There are no ‘New Year blues’ here, we’re all raring to go after what seemed like a very long break! The announcement a few weeks ago that Pantone’s Colour of The Year for 2020 is Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue means that we have a jolly good reason to show you some amazing ideas for your interiors for the first year of a new decade. This serene and beautiful kitchen is by Tom Howley and if it looks somewhat familiar it’s because we’ve also featured it as a full kitchen story – but can’t resist showing you again as it fits in so perfectly with our New Year Classic Blue themes.

If you like the idea of blue in the kitchen but don’t want to go full-on with classic blue or navy cabinetry, which of course, is a definite commitment, consider a blue tiled area instead. We’re not suggesting that a fully tiled kitchen is an easy thing to update, but realistically a tiled splashback or upstand can be carefully re-tiled to add a zing of colour. These are Poitiers Azure Blue gloss tiles, from the Gemini collections at CTD. Go diagonally for a further stylish statement…

Left: Lighting features can make or break a kitchen design. Large kitchen spaces need to be thoughtfully lit, with enough task lighting to ensure that work surfaces and cupboards are appropriately illuminated. Most kitchen designers include lighting suggestions in their plans, and of course it’s vital to consider wiring and installation at the planning stage – many breakfast cupboards, for example, include interior lighting now as well as sockets for the coffee machine, toaster and so on. A row of pendants above the island or dining table has become a ‘must-have’ detail; so in celebration of Classic Blue we’re pointing you in the direction of the Kaelan Blue Pendant from Dar Lighting, which is not only beautifully designed, it’s very affordable too (at £45) so a row of two, three or even four won’t break the budget!

Right: For a darker shade of blue, go to the freestanding painted pieces from The Painted Furniture Company. This side board /storage cupboard is the 122cm wide Millbrook, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue – which they describe as an ‘inky blue’.

A new kitchen for the new decade? If so, and you’re into the idea of a classic blue scheme, then it’s most definitely worth a look at the Siena Kitchen in Aqua Blue by Schuller Kitchens, available from InHouse Design. The fronts are finished in matt velvet lacquer, the handle reference is 935 and the work surfaces is KK585 Dark Steel effect. What a combination – including copper finishes for the pendants, and open framed shelves. A perfect choice for a brand new look.

As most open plan kitchen-dining-socialising areas include upholstery, now’s the time to think about statement pieces in bold colours. We’re still loving the corals and pale pinks which hit the headlines last year, along with the aquas and greens, of course. But … a statement chair, sofa or bar stool in a bold, classic blue will always hit the sweet spot. This is the Stourhead three-seater from Sofas & Stuff, available in a variety of beautiful blues.

And now for something very different: Three accessory ideas that will zing against a classic blue, or equally, look outrageously vivid and/or interesting in a more muted colour scheme. From left; the new Tino Toucan Jungle cushion from Beaumonde; centre, the Penelope Leopard Print chair from Cult Furniture – but hurry, it’s currently in the winter sale (but there are several other leopard print designs to choose from as well!). And on the right, another Beaumonde cushion, this time it’s the gorgeous Zeke House Tiger print cushion.

So the new kitchen needs a new sofa which needs a couple of side tables … Which in many homes may be the perfect opportunity to re-paint existing side or coffee tables to suit the new scheme, or it may be a reason look at new purchases. We’re always very enthusiastic about searching out recyclable pieces, but realistically it’s not always possible to conjour up a pair of tables just at the right moment (although I have managed it twice in recent years thanks to vigilant monitoring of a couple of favourite charity furniture shops!). However, back to our blue theme… these are the beautiful Zuiver Flow Pair of Side Tables, also available in black in case your prefer a monochromatic scheme. Available from Cuckooland.

Looking for creative paint ideas? It’s not necessary to paint a whole wall to pinpoint a trend. As with tiled splashbacks or feature alcoves, sometimes a careful and precise chosen area makes the statement just as accurately as a complete blue hallway, for example. Try focusing on the ‘below the dado rail’ area for a streak of colour that can run up the stairs or around a room. The chair is the Dottie in Opulent Navy Velvet, also available in Bottle Green and Charcoal. All items from Next Home.

Is your bedroom making you feel disorganised and chaotic? I think it’s widely accepted that the more organised and streamlined our homes, the easier it is to navigate our way through the daily domestic trudge. We know about the ergonomics of a streamlined kitchen, so it does make sense to use the same considerations for a bedroom. (And that’s possibly a good New Year resolution too – get organised for 2020!). A fully fitted bedroom ticks all the boxes – make sure to include full-length and mid-length hanging space, as well as drawers for all the bits and pieces. This lovely example is Elise in Classic Blue from MyFittedBedroom

We just had to include bathrooms as well to kick off 2020, especially as we’ve spotted this gorgeous blue bathroom furniture from Pelipal at InHouse Design. It’s Solitare 9020, with recessed handles, curved fronts, integrated lighting and a very large range of sizes and configurations, making it a whole lot easier to plan a beautifully sleek bathroom.