Colour schemes, how different colours affect us

Interior colours can communicate a powerful message, especially in places where the atmosphere is important. It’s remarkable how colour can affect our mood so intensely, which is why it’s so important to take it into account when thinking about painting your home.

How different colours affect us

Blue tones

• Various shades of blue are known to relax the mind and relieve tension. Blue subconsciously reminds us of a clear, tranquil sky or the therapy of the sea.
• Blue is also the one colour that reads as inedible, which is why the old decorators’ line about eating less off a blue plate has stuck around.
• Blue relieves stress, but it can also read cold, so warm it with a deeper shade somewhere else in the room.

Green and yellow tones

• Green hues such as seafoam promote energy and liveliness.
• Soft and warm greens can promote balance and harmony.
• A yellowish mossy shade is a good colour to pair with soft greens because it reflects optimism, much like sunshine on a beautiful day. Greens and yellows would be a great interior design idea if you wanted to paint the interior of a gym. These colours will fill the room with energy, strength, and motivation.

Purple tone

• Light purple and lavender shades give off a spiritual vibe and enhance the feeling of wisdom. Surrounding yourself with deeper shades of purple will promote creativity in yourself as well.
• Choosing a deep purple for an accent wall will dictate the feeling of royalty and appreciation for your clients who come and go at your day spa or salon

Pastel tone

• Pastel shades evoke trendiness and femininity for most people. They also promote a feeling of acceptance and soothe worry.
• Pastels soften your mood and allow you to take in new thoughts and think optimistically.

A few decorating ideas, drawn from Farrow and Ball’s own directory

Light walls and darker woodwork

• A good way to create light and space is to put the lightest colour on the largest surface, the walls, and a darker tone on the woodwork.
• This works well if you are using a neutral scheme and gives a more ‘decorated’ feel.
• The use of a dark colour on skirting boards, not only makes the walls appear lighter in contrast, but it also creates a strong contemporary aesthetic, making everything above feel elongated and lighter in contrast.

One colour on walls and woodwork

• There is long historic precedent for one colour on both walls and woodwork, and it works in a contemporary room too, because it reads clean.
• It generates a sense of calm in a room, as well as exaggerating its size, as there are no contrasts to draw the eye.

How to create the illusion of more space

• Costly extensions and architects aside, colour can be used to alter the shape of a room. When planning your colour scheme remember that a darker wall colour will bring it towards you, whereas a lighter colour creates the illusion it’s further away.
• You can also prevent narrow hallways from appearing ‘tunnel-like’ by painting the end wall a darker shade than the side walls. The same principle works within a rectangular room that you’d like to make appear squarer.

Making the most of a room with little natural light

• Most of us have a small room that does not exactly benefit from natural light, and we all share an urge to paint it eye-watering white to force it to feel brighter.
• That usually produces a doctor’s waiting room. Use warm, darker colours instead, or a bold patterned paper, and let the room be dramatic and intimate rather than pale and flat.
• If you would like a second opinion on a scheme, tell us about the room.