I N T E R I O R S
By Anita Oakey
Making colour psyc
Anyone that has an interest in
colour and design is naturally
fascinated by the area of colour
psychology.
However, for the most part, claims
about how colour can affect the
quality of life can bring out the
sceptic in us.
If you are one of these people
think about these simple questions:
• Would you paint a three year old’s
bedroom black?
• Would you decorate your office
boardroom “Barbie” pink?
• Could you relax in a room that was
decorated entirely in primary red, with
red curtains and furniture?
These are extreme examples but they
illustrate the point that colours are
important to us, and if you approach
colour psychology with an open mind
you will be amazed at the effect colour
has to the point where it can seem almost
magical.
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Red
Red is the most powerful colour of the
colour wheel. Red is the colour of fire and
passion, and it represents our desires and
cravings in all areas. Red can be seen as
a stressful colour and has been shown to
increase heart rate and blood pressure, so
use it with caution.
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Red has been shown to stimulate the
appetite and conversation. So much so that
sometimes we suggest using it for dining
room walls (if you’re on a diet, maybe you
could try blue instead?).
Red is the hottest colour of the spectrum
and can make anywhere seem warm and
cosy, so is ideal for people who suffer
from the cold. It’s not a good choice where
calmness and clear thinking are required,
as its energetic frequency is not conductive
to areas where rest is needed, so it’s not
a good choice for bedrooms or relaxation
areas.
As with other colours, the psychological
effects of the colour red depend very much
on its intensity. So while vibrant, saturated
hues of red have been shown to raise
people’s heart rate and blood pressure,
you might feel quite comfortable with
muted, warm, earthy shades of red around
you, for example:
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• red ochre
• venetian red
• brick red
That’s the type of red colour where you get
all the warmth, comfort and energy, but
with none of the exaggerated pulse.
Green
Green is the colour of nature and
represents balance and harmony. It is a
very healing, soothing colour which can be
used to create a relaxing area in any part
of the home.
If you suffer from auto-immune problems,
asthma or bronchitis, green can aid
relief. It also helps to treat hyperactivity in
children, and restores a calm environment.
Some shades of green can cause nausea,
so it’s not the best choice for dining areas.
One way to use the colour green in interior
design is to combine different hues of it,
or combine the colour green with other
colours.
Sage, grey, pink and magenta go well
together (think English country cottage
garden). Or, you could combine greens
with neutrals and blues for a ‘coastal’ look.
You could also try mixing a tiny bit of
the complementary colour, red, into your
green paint. That mutes it slightly and adds
complexity and depth.
Alternatively, you could tint it with white or
light grey, or discolour it with some yellow
or blue - these are all ways to utilize the
psychological effects of the colour green
while avoiding the decorating pitfalls.
 INTERIORS
chology work for you
Lighting influences any colour in interior
design - colours change their ‘personality’
under different lights. So it’s really important
that you test any green paint you want to
use thoroughly in every possible daylight
situation and under artificial lighting.
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Purple
Purple is the colour of true greatness, and
is associated with inspired leadership.
Purple is a positive inspirational colour
and is a good choice for creative people
particularly those that require solitude for
inspiration, such as musical composers,
poets, painters and sculptures.
Although it requires careful handling in
interiors, purple is a striking colour. As
it connects the mind, body and spirit it’s
a good colour for meditation areas or
relaxation rooms.
The psychological effects of the colour
purple will depend very much on how
‘warm’ or ‘cool’ the hue is:
• Bluish purples can be serene and calm-
ing and have a ‘mysterious’ depth.
• Reddish purples demand more atten-
tion and can dominate a room (and are
always in danger of looking garish or
cheap).
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Yellow
Yellow is generally seen as a light,
optimistic colour, and has a unique ability
to raise the spirits and inject vitality into
any area, as it is the colour of sunshine
and happiness, and there are very few
people who do not like this colour and the
effect it creates.
Although yellow is strongly connected
with creative energy, overuse of yellow
can suggest a disturbed mind. Van Gough
was famous for his love of yellow, but then
again, he did cut off his own ear.
Yellow creates a warm, welcoming first
impression so is a good choice in entrance
halls.
It’s a favourite for kitchens, as it set the
mood for the rest of the day and helps
creativity and conversation and it’s a good
choice for children’s bedrooms to stimulate
their creativity.
A pale, atmospheric tint of yellow on walls
or ceiling can add ‘sunshine’ to a room,
while saturated, intense yellows might
make you feel cranky after a while.
Because opinions about this colour are
so divided, I suggest you don’t worry too
much about how the colour yellow affects
others - unless you share a home with
them, of course.
Your personal response to all things yellow
will help you get the most out of this colour.
You may not necessarily want it on a wall
in your home, but there are other ways of
utilizing the psychological effects of the
colour yellow. For example, yellow makes
for great “highlights”.
You could use smaller doses of
it in accessories, flowers,
or pictures to brighten
up darker areas
and make them
‘smile at
you’.
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a range of bright fun colours at €129 each
Blue
The positive characteristics of blue are
that has exceptional healing powers, and
its calm restful nature can act as a potent
sedative, making it a good colour for
anyone with sleeping difficulties.
Blue is an ideal colour for bedrooms or
restrooms of any kind, also in any area
where you want to calm people under
stress. Blue’s ability to encourage clear
thought makes it well suited to kids study
areas in the home.
On the negative side, blue is like the sea,
and can be calm and peaceful one minute,
yet rocky and turbulent the next making
blue prone to moodiness and not a very
sociable colour.
It should be avoided by anyone that suffers
from depression or sadness and avoided
by anyone that is troubled by the cold.
It is not a good colour for playrooms or an
area that you want to create a motivating
atmosphere.
The following snippet of advice is
something I’ve never tried myself - please
take it with a seriously large pinch of salt -
the psychological effects of the colour blue
can help you restrain your appetite and
lose weight.
So you might consider painting your
kitchen and/or dining room blue (and
eating from blue plates).  If you’re going to
try this, please let me know if it works!
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€50 per 10m2 roll
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Co Tipperary.
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