From the editors of some of the most read Homes and Interiors magazines to the owners of crafty and creative start-up businesses, we sit down with those in the know to get the scoop on everything from what a normal day is like to their future trend predictions.

This week, we met blogger, graphic designer and upcycling expert Cheryl Lumley…

What is a normal day for you?

CL: There are so many different aspects to my work, I really don’t think I have a normal day. For example, today I’ve sourced 14 picture frames and 14 lampshades in various charity shops to use in my next upcycling workshop. Tomorrow I’ll be testing out paint techniques and drying times to make sure my ideas all work. I have to know the processes work before I unleash them onto others. Then the following day I’m running workshops as part of People and Planet Go Green Week at Newcastle University. Some days I will also write content for my blog, www.allroundcreativejunkie.com.

What do you love most about your job?

CL: I love that I get to be creative every day, my head is always full of ideas and now I work for myself, I get to carry them out. I get to paint, make, write and learn new things every day and call it work!

What is the biggest challenge in your job?

CL: Staying focused on one thing at a time. As my work covers so many different things, it’s easy to get distracted and turn my attentions to other things half way through projects. It’s also hard to walk past a skip without rescuing things that I haven’t got space for!

When did you first become interested in crafts and interiors?

CL: I’ve always been creative, but I suppose my love of interiors began when I bought my first home 18 years ago and the lack of money spurred me into making and learning a few DIY skills. When you have no money you have to get creative – I had copper pipe curtain poles, painted kitchen cupboards and tiles and made all my own large mirrors from planks of wood. I still have the mirrors!

Are you a fan of upcycling?

CL: I think my love of upcycling started with a chair I rescued from a skip. It’s been used in every room in my house for the last 18 years. It’s developed a genuine shabby chic finish with years of wear and tear, it’s almost an heirloom now!

I can’t bear to see things thrown into landfill and I think everything can and should be reused. I want to inspire children and adults alike to re-use the things around us to create and save money on buying new.

What are your top tips on getting in the creative zone?

CL: My main tip is just get started and go for it. If you’re looking for ideas for a specific room or project Pinterest is a good place to start. Gather together your ideas in your mood boards and you’ll soon see your scheme develop. If you paint something and it’s not exactly what you were after, then just paint it again – you can’t really go wrong.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

CL: Inspiration is everywhere, I find colour inspiration in nature mostly. There are no clashing colours in nature so it’s a great place to start for colour schemes. Even our British grey skies are the perfect backdrop for splashes of colour. I love following other designers too.

Who do you follow on Instagram?

CL: For a daily dose of inspiration, Jay_n_Co posts a thought of the day pic and beautiful furniture picture every day. Sophierobinsoninteriorsis a mix of interiors, products and so much colour! One to watch is unusualgirlupcycles, she is really experimental with colour and paints.

What is your favourite room in the home and why?

CL: In my own home I love my kitchen/family room. It’s a large open plan space that is perfect for lazy weekends with family, friends and food that opens straight onto the garden. It’s the reason we bought our home. For other projects I think kids rooms are great, you can be really clever and quirky and they tend to be a lot more adventurous than grown up spaces.

Describe your dream home…

CL: I’d love to live by the sea in a warm country, with a big open plan living space with direct access to the beach. It would be full of upcycled creations, lots of colour, log fires for chilly evenings and squishy sofas for lazy weekends. Failing that, I’d settle for a villa in Tuscany.

What is your biggest interior or craft trend prediction for 2016?

CL: I think people are getting much more creative and adventurous with their interiors and I think colour is back in a big way. Paint is going to play a big part in that with people upcycling and revamping their current furniture rather than buying new, from wardrobes and shelves to even painting fabric and whole sofas with chalky finish paints and fabric spray. 2016 is going to be bright.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter for more tips and inspiration…