Colour Psychology: Is Colour Setting the Right Tone in Your Home?
How you use colour could have more power than you think when it comes to influencing the mood of your interior
Colour can be a very effective form of non-verbal communication – it has been scientifically proven to affect how we feel about ourselves and those around us, and how we respond to a room. Apart from the aesthetics of colour in your decorating scheme, being open to a variety of colours will assist you in putting the power of colour psychology to good use in your home. And, once you understand the basics of colour, you will be able to move towards an interior that fits your personality, your mood and reflects your desired atmosphere – you may even come to realise why some colours in your home have got to go.
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Pink – Unconditional love
Hot pink or fuchsia is bold and beautiful but also nurturing and warm. Being a tint of red, which is a symbol of passion, pink also offers a feeling of love and physical soothing.
How to use this colour: The downside of pink is it can be emasculating so mix it up with strong neutrals to tone it down emotionally.
Hot pink or fuchsia is bold and beautiful but also nurturing and warm. Being a tint of red, which is a symbol of passion, pink also offers a feeling of love and physical soothing.
How to use this colour: The downside of pink is it can be emasculating so mix it up with strong neutrals to tone it down emotionally.
White – The essence of purity
White is the colour of perfection and it makes us feel complete and whole. It brings an atmosphere of efficiency into a space but, on a negative level, it can feel elitist and uncompromising. White also gives a sense of space, which aids thinking with clarity. With so many variations of white paint colours available, it is important to understand the difference between the various tones from cooler grey-whites to warmer creamy-whites.
How to use this colour: Warmer whites invite peace, comfort and sophistication without feeling sterile. Consider Taubmans ‘Cotton Sheets’.
See how to choose the right white paint
White is the colour of perfection and it makes us feel complete and whole. It brings an atmosphere of efficiency into a space but, on a negative level, it can feel elitist and uncompromising. White also gives a sense of space, which aids thinking with clarity. With so many variations of white paint colours available, it is important to understand the difference between the various tones from cooler grey-whites to warmer creamy-whites.
How to use this colour: Warmer whites invite peace, comfort and sophistication without feeling sterile. Consider Taubmans ‘Cotton Sheets’.
See how to choose the right white paint
Green – In the trees
Imbibe harmony in your life and home with green. It can bring you and your family a sense of peace and make your home feel more balanced. According to colour psychology, green is also symbol of happiness and healing, and growth (think green plants). It affects us on a subconscious level too, making us feel reassured.
How to use this colour: For refreshment in your home, add a sprig of mint with Dulux ‘RB70 Kuranda’.
Imbibe harmony in your life and home with green. It can bring you and your family a sense of peace and make your home feel more balanced. According to colour psychology, green is also symbol of happiness and healing, and growth (think green plants). It affects us on a subconscious level too, making us feel reassured.
How to use this colour: For refreshment in your home, add a sprig of mint with Dulux ‘RB70 Kuranda’.
Pale blue – Connect with nature
Bring the sea and the sky indoors to connect with the world around you. Pale blue evokes tranquility and breathes serenity into a space.
How to use this colour: Being a cool colour it pushes objects (such as walls) away, which means it is a good choice for smaller spaces. A soft blue offers the suggestion of loyalty and trust in a bedroom. Consider Taubmans ‘Icemist’.
Why Your Shouldn’t Go Overboard With Colour
Bring the sea and the sky indoors to connect with the world around you. Pale blue evokes tranquility and breathes serenity into a space.
How to use this colour: Being a cool colour it pushes objects (such as walls) away, which means it is a good choice for smaller spaces. A soft blue offers the suggestion of loyalty and trust in a bedroom. Consider Taubmans ‘Icemist’.
Why Your Shouldn’t Go Overboard With Colour
Deep blue – Of the mind
A strong blue helps with clear communication, good concentration and logic. It is essentially soothing and it affects us intellectually rather than physically.
How to use this colour: This colour will suit a room designed for calm conversation. For a bold blue consider Dulux ‘Wineglass Bay’.
A strong blue helps with clear communication, good concentration and logic. It is essentially soothing and it affects us intellectually rather than physically.
How to use this colour: This colour will suit a room designed for calm conversation. For a bold blue consider Dulux ‘Wineglass Bay’.
Orange – Bring forward your holiday
Warm pumpkin and burnt oranges are reminders of life in a warm climate. As these orange-based colours link to physical comfort and food, shelter and a sense of fun, they make for an excellent backdrop for alfresco dining areas.
Orange is a combination of red and yellow, and is a reaction to the physical and the emotional.
How to use this colour: For a child who suffers from asthma or anyone generally recovering from ill health, orange increases energy. Consider the burnt orange, Dulux ‘Pinnacles Desert’.
7 Ways the Great Australian Landscape Can Inspire Your Colour Scheme
Warm pumpkin and burnt oranges are reminders of life in a warm climate. As these orange-based colours link to physical comfort and food, shelter and a sense of fun, they make for an excellent backdrop for alfresco dining areas.
Orange is a combination of red and yellow, and is a reaction to the physical and the emotional.
How to use this colour: For a child who suffers from asthma or anyone generally recovering from ill health, orange increases energy. Consider the burnt orange, Dulux ‘Pinnacles Desert’.
7 Ways the Great Australian Landscape Can Inspire Your Colour Scheme
Brown – Earthy comfort
Beige and brown link directly to the natural world and are friendly and grounding. They make a room feel comfortable and offer security and protection. There is a reason why beige is used in many interiors, as it suggests reliability and support; an emotion that is positive in all the rooms of a home.
How to use this colour: If you want your interior filled with laughter and humour, colour psychology suggests that beiges and browns can leave one feeling a little serious. Some tones, however, offer a lovely balance. Consider Dulux ‘Melville Island’ or, for a darker, richer brown, Dulux ‘Sturt Creek’.
Beige and brown link directly to the natural world and are friendly and grounding. They make a room feel comfortable and offer security and protection. There is a reason why beige is used in many interiors, as it suggests reliability and support; an emotion that is positive in all the rooms of a home.
How to use this colour: If you want your interior filled with laughter and humour, colour psychology suggests that beiges and browns can leave one feeling a little serious. Some tones, however, offer a lovely balance. Consider Dulux ‘Melville Island’ or, for a darker, richer brown, Dulux ‘Sturt Creek’.
Black – Oh-so decadent
Black is the colour of mystique and sophistication. In your interiors it can make you feel glamorous, but too much on the walls can affect your mood negatively. As it is created from an absence of light, black can also make you feel oppressed.
How to use this colour: Gold is historically the colour of triumph, affluence and achievement. Being a warm colour it is good for a high self-value and, when mixed with black (as in this room), communicates clarity and excellence.
How to Be Truly Confident With Colour
Black is the colour of mystique and sophistication. In your interiors it can make you feel glamorous, but too much on the walls can affect your mood negatively. As it is created from an absence of light, black can also make you feel oppressed.
How to use this colour: Gold is historically the colour of triumph, affluence and achievement. Being a warm colour it is good for a high self-value and, when mixed with black (as in this room), communicates clarity and excellence.
How to Be Truly Confident With Colour
Purple – A pulse of creativity
Whether plum, purple or eggplant, this colour expresses a sense of place. It creates a sense of drama as it’s the colour of the imagination, of romance and of individuality.
How to use this colour: As purple isn’t that common in nature, it can look artificial when used in large areas, giving a feeling of superficiality. However, blending it with natural yellows, oranges and greens will tone it down.
Whether plum, purple or eggplant, this colour expresses a sense of place. It creates a sense of drama as it’s the colour of the imagination, of romance and of individuality.
How to use this colour: As purple isn’t that common in nature, it can look artificial when used in large areas, giving a feeling of superficiality. However, blending it with natural yellows, oranges and greens will tone it down.
Yellow – Light and energetic
Like the feeling of sun on your face, yellow is optimistic and cheerful. This colour is great to use in areas where you need to feel confident and have high self-esteem and emotional strength. The right yellow will lift your mood, but overdoing it can bring on anxiety.
How to use this colour: Use yellow carefully and begin with pops of colour, such as on a front door, which will automatically make every visitor feel welcome. Consider Dulux ‘Hawker’s Gold’ for a warm yellow, or Dulux ‘Spring Fever’.
Tell us
How have you used colour psychology in your home, to affect your mood or a room’s ambience? Let us know in the Comments section. And if you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
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Read more stories about decorating with colour
Like the feeling of sun on your face, yellow is optimistic and cheerful. This colour is great to use in areas where you need to feel confident and have high self-esteem and emotional strength. The right yellow will lift your mood, but overdoing it can bring on anxiety.
How to use this colour: Use yellow carefully and begin with pops of colour, such as on a front door, which will automatically make every visitor feel welcome. Consider Dulux ‘Hawker’s Gold’ for a warm yellow, or Dulux ‘Spring Fever’.
Tell us
How have you used colour psychology in your home, to affect your mood or a room’s ambience? Let us know in the Comments section. And if you found this story helpful, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read more stories about decorating with colour
Enjoyed the read and the characteristics of each colour.
I'm very drawn to greens.
I'm definitely in a happy and peaceful time in my life .
Thanks Sophie for the detailed description per colour.
I also like the greens as they can suit everyone - easy to live with, back to nature, insightful reading -thank you
Nice Article