The minimalist look is so last year. The new vibe for interiors is all about colour, boldly patterned wallpaper, eclectic objects and light woods according to those in the know

Neisha Crossland: fabrics and patterns
Ideas are filtering from the top of the market down to the High Street faster than ever. This means you can get nice things cheaply but they're rarely made to last - which is fine if you want to completely redecorate every year.

We're going to see a big increase in more bespoke items because people increasingly want something that no one else has got. And they're prepared to pay for it. Wallpaper will continue to be popular for a while. The patterns just keep getting bigger. I am doing hand-painted silk wallpapers with matching curtains. My favourite pattern is Gypsy, a sort of dark-brown and saffron yellow curling fern on copper.

Detailing will be big so I am doing embroidery. I've made a cushion called Caterpillar which is all spiky and a geometric pattern called Spider using metal threads. I've also used Hessian because I like making humble cloths look fantastic. They're more decorative than practical as they're a bit scratchy.

Colour-wise, we're going to sparkle with rich jewel shades - amethysts and emeralds. That's because opulence and warmth are slowly but surely replacing cold minimalism.

The High Street is getting faster and more affordable but some people definitely want to slow down and focus on quality.

Tel +44 (0)20 7584 7988
www.neishacrosland.com

Sir Terence Conran: style and direction
2005 seemed rather muddled to me. All these wallpapers and textiles and patterns and chandeliers dangling from every possible protuberance. It was Victorian over-decoration and I did not like it at all.

2006 is a return to sanity. I always go on about simplicity, but to me, the easier life is the more enjoyable it is.

Technology is roaring ahead but the popularity of the iPod proves we need fewer buttons. I am all for quirkiness but a lot of what's out there is flimsy and whimsical: it looks better in a magazine than it does at home. Too many faddish overly-techy objects - coupled with change for the sake of change - makes life hard.

I am not a minimalist but I think minimalism offers valuable lessons by making us get the shell of a room right: the floors, the walls, the ceilings and the lighting. Only when that's right can we design solutions for the way we live.

This year we'll see more and more sculptural shapes in everything from sofas to spoons. Early 20th century classics - like the Eames chair - will continue to be revived because nothing better has come along. Classics are classic for good reason.

I never criticise personal taste when people are trying hard but I want a room that comes from personal conviction not from some interior decorator. Certainly get a designer to do complicated things like lighting but you must make the room reflect your own personality.

Hopefully this year, people will get the difference between decorating and design and feel confident enough to do it themselves.

Tel: 020 7589 7401
www.conranshop.co.uk

Allegra Hicks: accessories and objets
This year is about creating a serene - but warm - space.

The strictly minimalist house is finally over. Hurray! But it's not gone. So this year our homes are in transition which means an eclectic look: mixing old and new, big and small and all sorts of colours. Even in stores like Habitat you'll find vintage pieces next to completely new stuff. This bricolage is a trend from fashion.

Now everyone has floorboards we also have cold feet. So I am selling lots of rugs. As well as being warm they inject colour and pattern. Get a rug on any budget from Ikea to B&B Italia. Consider a rug as clothing for your floor.

Increasingly we want home to be meaningful and feel good and I am not just talking about textures. More and more of us are seeking spiritual meaning. We're not installing altars or prayer rooms but we want home to be calm and safe. A haven. This means we'll use more and more natural fabrics - vases carved from stone, things like that. Candlesticks will be popular as we seek softer sources of light.

020 7 235 8989
www.allegrahicks.com

Carole Lee: Furniture
Furniture isn't hanging around our homes for as long as it used to - we are less concerned with longevity. We want value. This means low prices and multifunctional furniture.

Sofa beds have been around forever but there are finally going to be some stylish ones. Armchairs which fold out into a single bed are also going to be popular - especially for younger people who tend to have less space and more guests.

More and more of us are working from home so we need home office furniture that isn't too officey. The style balance is going to swing back towards the home. All this extra technology means more cables so storage is going to get smart.

We used to find customers were contemporary or classic but now they're happy buying both styles for the same home. Glass and steel are still popular and we're moving away from darker woods to lighter ones like oak. Leather sofas are still in demand but fabric will be more popular this year. We're bored of neutrals preferring big prints and exciting colours: deep turquoise, hot reds and green. Autumn will bring lots of metallic decoration - especially bronzes and coppers.

Whatever they buy, customers are no longer willing to wait 6-8 weeks for furniture they've already paid for. They want it all now - retailers need to meet this demand or lose sales.

Carole Lee is Director of Buying for Furniture and Textiles at John Lewis www.johnlewis.co.uk