Add Character to your Home with the Right Colours

Moving into a new house? You will have tons of things to do; buying the furniture, matching drapes, wall hangings, artifacts and so forth!

But before you can proceed with any of that, you need to give each room an identity of its own. Yes, a colour – wallpapered or hued? Patterned or textured? With such wide possibilities, there are bound to be endless rounds of discussions and arguments with your family members, the interior designer or even the painter who chips in with his own two bits. Needless to mention, this will take up the majority of your time, leaving you with nothing but a splitting headache.

Points to keep in mind when choosing a colour

Here is a simple guide to help you choose something for every room; giving each a distinct character of its own. Choice of colours are determined by

a. impact on the room, and
b. impact on the mood

Pablo Picasso, the famous artist once said, “Colours, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” Colours are a powerful tool for communication and can affect and alter moods, feelings and emotions.

Keep the following in mind when choosing a colour or a set of colours for your walls and ceiling so that it complements the mood of the room.

So, when selecting a colour for your bedroom, choose something subtle, calm and soothing. Hues of blue, turquoise, green, white or beige can make your room look airy, spacious and serene.

Colours such as red, yellow or orange increase the energy levels of a room. They are associated with happiness, sunshine, positivity and offer a dopamine rush to the brain. They are mostly suited for rooms with large gatherings like the drawing room and dining area. These are also ideal spots to spark up conversations complemented by a vibrant look to the space.

Shades of whites and greys are mostly preferred in washrooms and kitchens since they give the area an appearance of being roomier than they actually are. Adding a few indoor green plants and pebbles will lend a more natural look, leaving everyone feeling fresher when entering or exiting.

Now for the furniture

Once the colours and hues for every room have been decided, it’s time to settle on the furniture. Whether you have pre-existing furniture whose upholstery you wish to change or are thinking of buying a new set, it should complement the colours of the walls and ceiling in the room. Heavy furniture goes with light colours and light furniture gels well with dark and textured walls.

Avoid using too many different colours in different rooms, especially of different tones. In a small setup or a design wherein all the areas are visible at some angle, use of a neutral hue of the same colour should be considered. A slight or slow change will give an added appeal to the room.

One great way of creating a dramatic impact is to balance the colours. Apply the main colour (darker shade) on the larger wall, complimenting it with lighter shades of furniture and wall decor. Balance it out by using a lighter hue of the main colour on the other walls.

The colour wheel

The colour wheel is basically based on the colour theory and shows the relationship between colours. You can pick one colour and find its variants and overlapped colours in a sequential order, which will make it easier for you to choose a specific shade.

As you can see,

Warm colours – oranges, reds and yellows;
Cool colours- blues and greens;
Complimentary colours – two colours – warm and cool that complement each other;
Monochromatic colours – blacks and greys;
Neutral colours – beige, ivory, taupe, black, grey and shades of white appear to be without colour, but in many applications these hues often have undertones.

Lighting is by far the most important detail to be paid attention to. Light, be it natural or artificial, plays a vital role in adding colour to the room with its natural glow. A room which has access to natural light, can be painted in darker colours which light up the room. For rooms without natural lighting, a lighter shade could be used. When using artificial lighting, be careful what you choose as it too has many tones – yellow tones, calm white, bright white and the like.

Buying or building a house is the easy part. Doing it up and creating your dream home requires a lot of time and patience. Understanding the play of colours–and the psychological impact they can have on you–makes the whole effort both enjoyable and worthwhile.