COL OUR FEEL
How do today’s on-trend hues affect our moods?
YOU MIGHT HAVE heard the one about ‘fast food red’ inspiring us all to eat more burgers. Whether that theory holds up, colour does have a significant effect on our behaviour and emotions. The psychology of colour has shown it can alter bodily processes such as our appetite, metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.
At home, it pays to consider your paint and de´ cor selection not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but from an emotional one too. Here we look at some hot-rightnow hues and how you can use them on your walls to set the mood.
Sage and moss green
These greens offer a refreshing link to nature — something many of us need more of in these device-driven times. “There’s nothing nicer than gathering herbs, watering plants or trimming foliage in the garden,” Auckland-based designer Debbie Abercrombie says. “It’s never stressful, and that’s what greens can do for us indoors too. They’re also nurturing , and they’re suitable for any room in the house.”
Sage and moss greens are tranquil promoters of balance and harmony that offer a sense of growth and renewal. Enhance your wellbeing at home with favourites include reviving Resene Spring Rain, lucky Amulet, quiet Green Spring and smoky grey-green Tom Thumb. As they do in nature, such greens go well together: think forestry Dingley layered with Olive Green and misty Pale Leaf.
Embrace the natural theme by pairing sage and moss greens with timber, going for a soothing effecting by coupling them with white or cream from Resene’s The Range White & Neutrals palette, or aiming for a cocooning effect with several shades of grey such as warm, dense Resene Jumbo and Half Jumbo, or anchoring navy such as school-blazer blue Bunting.
Sunset pinks
The au courant cousins of the ever-popular blush pink, “sunset pinks make time stop,” Abercrombie says. “They soften and energise a space without being demanding, and are also rather romantic for a bedroom.”
Conjuring soothing images of tender moments and otherworldly beauty, sunset shades from sweet pastel Resene Pink Lace, to peachy Romantic, to lilac pink Twilight go dreamily together and are divine combined with sky blues, such as hazy grey-blue Smokescreen or slate blue and lilac Panorama. Pale yellows like lemony First Light are a welcome complement to this type of colour palette, as are taupes like Nomad and dusky corals such as Coral Tree.
Spice brown
This colour requires a measured approach, but the rewards are well worth a little more thought. “Just like cooking with spices, success generally depends on what you combine these colours with,” Abercrombie says. “I see brown as the support crew, making white fresher, pink softer, and so on. Use it in a media room for moodiness, or somewhere unexpected like an entryway.”
Resene Cumin is a warm copper brown you could use to add flavour in a palette with ochre, brown and orange Whiskey Sour and deep green Midnight Moss. Also a warm copper brown but slightly lighter is Cinnamon, which is delicious with creamy Anglaise. A bolder choice is rich brownedged orange Moroccan Spice, a striking seasoning for blue-purple-black Bullitt.
Sapphire blue
Reminiscent of clear skies, blue is often interpreted as calming — so much so that cities have experimented with installing blue street lighting as an environmental design method for combating crime.
Sapphire blue, in particular, is eyecatching and uplifting – and you don’t need much of it to have a positive effect on your home, says Debbie. “Don’t be afraid to rev up the intensity, using less but using it well.” Try it as an accent in a dining room, formal lounge or bathroom.
Clear, bright Resene Half Resolution Blue or indulgent Decadence are a good place to start to determine your preference for blue or purple undertones. And if restraint isn’t your forte and you want to really up the ante, look to combine sapphire blue with other jewel-toned paints and accessories for truly luxurious glamour, such as emerald-like Bingo and amethystesque Deep Koamaru, accented with Solid Gold metallic paint and velvet soft furnishings to seal the deal.
Earthy yellow
Often associated with happiness, bright yellow is a cheery choice for kitchens (perking up your splashback, perhaps) and entryways and can make a small bathroom more inviting, while softer interpretations are neutral ground for nurseries. But it’s pure yellow’s earthier counterpart that has become all the rage.
Mustard yellow imparts a warm energy that wraps you up in cosiness, Abercrombie says — ideal for the impending chilly season. “It’s beautiful when complemented by navy, black, brown and neutrals.”
Turn your living space or bedroom into an on-trend haven with ruddy yellow Resene Tulip Tree and pale Half Buttermilk. Furniture in mustard or gold velvet, greenery in cream pots, and accents of blush pink, sage green and soft grey round out a palette such as this, topped off with texture in the form of soft furnishings – throws, cushions or a rug.