Expert guide
‘The colours you surround yourself with are key to determining how a space will make you feel, and even subtle undertones have impact,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. These are her tips for paints that exude calm…
1
Blue- and purple-based whites create a feeling of quiet focus – great for a home office – while green undertones are calming and suited to bedrooms. Warm off-whites that contain hints of pink are gently comforting, perfect for living rooms. Used alongside pure whites, these soft tones read as beautiful colours in their own right.
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As well as off-whites, consider earthier neutrals of clay, terracotta and stone – they have an incredibly grounding effect and create rooms that feel comforting to live in, but also provide a sense of timelessness.
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Natural light has a big effect on colour, and undertones can be used to help counteract and balance this. Direct sunlight comes predominately from the south and the west and can be very yellow, so cool this off with blue undertones. The opposite is true of north-facing rooms, and colours with a red undertone will warm up the cooler light.
4
Consider adding a highlight of calming colour to a single door, skirting or window frame – this will shift the mood of a room without the need to completely redecorate.