Find your colour tribe
Colour expert Sophie Robinson believes that we each have a specific combination of shades that can give us confidence, charisma and calm. Here she explains how to unlock your colour confidence
Want to feel happier, calmer, and more uplifted? According to interiors guru Sophie Robinson, it could be as simple as surrounding yourself with the right colours.
“Colour absolutely has the power to have a positive impact on our emotions and how we feel – it’s a scientific fact,” she says.
“It has the power to make us feel calm or joyous, or focused or relaxed. It can make us feel our best.”
Sophie knows a thing or two about colour – she’s spent more than 20 years as an interior stylist, is the co-host of chart-topping interiors podcast The Great Indoors and is a guest judge on BBC2’s Interior Design Masters.
She’s known on Instagram for her house filled with vibrant pink wallpapers and cobalt blue walls, and for her wardrobe of eye-wateringly bright dresses and skirts.
But while you might expect her to be eulogising about the latest trends, Sophie says how we react to colour is very personal.
“People’s reaction to colour is a strong and instinctive emotional response, and it’s different for everyone,” she says.
Sophie believes that we all fall into one of four colour categories based on the four seasons.
Ignoring trends and instead surrounding ourselves with a colour palette that works for us can help us feel calmer and more relaxed – and whether shopping for cushions, or choosing an outfit for a job interview, knowing our colours can make everything easier.
“It’s so liberating – it streamlines everything in your life,” she says.
Take our quiz to find out which colour personality you are.
The clutter you can’t let go of is…
a. Sentimental knick-knacks or mementos
of special occasions
b. Neatly filed paperwork, or a book of contacts even though they’re in your phone
c. Newspapers and magazines on every
surface
d. Clutter? What clutter?
If money was no object, your ideal evening would be... a. Hosting an informal gathering of family
or friends b. Watching a tennis match at Wimbledon
or going to the theatre c. Curling up with a book on the sofa d. Going to an art gallery or music concert
Your friends think of you as… a. Friendly and welcoming
b. Level-headed and organised
c. Passionate and knowledgeable
d. A trendsetter
When people come to your house, you want them to feel…
a. Relaxed and at home, as if they could
stay for ever
b. A sense of calm wash over them
c. Warm and cosy, they can curl up next to
the fire
d. Impressed by the avant-garde design
Your favourite recent interiors trend was…
a. Pastel colours
b. Shades of grey and silver
c. Jewel colours
d. Sleek minimalism
THE ANSWERS
MOSTLY As COLOUR TRIBE: SPRING YOUR COLOURS: Delicate yellows, lilac, violet, spring green and pale pink
spring is a time of new life, energy and optimism, with delicate warm colours coming through in nature such as pink cherry blossom, and the purple blue of bluebells, as well as the growth of new green leaves.
These colours are the shades a Spring will find themselves naturally attracted to – they will give them energy, making them feel uplifted and joyous.
Their home will automatically place a big smile on people’s faces. Srings are happy, bubbly and naturally outgoing. They love hosting parties and enjoy creating a home that makes people feel welcome. Spontaneous at heart, they let go of formality in favour of a more easygoing style in the home and wardrobe. TOP TIP: You’re a sentimental person who finds it hard to part with belongings – perhaps to the annoyance of your partner. A shelf of photo frames filled with treasured memories or mementos of special occasions will lift your heart every time you see it.
MOSTLY Bs COLOUR TRIBE:
SUMMER YOUR COLOURS: Greyish shades of lavender and dusky pinks, with cream and grey tones
A lot of people think of inflatable flamingos and Bermuda shorts when they think of summer – but the British summer is actually full of sun-bleached colours like greyish lavender. The flowers that come through at this time are blousy hydrangeas, peonies and draping wisteria as well as the delicate creamy yellow tones of a long hay field.
The colours that resonate with Summers are cooler and more washed out than in spring, with grey rather than vibrant undertones.
Summer has a gentle, lower energy, so this tribe is calm, collected and organised. They have a few well-chosen and expensive things in their home, and prefer understated and quiet glamour to more showy decorating schemes.
They will prefer to use a smaller colour palette, including several shades of cream or pale grey. Summers are sophisticated and elegant.
TOP TIP: Because you enjoy a limited palette of colours, it’s important to vary the textures in your home and wardrobe. For instance, you could mix fabrics such as linen cushion covers with a soft wool blanket.
MOSTLY Cs COLOUR TRIBE: AUTUMN YOUR COLOURS:
Burgundy, muted orange, ochre, emerald green and peacock blue
Autumn is the last big fanfare before winter arrives. As we move out of summer, there’s a massive burst of colour as the leaves turn. This gives us auburns, reds and russets.
It’s also a very busy time of year for gardeners and farmers, so energy levels are high. Consequently, friends of Autumns will think of them as fiery and passionate, with a robust energy.
Theirs is a much more intense colour palette, made up of dahlia pinks and the orange of pumpkins and squashes. Rich jewel colours like emerald and topaz are also a hit.
Autumns are nostalgic and should look to the past for inspiration for home and wardrobe. They love traditional patterns and fabrics, as well as old furniture. And they couldn’t care less about the latest trends.
TOP TIP: Your love of all things vintage will mean you are better off looking for bargain buys for your home or wardrobe in second-hand shops than in a big department store. Why not give an unloved piece of furniture a new lease of life with a paint or polish?
MOSTLY Ds COLOUR TRIBE: WINTER
YOUR COLOURS: Grey, black and white, icy blue, flashes of bright red or yellow
As we move into winter, many colours fade away, but the ones that do appear are very striking, like a flush of red berries on a frosty white branch.
Ultimately the landscape is quite monochrome with shades of grey, black and white. Think about the stripped branches of a winter tree against a clear blue sky for your inspiration.
Winters are minimalist at heart and can’t bear clutter. Their ideal home would be decorated in sleek black and white with a few splashes of very vibrant colour.
They like to make a statement and care greatly about the trends – or even set them themselves.
Winters are often visionaries and high achievers, like architects or musicians. TOP TIP: Your pioneering personality means you’re someone who loves the latest tech, but you don’t have to spend a lot to make a big difference.
Why not try investing in a smart lightbulb for your bedroom? You can change the colour of the light from your phone to set different moods and prices start at just a few pounds.
■Sophie’s interior design course Confident Colour Scheming is available now on her website, courses.sophierobinson.co.uk