Adding value to your house by upgrading its interior surfaces – ceilings, walls, cupboards, counter­tops, cabinets and floors – is neither simple nor cheap. In many ways, despite the alarming challenge of choosing the right colour paint and the equally alarming costs involved, painting the exterior of your home is simple, because once it is done, it’s done.

Assessing and upgrading the interior of your home is a whole other matter. After all, the cycles of the décor industry, like other fashion industries, occupy an entire army of trend forecasters and their myriad acolyte fabric, fashion and furniture designers, all of whom are eager to foist their own visions upon you.

If you’re of the opinion that trend forecasters and designers live in a world of their own, you’re in good company. Take, for example, the doyenne of trend forecasters, Li Edelkoort, of Paris-based Trend Union.Edelkoort, who recently graced our shores once again to participate in the annual Design Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, has been variously described as ‘floating barefoot on another planet’ and as delivering ‘a visual blur on speed’. Nevertheless, Edelkoort is doted on by certain elements within the design industry, and she does indeed dazzle the brain with her predictions for fashion, fabric and décor in the coming seasons.

In the end, though, it’s your opinion, not the experts’, that ultimately matters. What counts is how you see the interior of your home and how you want it to feel. If you like layers and colours and the odd shimmer as part of the Moroccan-bazaar look, then go for it. Equally, if minimalism is your thing, clear away that clutter. If it’s the comfy, earthy country look, which is more in line with Edelkoort’s Unplugged theme, that grabs you, then decorate away. Forecasters, designers and shows like Decorex will take you in a certain direction (see boxes), but doubtless you have your own sense of style.

If your taste tends towards the maverick, you’ll be pleased to learn that, currently, eclectic is ‘in’. So, nowadays, you’ll find old heirlooms nestling in new, slick white kitchens, and Africana sitting alongside Chinese vases.

Take care, though, not to stray too far from the beaten style track, because when it comes to selling up, it’s best that your style is portable enough and its foundations neutral enough not to scare off potential buyers.

Good quality materials in classic combinations are elegant and timeless: wood is always good, slate is cool, stone is warming, granite is impressive and marble even more so. Why? Because, being natural, the colours of these materials comfort and cocoon us. In contrast, garish tiles and paints – say, for example, a metallic pink Duco finish on your kitchen cabinets – may not be as soothing.

Talking of comfort, for the past few years, Plascon’s paint palettes have been either spiritually or naturally themed. That they major on light – one thing South Africa has in abundance – is no coincidence. Humans need light, so letting in the sunlight is a good first step towards a more generally pleasing interior. Further steps would include the use of paint and wallpaper to keep the light bright.

You may even consider bringing nature indoors. Grasspaper is popular at the moment. Apart from allowing the allergic among us to get closer to nature without sneezing, it also blends beautifully with woods, whites and green glass splashbacks. Organic textures in tiles and fabrics, such as quarry-tiled floors, wooden ceilings and panelling, and suede and leather furnishings (or even wall-coverings), work well together to support a natural theme.

Once more, the counsel here is to keep things simple. Stick to clean, elegant lines and muted colours. In the kitchen, white Corian or CaesarStone paired with maple makes for a stunning combination that will offend no one. However, the mirrored mosaic, deep-red tiles and chairs, and stone walls in the game lodge (pictured overleaf) may not be everyone’s cup of chai. Instinctively, we know this – calm colours relax us, light uplifts us, natural textures attract us – and, as instinctively, a house designed this way will make us feel more at home.

Another important point to consider when adding finishing touches is to avoid changing anything that would compromise the architectural integrity of your home. Removing Victorian cornicing, stained glass and ceiling roses may not be a wise move, as many people want the original features. So decorate by all means – but don’t desecrate.

Floors and ceilings are a case in point. Tin ceilings are highly desirable; hardwood or good quality laminate floors are too (you can get them without the tap-dance factor nowadays) and travertine’s effortless elegance is still popular. Slate is less so, but is very hardwearing. Cement screeds, if well laid, are also an option, but the professionalism of the installer is critical. For ceilings, there is perfectly good, fake tongue-and-groove available that gives character and warmth to a room without breaking the bank. Real wood is fabulous too, naturally. Most people tend to look down rather than up, so if you have to choose, paint the ceiling white and spend the money on the floor.

Leading from the natural theme, note inspirational London-based interior-design queen Ilse Crawford’s philosophy. Taking her cue from Paul Klee’s dictum: ‘One eye sees, the other feels’, she is adamant that interior design must be smelt, heard and felt – not just seen – and that people must be at the centre of any design. In other words, don’t be a trend slave if the result has no heart. Wise words, and no less relevant in your search for buyers, who, for the most part, are also looking for a home, not just a house.

Home is where the heart is. So, when decorating, remember to follow your heart, not fashion. For those of you who just have to know what’s hip and happening in the world of interior decorating, take a look at the trends highlighted in the boxes here, and then, keeping in mind the difference between an investment and an indulgence, do your best to combine the two.