenware by T.G. Green Amara | Luxury Gifts & Designer Homeware Tile Giant | Kitchen and Bathroom Tiles Scandinavian design, furniture & gifts | Skandium Abigail Ahern interiors, design and decor inspiration The New Craftsmen | Luxury Craft Homeware from the British Isles sheepys | Sheepys sheepskin Heal's | Modern Contemporary Furniture and Lighting