Bold coloured interiors are not for everyone, but if you are bored with the traditional, beige-toned walls and furniture, we have some tips for you! Colour psychology is a common practice in the field of marketing and branding, and it’s also a powerful interior design tool when it’s used right. Colours can change the atmosphere of a room and even impact your mood and daily life.
Blue
The colour blue is usually linked to calmness and relaxation. How much it lifts or settles you depends on the shade.
Deeper, bolder blues like navy or royal blue boost confidence and are associated with traits like loyalty, trust, peace and success. Deep blues are a better choice for living rooms, e.g. painting one wall navy blue while leaving the other walls plain white.
Lighter shades of blue such as Sky Blue or Cadet Blue create a feeling of tranquillity at your home, creating a sense of relaxation. Softer shades of blue are perfect for creating a calming environment, so use it in your bedroom or bathroom, which are the hotspots of peace and relaxation in your home.
Grey
Grey shades in colour psychology are thought to influence perceptions of security, intelligence and solidity. It also carries calm and composure, which suits a house with small children in it. The impact of the colour depends mainly on the depth and the hue of the grey.
A light grey can be soft and delicate whilst a deep grey radiates confidence. You can paint one wall graphite grey to create a sharp contrast against a white ceiling. If you want to go for a more sophisticated overall effect, choose a soft grey velvet sofa. The combination of white and grey can add depth and the feeling of luxury to any room.
Purple
Purple is associated with a range of positive emotions from depth and creativity to fantasy and nobility in colour psychology.
It works well in feminine spaces such as dressing rooms spreading a regal charm in the interior. Deeper versions of purple can also be masculine and work well in bedrooms, creating a rich atmosphere, or in a hallway, where it meets people as they step into your home.
Black
Black is the go-to colour, whether it’s about fashion, car or home decor. It’s a popular accent colour, not without reason, but when used heavily in an interior, the psychology of this colour results in power, drama and mystery.
Black makes a contemporary room while still reading as classic. Combined with gold it gives you an Art Deco look.
Yellow
Yellow is the colour of joy, optimism and energy. Regardless of the shade or hue, yellow is always associated with vibrant vitality. Not for nothing did Illuminating yellow become Pantone’s colour of the year.
We would not paint a whole room bright yellow, because it overwhelms, but one statement piece in yellow works in almost any room. Use yellow tiles in the kitchen or bathroom to energise the space. Gold is always a safe accent, and it can be worked into any room.
Pink
Pink radiates delicacy, elegance and sophistication. It speaks of nurture, love and femininity, and it is badly underrated, too often shut away in a child’s bedroom. If the hue is picked rightly, pink can work perfectly in adult bedrooms or shift to the living room as a sofa, curtain, cushion or blanket.
Green
Green is associated with positivity, balance and the green surrounding of nature. It comes in many hues and shades, and it’s ideal for rooms where you need to open your mind, such as the kitchen or your study room. If you are braver, you can use a bolder shade of green such as emerald in your living room as a sofa or use a leaf-patterned wallpaper in your bathroom.
Red
Red is a dramatic colour linked to passion, energy and excitement. It radiates power and ambition, so it’s an ideal fit for study rooms and creative spaces. It’s not recommended to use it in social areas such as living room wall as it can heighten emotions in a negative way. However, it can work well in kitchens as an exposed brick wall.
Brown
Brown is a comforting and relaxing colour that radiates luxe and timelessness. This shade works well with many rooms from kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms or study rooms. It can be neutral and luxurious over and above rugged and masculine.
Many natural materials sit in the brown range, timber and stone among them, and using the material rather than the paint colour is usually the better route.
If you are planning a scheme and want a second opinion on the palette, tell us about the room, or call the studio on 020 7731 6841.
Published 17 February 2021. Written by the NU Projects studio, edited since for house style and accuracy.