Colour in interior design and home decor can be intimidating, especially if you are not used to playing with it. Understanding each hue's qualities and effect on our subconscious is an integral step when creating a home that genuinely improves your well-being and represents your style. In this article, we will talk about Colour Theory and Colour Psychology. Both combined will help you create thoughtful palettes and make conscious choices while creating a better environment for you and your loved ones.
Being knowledgeable in the science and art of using colour is integral for creating the right palette when (re)designing your space. Colour Theory is a guide to help you understand how hues form and interact with each other. (Some naturally work marvellously together, while others collide horribly.) More importantly, Colour Theory includes the message each hue communicates to us subconsciously, and science has proved it has a profound impact on mood and emotion.
Get to know the Colour Wheel, Colour Definitions, and Basic Colour Schemes.
The Colour Wheel organises colours in a circle, grouped into three categories:
Primary colours: Yellow, Red, Blue
Yellow, red, and blue cannot form by combining other colours. All hues are their derivatives.
Secondary colours: Orange, Purple, Green
These are the colours formed by mixing the primary ones. Blue and yellow mixed together makeup green, red and blue-purple, and red and yellow-orange.
Tertiary Colours: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green & yellow-green. These colours are created by mixing a primary and a secondary colour. Their hues are two-word names: blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange.
Colour schemes
A Complementary colour scheme consists of two colours that sit directly on the opposite side of the wheel. These colours create maximum contrast, enhancing each other's visual impact the most.
Analogous schemes include three colours sitting next to one another on the colour wheel. When working with this colour scheme, one colour is always dominant, one supports, and the third accents.
Triadic colour schemes contain three colours evenly spaced around the colour wheel. They tend to be very bright and energetic.
Complementary, analogous and triadic are the basic colour schemes created by humans. On the other hand, nature provides a perfect departure point, regardless of whether its hue combinations fit into a technical formula.
We, at Alisa Textile, believe that while it is good to be knowledgeable in Colour Theory - there is more than one approach when creating a beautiful colour scheme. Inspiration and beauty are everywhere. We only need to open our eyes and explore.
Colour psychology
The connection between our emotions and colour, also called colour psychology, is the core factor in choosing an interior design scheme. Brightness and saturation are significant components attributing to the power of a particular hue. Since we, our friends and family spend hours in the rooms we design, considering its effect on our subconscious is a vital variable in creating an accomplished living space.
Whether you look to add the odd pop of colour or decorate an entire room, here are the primary and secondary colours and the effects they have on the human mind:
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Red
The colour red represents our emotions in their entirety. Being a very dramatic hue it is often associated with excitement and passion. Furthermore, action and willpower are also qualities assigned to it, which qualifies red as an excellent option for creative spaces and home offices. Red will stimulate the conversation if you add it to the living or dining room. Without surprise, the best utility for the colour red is in the bedroom, where it kindles desire and love. It would add vigour to the entire room, raise the energy levels and pump the adrenaline. Red is a high-intensity colour, and to balance, it is best to pair it with calming tones, such as white and beige or complementary yellow shades.
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Orange
Orange stimulates creativity, promotes a sense of joy and is very welcoming to visitors. Similar to yellow, it symbolises sunshine and nature. Its vibrancy affects the mood positively, and no other colour delivers the desire for success and fame like it. It is well suited for kitchen areas since it increases appetite. Exactly like red, it inspires desire and sexuality, and it's best to be paired with complementary hues to balance out its intensity.
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Yellow
Capturing the warmth of sunlight, yellow evokes positivity and optimism in colour psychology. It is associated with intellect and prosperity (especially in its metallic, golden shades). Yellow automatically elevates people's spirits, making the space feel full of light and sun. Its playfulness is a perfect match for children's bedrooms. Remember that this colour can work in practically any room you like - kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, etc. Pair it off with grey and white to achieve an extra level of sophistication.
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Green
Since it is associated with nature, green stimulates the thoughts of harmony, growth and renewal. This colour will invite a sense of freedom and openness into our home (especially if you live in a small space / big city with little greenery). Furthermore, in colour psychology, green gives us a sense of security, has a calming effect on our minds, and is the easiest on our eyes. It possesses a transformative power in its capability to relax the senses and lower hypertension levels and blood pressure.
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Blue
There is no doubt that blue is one of the strongest hues in the colour psychology system and is universally popular across cultures. Reminiscent of a clear sky or a wide-open ocean, it promotes serenity, intelligence, relaxation and confidence. Blue interiors help us relax our minds, and slow down the heart rate and blood pressure. Its qualities make it one of the most popular colours for bedrooms and bathrooms, creating a peaceful environment. Another area blue performs the best in is the study room. Incorporating blue in our homes is easy - it goes with everything, and is the safest colour to experiment with.
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Purple
Being a mix of red and blue, purple possesses colour psychology characteristics from both. It stimulates creativity and is energetic at the same time. Purple adds a sense of mystery and spirituality to a room and is a powerful accent colour. Historically, this hue gives us royal vibes and depending on its particular shade, can invoke passion and intensity. Consider using purple in your hallway if you want to impress your guests. Its prominent presence will make your experience in a dressing room truly special, or it will stimulate your creativity in a home office. Purple is undeniably a colour that should be used to its full potential, as it is capable of inspiring you to find new forms of self-expression.
Where there is plenty of research showing most people react similarly to certain shades, personal experience trumps social norms. Our history shapes unique associations that influence our reactions to colours. Ask yourself what kind of hue schemes you find most appealing, and make sure that your choice will represent the feeling you want to create in the space you call home.
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