Creating Spaces that Speak to the Soul
Interior design is an art form that goes beyond mere aesthetics. It has the power to influence our emotions, perceptions, and even our behaviour. One of the most influential aspects of interior design is colour. The colours chosen for a space can have a profound impact on our mood, emotions, and overall wellbeing.
In this article, we will explore the fascinating relationship between colour and emotion in interior design, and how we harness this knowledge at StyledSpaces to create spaces that resonate with people on a deeply emotional level.
What is Colour Psychology?
Colour psychology is the study of how colours affect human behaviour and emotions. Different colours have been shown to evoke specific emotional responses, and these findings are fundamental in the world of interior design. When designing a room scheme for a client, we always consider what colours we need to use in order to create the atmosphere we want to achieve, and how we want our clients, or those viewing a property, to feel.
What Colours to Use?
Here are just some of the emotions different colours can make us feel, and how we can use them in interior design.
Red
Red is a passionate and energetic colour. It can evoke feelings of love, excitement, and even anger. In interior design, red is often used to create a sense of warmth and intimacy, but too much exposure can encourage aggression and an inability to focus. This means that red is a great accent colour but needs to be used with consideration when designing bigger spaces or if you are trying to evoke a sense of calm.
Orange
Orange is a warm, friendly and youthful colour, bringing a feel-good shade to your designs. Did you know that orange is the colour of companionship, intelligence, laughter and appetite?
Yellow
The cheerfulness and optimism of bright yellow should never be underestimated. Bright yellow ignites motivation, happiness and energy whilst softer yellows aid concentration. This makes it the perfect choice for offices and studies, and a great colour to use to brighten a space. Keep it simple and small to avoid overloading your home with yellow (and potentially causing feelings of agitation).
Green
Much like blue, green is a calming colour and a great colour choice for creating relaxing environments. Green is the colour of nature and is often associated with growth and renewal, and used in Biophilic design. It can create a sense of balance and harmony in interior spaces, decreasing feeling of anxiety and aggressions, and even contributing to lowering blood pressure. There is a reason why most hospital walls are green.
Blue
Blue is associated with calmness and tranquillity. It can evoke feelings of relaxation and peace. Lighter shades of blue are often used in bedrooms and bathrooms to create a soothing atmosphere. This is also great for our mental health.
Purple
Purple is a colour of luxury and creativity. It can evoke feelings of sophistication and inspiration. Deep purples are often used in interior design to create a sense of opulence.
Pink
Pink is often perceived as a feminine colour, however dusty pink is an excellent choice for that sense of calm. Pink can have a calming feel that brings warmth to a space, with some shades of pink even being considered as neutral; igniting pink’s global appeal even further.
Neutral Colours
Neutrals are a go-to in home staging, as they inspire happiness, relaxation and comfort in most people. With a wide appeal, you can appeal immediately to the majority of those viewing your property. Neutral colours are also great to build a foundation, as you can then add pops of colour to bring personality and depth to your spaces, acting as a platform for brighter and more daring shades.
White and cool colours
Using white in your designs transforms spaces into being light, airy and more open. A go to for serenity, purity and cleanliness, and great to complement other colours. White, and cool colours, are reflective and can make spaces feel light, airy and open.
Top Tip: Don’t use white for walls that are likely to be marked, scraped or will often be touched, especially by little hands! White will show even the smallest smudge, so we suggest to use scrubbable paint for high trafficked areas.
Brown
Brown symbolises the feeling of affection and closeness and is often seen as a warm and comforting colour to add to an interior design scheme.
Top Tip: Use brown to highlight stronger colours like greens, blues and oranges, as a way to tone down vibrant colour schemes. Brown will give your room an earthy richness that makes it feel warm and inviting.
Black
The darkest of all colours is the perfect touch to bring drama and sophistication to an interior design. Acting as an anchor, black is perfect to ground colourful spaces. Whilst rarely used for main walls, it is the perfect colour for furniture, accessories and even stair banisters!
Using Colour to Benefit Your Spaces
Colour is a powerful tool that can evoke emotions, set the mood, and enhance functionality in a space. Understanding the principles of colour psychology is essential for creating interior designs that resonate with people on an emotional level. The thoughtful use of colour can transform a space into an emotionally engaging and fulfilling environment, the perfect tool to make potential buyers fall in love with your property, or to create a space you love.
If you need help to create a desired mood for a space or would like advice and guidance on how to use colour to encourage buyer interest, contact our team at StyledSpaces today.
Our expert designers work closely with clients to select colours that resonate with their emotions and lifestyle, or of the emotions and lifestyles of your target market.