Embracing Colour

January can be a rather grey and hollow month, and this year, more than ever, we are in need of some hope and brighter horizons.  What better time to inject some colour and vitality into our lives!

We are all sublimely effected by colour and this reaction varies from person to person. there are characteristics associated with different shades identified by psychologists from as early as Goethe, but we may not always agree with the findings.  There are also cultural associations with colour which play a role.   One perspective is that Orange is associated with creativity and adventure, Red with heat and tradition, Yellow with happiness and inspiration, Green with positive energy and growth, Blue with calmness and stability, Purple with power, Brown with warmth and White with simplicity and cleanliness.  But this will not be uniformly accepted.

For the neutral lovers amongst us it may be too big a step to paint a whole room in a strong shade, but it is possible to paint a single wall or a piece of furniture or joinery.  Small rooms can be brought to life by colour, if you want to see the effect without risking too much focus on the smallest room in the house, like the cloakroom.   If decoration is not your ‘bag’, then add a few gorgeous jewel-like cushions or a rich textured lamp or shade.  Everywhere we are being tempted with colour and the smallest accent can bring a smile and a lightening of the mood.  Try to maintain some cohesion as you focus on different areas of the house.  Add complimentary bursts of colour to fit in with an existing scheme.  Colour combinations are important – an accent of bright orange or pink works well with a broadly blue or green scheme but balance the tones so that they are comfortable together and don’t fight.  You are creating surprise, wellness and brightness but you also need harmony.