To boldly go
CHOOSING BRIGHT COLOURS FOR YOUR HOME CAN LIFT YOUR MOOD AND ELEVATE YOUR STYLE
From peaceful pastels to creative greens and passionate reds, colour evokes emotion. So, whether you want your home to have a sense of happiness and wellbeing or to foster an atmosphere of fun and frivolity, a pop of colour can either lift your mood or leave you feeling off-kilter.
We are all wonderfully unique and enjoy colours in a multitude of different ways, but there are some fundamental rules that identify how particular colours affect our moods. If you’re looking to shun the magnolia and varying shades of grey and embrace a bolder colour scheme, picking bright colours for the right rooms can help to boost your creativity or create a sanctuary away from the rat race.
Choosing colours is never easy, but by knowing how different hues make us feel we can then translate these emotions to make houses that feel like real homes… »
CURIOUS ORANGE
Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It’s not an aggressive colour, but it strengthens your emotions, encouraging a general feeling of joy, wellbeing and cheerfulness. Orange is also said to increase the flow of oxygen to the brain and to stimulate mental activity and appetite, which makes it great in a living or dining room. However, this striking hue is probably best used as an accent colour, unless you are super-brave and want to embrace the joy of the 1970s! Subtler shades of orange, such as terracotta or rust, translate well into interiors and remind us of glorious sunsets that fill your heart with contentment.
FEELING BLUE
Blue conjures up feelings of reliability and stability. Due to its associations with nature – think clear summer skies and turquoise oceans – blue can also inspire feelings of serenity and contentment, making it a real stress-buster. Identified with honesty and sincerity, it’s said to be one of the most productive colours. Bold, bright blues offer a sense of uplift while still being restful, so they’re ideal for the home office, children’s playrooms, hallways and bathrooms. Darker blues project a sense of sophistication and make a great backdrop for treasured artworks, collections and displays. However, blue is thought to be an appetite suppressant, so not great for the kitchen or dining room.
“NUDE AND PALE PINKS WITH WARM UNDERTONES CAN MAKE YOU FEEL NURTURED AND SAFE”
PRETTY IN PINK
While pink may be closely related to evocative red, all the magenta’s anger and passion works to promote a feeling of tenderness and sweetness instead. Gentler shades of pink encourage calmness and love, while stronger shades, such as hot pink, go hand in hand with feelings of joyfulness and creativity. Nude and pale pinks with warm undertones can make you feel nurtured and safe, so work incredibly well in bedrooms and living areas. Meanwhile, brighter pinks are flamboyant and expressive, ideal for creating impact. This makes bright pink particularly well suited to creative spaces such as workshops – or anywhere where you need an added energy injection.
RED ALERT
A high-impact, energising colour, red is emotive and can arouse strong feelings of excitement and passion. However, avoid any scarlet hues in the bedroom as too much red can cause irritation, agitation and anger. Red naturally enhances the metabolic rate and has been shown to increase the pulse and raise blood pressure, too. Traditionally, red has often been used for dining rooms, as it energizes and invigorates a space, inspiring lively conversation and fun. It’s also a fantastic colour for creative spaces. If you love red, perhaps a better decorating decision is to use it as an accent, creating impact through bold and beautiful pops of strong colour.
GLORIOUS GREEN
Believed to be the most healing of colours, studies have shown that green is also the most restful shade for the human eye. Due to its strong association with nature and the natural world, green is often seen as being rejuvenating and steeped in fertility; in fact, it can be described as a natural peacemaker. Whether you prefer soft sage, rich emerald or deep forest green, this crowdpleaser of a colour can be adapted to suit just about any style of interior and will work to promote a feeling of calm, balance and a connection to nature. Dark greens work wonders for living rooms and bedrooms or anywhere else in the home where you feel that you’re in need of a little peace and respite. Whereas brighter, punchier greens are particularly ideal for energising a busy area such as the kitchen or hallway.
MELLOW YELLOW
Like a ray of sunshine, yellow can lift your mood and, as well as being associated with joy, optimism and happiness, it’s also believed to promote clear thinking and quick decision making. It’s similar to red in that it inspires energy and enthusiasm, but without red’s dark side. Mustard is a wonderful way to inject an uplifting spirit and its warming tones work well in bedrooms, creating an inviting atmosphere. A splash of yellow will catch the eye, set the heart racing and make you smile.