As in 2006, next year's interior design trends will take their lead from those on the fashion catwalks. Anyone who has been following the glossies will tell you that the result will be plenty of pattern, colour and texture, plus all sorts of exciting possibilities created with new materials and technology. This will all be finding its way into the mainstream consumer mindset in the not-too-distant future.

In residential interiors, the result will be a wonderfully eclectic mix, bursting with energy and decorative motifs on everything from big ticket items such as sofas down to accessories, tableware and lighting.

If it sounds a little lairy, then you have only to look at designs from top names in fashion such as Kenzo and Missoni to realise that the effect can be as harmonious as a Welsh male voice choir. Remember that balance is all - often an item such as a boldly patterned cushion or an elaborate multicoloured chandelier will be used to add accent to a room rather than be part of a colourful scheme.

The secret to the new look is to combine plenty of soft patterns and colours that are easy on the eye - this is very definitely not about hard primary colours and blocky pattern reminiscent of a 1980s hairdressing salon. Remember that the look is about a multitude of harmonious colours rather than just a couple of clashing hues in dramatic contrast.

Texture - and most importantly combinations of textures - are important too, and leaps in technology mean that it is possible to create the feeling of luxury for a fraction of the price - as Asda and Tesco, in particular, know only too well.

It isn't just fashion that will influence interior design in 2007. There is a quiet revolution taking place on the high street. Packaging has rarely been a more exciting, innovative area, with companies such as Wedgwood, Crabtree & Evelyn and La Duree, the iconic Parisian patisserie that recently opened in Harrods, proving that it is possible to make bold, decorative statements in a retail environment. Hand-in-hand with this new trend will be a new generation of quirky, offbeat products with a decorative feel. Soaps, stationery and tableware that are neither essential nor particularly expensive but which feel a little indulgent will be particularly prominent. Most importantly, they will be the antithesis of the cool, minimal look that has dominated design for far too long.