| The biggest influence on the human state of mind | | | | challenged by "string"), and the standard neutral |
| with the possible exception of the weather is colour. | | | | colour for new dwellings is still the veritable magnolia. |
| We are surrounded by references: "a red rag to a | | | | Subtle, muted wall colours (like off white and taupe) |
| bull", "blue with cold", "green with envy", "in the pink". | | | | are fine, and very easy to live with. But contrast and |
| The psychology of colour and how colour affects | | | | enliven them with bright highlights in your accessories |
| human behaviour is now a serious course of study at | | | | and upholstery. Consider a multi-coloured rug, some |
| universities. Hospital rooms, classrooms, fast food | | | | coloured ceramics or glassware, vivid prints or |
| restaurants and offices are painted in colours to | | | | paintings, or squashy cushions in jewel tones. The |
| influence the behaviour and mood of the people who | | | | overall effect will be airy and soothing yet the flashes |
| use these spaces. Even the products on the shelves | | | | of colour can bring in your personality and be your |
| of your local supermarket have been packaged in | | | | signature touches. |
| colours carefully chosen to attract your attention and | | | | Strong colours are best confined to the rooms that |
| encourage you to buy. So why are people so | | | | have less usage. Hallways and cloakrooms are ideal |
| hesitant to use colour in their home environments? | | | | spaces in which to experiment. No one spends much |
| Why is the neutral space currently the ideal? Why | | | | time in these rooms, so you can afford to be bold. |
| are we afraid of colour? The first step to relinquishing | | | | Just because these spaces may be small or narrow, |
| fear in the use of colour is to understand the | | | | don’t be afraid of using vivid colour. |
| psychological effects it has on us. Red is known to | | | | Sometimes a tiny cloakroom is just a tiny cloakroom, |
| stimulate the appetite - so it’s an excellent | | | | and no amount of white paint is going to change that. |
| colour for dining rooms. Both blue and green are fresh | | | | Why not emphasis its bijou proportions by painting |
| and calming. They are the colours of nature and could | | | | the space dark burgundy or navy and use lots of |
| be popular choices for bedrooms. Yellow and orange | | | | white (in the sanitaryware and towels) as the accent |
| are energising like the sun, so are good choices in | | | | colour? A touch of aqua might be the finishing touch. |
| rooms where your energy may need boosting - the | | | | Be like a chef - a dollop of coral, with a swish of |
| kitchen perhaps. | | | | aquamarine and a pinch of jade may be exactly the |
| Orange in its toned down terracotta form can be | | | | right recipe for your room. |
| ideal in a home office; it has the energising effect of | | | | The important thing is to consider the quantities. |
| both red and orange but isn’t so bright | | | | Decide on your main colour and then add carefully |
| that you won’t be able to stay at your | | | | selected accents. |
| desk! Many contemporary television programmes | | | | Consider the texture of your colours. A bright red |
| have made a virtue of the use of bold colours in wild | | | | dining room can be toned down by the application of |
| combinations: violet and lime green; turquoise and | | | | various glazes so that its vibrancy is turned to a rich |
| red-orange; orange and fuchsia. But be careful about | | | | burnish. Bright yellows can be colourwashed over a |
| casually throwing colours together. | | | | white base to wash them out. In both cases the |
| Violet and lime green will work because they are | | | | original character of the colour is maintained and only |
| complementary colours - they are opposite each | | | | its brightness is muted. Colours can be layered for |
| other on the Colour Wheel. | | | | unusual effects. A piece of inexpensive pine furniture |
| Likewise turquoise and red-orange. You would think | | | | can be transformed by distressing it - painting an |
| that orange and fuchsia would clash, but because | | | | undercoat of blue, an overcoat of white and then |
| they sit next to each other on the Colour Wheel, | | | | sanding off the white paint on its corners and around |
| they are a colour harmony. It is worth investing in a | | | | its handles to make it look like its an antique. |
| Colour Wheel (available from most good art shops) | | | | If you’re stuck for ideas when trying to |
| to help you see how colours sit with each other | | | | decide what colour scheme to choose for a room, |
| before you splash out on several gallons of grapefruit | | | | look at the furniture and objects you want to use. |
| yellow and olive green paint for the bedroom. | | | | You may have a painting or a rug that can act as |
| And really consider carefully whether a violet and lime | | | | your inspiration. Many interior designers build up |
| green living room is something you can live with. | | | | complex colour schemes from just one item. Look |
| This does not mean to say that dramatic colours do | | | | around you - even an old purple vase or the faded |
| not have their place. Far too many houses are | | | | red covers of a collection of books can be the |
| decorated in various shades of beige (I think "taupe" | | | | starting point of a whole room scheme. |
| is the current fashionable term although this is being | | | | Have fun with colour. Be brave! Be bold! |