Although you may not realise it, colour can influence what we buy, as well as our moods, creativity levels, productivity, and psychology! It can also affect our confidence and appetite (ever wondered why fast food restaurants always use the colour red?).
If any of you are Trinny and Susannah fans then you’ll know that colour plays an important role in the way we appear to others. The same can be said about the colours we choose for our homes.
GREEN
Symbolises health, growth (plants, our lawns after a summer thunderstorm) and success. It is the colour of balance and harmony. People waiting to appear on TV sit in ‘green rooms’ to help them relax. Hospitals also use green to calm their patients. As green is widely considered to be rather masculine and conservative, it also a good choice for a home office. We’ve used green here to freshen up our Noosa collection, and then balanced it with a few earthy brown tones.
YELLOW
Think happiness, inspiration and optimism. Yellow is also known for its ability to sharpen memory and concentration skills. However, you may be interested to know that babies cry more if they sleep in yellow bedrooms. A small amount of yellow will cheer up a room but it can be overpowering so don’t overuse it!
ORANGE
Like yellow, a little bit goes a long way. Orange is known to increase creativity, enthusiasm, energy, vitality and warmth. Although burnt oranges and other muted earth tones are very on-trend at the moment, orange is a colour that can date rather quickly - the 70s come to mind - so limit its use to accessories that can be changed such as cushions, photo frames and table runners.
BLUE
Blue makes the body produce calming chemicals which help us to relax. It is perfect for use in bedrooms. Dress your kids in blue PJs! In the photos below, we've demonstrated how you can use different shades of blue to create different looks -- be it dreamy, beachy, or sophisticated. When you view the images, notice how each one makes you feel.
RED
Being such a strong colour, red is most often used as an accent in interior decoration. Red symbolises love, warmth and passion, but also anger, danger and aggression. Believe it or not, this powerful colour can actually raise your blood pressure. It’s an active colour so we definitely wouldn’t use it on the kids’ bedroom walls! Red is also an appetite stimulant so you’d better not sit on your red sofa with a large bag of chips!
PURPLE
Stands for magic, power, healing, luxury and wealth. Purple works best as an accent colour, just like the flowers below.
BROWN
Most men rate brown among their favourite colours. It’s natural, solid, earthy, comfortable and reliable. However, too much brown can make a room feel dull and boring so don’t go overboard.
WHITE
Stands for simplicity, purity, innocence and light. Being neutral, it goes with everything but it does get dirty. White is a great choice for a fresh beginning which is why many women choose to redecorate their homes in white after a divorce.
BEIGE & IVORY
Beige and ivory are timeless background colours. They represent calm and simplicity, and don't seem to date the way some other neutrals do.
BLACK, GREY & CHARCOAL
Black is the colour of authority, power, evil and, in Western cultures, also death. Black is used in interior design to add an element of sophistication, although some believe dark charcoal is a better alternative. Grey is considered a good background colour as it doesn’t compete with other colours. Grey is neutral, restful and cooling and will reduce the intensity of other colours. It is practical and conservative but keep in mind that too much grey can be a little unimaginative and depressing. When styling your home, be sure to team black, grey and charcoal tones with white or a bold accent colour for that ‘wow’ factor.
Pink
Think pink for tranquillity, romance, friendship, love, contentment…and all things Barbie!
A lick of paint and some new homewares are the easiest and cheapest ways to give a room a new lease of life. As a general rule, rooms that face north or west should be painted and decorated with cool colours as they take the full brunt of the summer sun, and rooms that face east or south are better suited to warm colours.
If you’re not sure where to start, use neutrals - such as greys and beiges - on large areas like walls, floors or lounge suites. Then you can introduce accent colours in small doses. For example, if you love this season’s colours but think you may tire of them down the track, limit your purchases to homewares such as cushions, prints and photo frames. That way, when you feel like a change, you can do so without blowing the budget.