How to work with colour
QI’ve heard that bold, bright colours tend to make rooms appear smaller. How do I inject colour into my living room without destroying the illusion of space?
AColour can be a fantastic way to rejuvenate a space. Bold and bright shades will energise rooms and give them a lift, but proportion and colour elements are important to consider too.
Both science – what is known as ‘colour characteristics’ – and personal experience influence our response to colour. It can be beneficial, before choosing colour palettes, to consider the mood you want to create and how you’re going to use the space.
Incorporating a little bit of science into your decision can really help. Identifying colours by their wavelengths as either ‘advancing’ or ‘recessive’ can be an effective way of settling on the right scheme for your space. Colours with longer
wavelengths, such as reds, oranges and yellows, appear to advance or draw towards the eye, creating a feeling of cosiness and warmth that’s perfect for a living room or bedroom. The shorter wavelengths found in blues, greens and purples draw away from the eye to create the illusion of calm, airy, open spaces.
Bearing this in mind, proportion is still a key factor. Rather than simply making a space feel small, using too much colour, particularly advancing shades, can make a room feel overwhelming and chaotic.
Try to think of colour like a ‘seasoning’ – bolder, more intense hues are like a stronger flavour, and should therefore be added sparingly. When colour is used effectively, it can create a desired mood and atmosphere without being overbearing.