Colour is a nonverbal form of communication. It has the ability to awaken our senses, stimulate our thoughts, and bring back old memories. It can also be used to represent ideas, like abstract prints on a canvas.
You might have heard how different colours can affect our mood, by bringing about certain feelings, and amplifying them.
Red, for instance, is considered to be arousing, exciting, and stimulating. But it can also be linked to feelings of anger and hostility.
So when it comes to the interiors of your home, can the colour of the walls play a role in influencing your mood? We say yes, so keep reading to find out!
What Does Research Really Say About The Psychology of Colour?
In 1665, Sir Isaac Newton experimented with light by passing it through a prism. He observed the various colours that fanned out into a rainbow – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
He wanted to test a theory: He wanted to know if white light was actually made up of all the colours that we can see.
He decided to place another prism, upside-down, in front of the first prism, and he was right! Newton was the first to prove that white light is, in fact, made up of the visible light spectrum.
This laid the foundation for further scientific research, showing that colours with longer wavelengths like red, orange, or yellow, induce states of arousal and excitement.
On the other hand, colours with shorter wavelengths like blue, indigo, and violet, induce low arousal states such as calmness, peace, and trust.
However, colour associations can also be deeply influenced by culture and advertising. Take, for example, Chinese and Indian brides who usually wear red, compared to Western countries where white is preferred.
Or how tech giants like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, use blue in their logos to represent trust and reliability.
The Perfect Colours For Interior Design
This begs the question: Is there such a thing as the perfect colour scheme for a home? It might sound cliche, but beauty really is in the eye of the beholder!
And since our individual colour preferences are influenced by a number of things, there is no “one-size-fits-all” method when it comes to choosing the “right” colours for your home.
Who would want to live in a place where every single house looked exactly the same on the outside, and inside? Creativity is the spice of life! And we can play with colours to express our creative side.
Finding your own palette means looking for different paint colours to help induce the feelings you’re looking for. Here’s a guide to some colour choices for different rooms in your house.
Associated with the sky and ocean, this hue can make you feel calm, relaxed and serene. A great colour for rooms where you want to relax and lounge about in, like the living room or bedroom.
Go for warm blue tones (with a more yellow undertone) instead of the cooler hues, so that the space doesn’t end up feeling too “cold”. If the room is small, consider painting one feature wall instead.
Considered to be stimulating and arousing, it is linked to feelings of exhilaration and high energy. Red has also been associated with intense feelings like anger and danger.
It might sound appealing to some to paint a bedroom red, but it would be best to use this colour in an area of the house where there’s lots of energy, like a space you entertain guests instead.
Can be soothing in a way, but can also induce energetic behaviours, since it’s along the same spectrum as red. However, softer pinks are thought of as “sweet”.
You might find this colour more suited to a baby girl’s room, or even the bathroom for a more romantic touch. Interestingly, it is used in hospitals to stimulate happiness, and in prisons to prevent erratic behaviour!
Thought to be a friendly colour, and is also perceived to be fun and energetic. Use this in a space where you exercise often, and avoid this colour in places you want to unwind.
Orange can also stimulate your appetite, making it a good colour for your kitchen and/or dining room (unless you’re going on a diet!).
Owing to the association of this colour with “happiness” and how it can be as bright as a ray of sunshine, it’s no wonder this colour brings with it positive energy and warmth.
It is cheerful and a great colour for the kitchen or children’s room, especially if the first rays of the morning sun catches the yellow on your walls.
Such a warm and rustic colour, it is generally associated with earthiness and durability, and carries with it a feeling of sophistication and positivity. But, brown can also be seen as dirty.
Therefore, it’s best to use it sparingly in places where you want to feel cosy. Introducing beautiful pieces of wooden (or even leather!) furniture into a room can also help to give it a nice homey feel.
A great colour for your home office as it is restful on the eyes. Often linked to nature, it offers those who love the outdoors a little something extra: Bringing all that lushness indoors!
Deep greens are associated with wealth and money, while mint green is associated with a more refreshing feel, so it’s up to you what you want the space to reflect.
Traditionally symbolises luxury and royalty. Deep purple hues tend to have a mysterious and romantic feel to them. Light purple tones, like lavender and lilac, are great for the bedrooms.
They can help induce calming and restful sleep. Deeper purples meanwhile, could be introduced minimally into social spaces, such as pieces of furniture or a feature wall.
This colour has had its fair share of positive and negative meanings attached. When it comes to the former, it oozes timeless elegance and classy sophistication, which is why you can use it for a bold look especially for the entrance.
However, for the latter, many have traditionall
y thought of evil and death when they think of this colour. So, make sure to use this colour sparingly, if you don’t want people to think they’ve walked into a haunted house!
Colours are a personal choice and something that should be experimented with to find the perfect match, especially with all the time we’ve been spending at home.
It’s time to whip out the paintbrushes and give your home a fresh coat of paint, to break free from the old look and feel of your home!
With COVID-19 changing how we work and play, have you considered what homes of the future will look like? Take a look at our prediction of what future houses will look like, in 2031 and beyond!
Rangi ni njia ya kuwasiliana isiyo ya maneno. Ina uwezo wa kuamsha hisi zetu, kuchochea mawazo yetu, na kuamsha kumbukumbu za zamani. Pia inaweza kutumiwa kuwakilisha mawazo, kama vile michoro isiyo ya kawaida kwenye kitambaa. Labda umesikia jinsi rangi tofauti zinavyoweza kuathiri hali yetu ya moyo, kwa kuleta hisia fulani, na kuzidisha. Kwa mfano, rangi nyekundu huonwa kuwa yenye kuamsha, yenye kusisimua, na yenye kuchochea. Lakini pia yaweza kuhusishwa na hisia za hasira na uadui. Kwa hivyo, kwa nini rangi ya ukuta wa nyumba yako inaweza kuathiri hali yako? Sisi tunasema ndiyo, kwa hiyo endelea kusoma ili uone! Utafiti Unasema Nini Kwelikweli Kuhusu Saikolojia ya Rangi? Mwaka 1665 Isaac Newton alivumbua jinsi ya kutumia mionzi ya mwanga kupitia prism. Alitazama rangi mbalimbali zilizofanyiza upinde wa mvua - nyekundu, machungwa, manjano, kijani, bluu, indigo, na zambarau. Alitaka kujaribu nadharia: Alitaka kujua kama nuru nyeupe kwa kweli ilitengenezwa na rangi zote ambazo tunaweza kuona. Aliamua kuweka prism nyingine, iliyoelekezwa chini, mbele ya prism ya kwanza, naye alikuwa na haki! Newton alikuwa wa kwanza kuthibitisha kwamba nuru nyeupe, kwa kweli, imefanyizwa na wigo wa nuru inayoonekana. Hii iliweka msingi wa utafiti zaidi wa kisayansi, kuonyesha kwamba rangi zenye urefu mrefu zaidi wa mawimbi kama nyekundu, machungwa, au manjano, husababisha hali ya kuamsha na msisimko. Kwa upande mwingine, rangi zenye urefu mfupi wa mawimbi kama vile bluu, indigo, na zambarau, husababisha hali ya kuamsha chini kama vile utulivu, amani, na uaminifu. Hata hivyo, ushirika wa rangi unaweza pia kuathiriwa sana na utamaduni na matangazo. Kwa mfano, wasichana wa China na India kwa kawaida huvaa mavazi mekundu, ikilinganishwa na nchi za Magharibi ambapo mavazi meupe hupendekezwa. Kampuni kubwa za teknolojia kama Facebook, Twitter na LinkedIn zinatumia rangi ya bluu katika nembo zao kuwakilisha uaminifu na kuaminika. Rangi Zenye Kufaa Kwa ajili ya Ubunifu wa Mambo ya Ndani Hilo lauliza swali: Je, kuna jambo kama hilo la rangi kamilifu kwa ajili ya nyumba? Huenda ikaonekana kuwa jambo la kawaida, lakini uzuri uko katika macho ya mtazamaji! Na kwa kuwa mapendekezo yetu ya rangi ya mtu binafsi yanaathiriwa na mambo kadhaa, hakuna njia ya "ukubwa mmoja-unafaa-wote" linapokuja kuchagua rangi "sawa" kwa nyumba yako. Ni nani angependa kuishi katika nyumba ambayo kila nyumba inaonekana sawa nje na ndani? Ubunifu ndio vikolezo vya maisha! Na tunaweza kucheza na rangi ili kuelezea upande wetu wa ubunifu. Kupata palette yako mwenyewe ina maana ya kuangalia rangi tofauti rangi kusaidia kusababisha hisia wewe ni kuangalia kwa. Hapa ni mwongozo wa baadhi ya uchaguzi wa rangi kwa ajili ya vyumba tofauti katika nyumba yako. Ikiwa unafanya kazi na anga na bahari, rangi hii inaweza kukufanya uhisi utulivu, kupumzika na utulivu. Rangi nzuri kwa ajili ya vyumba ambapo unataka kupumzika na lounge kuhusu katika, kama vile chumba cha kuishi au chumba cha kulala. Nenda kwa sauti ya bluu ya joto (na undertone zaidi ya manjano) badala ya rangi baridi, ili nafasi isiishe kuhisi "baridi" sana. Ikiwa chumba ni kidogo, fikiria kupaka rangi ukuta mmoja wa kipekee badala yake. Inasemekana kuwa yenye kuchochea na kuamsha, na inahusianishwa na hisia za msisimko na nishati nyingi. Rangi nyekundu pia imehusianishwa na hisia kali kama vile hasira na hatari. Inaweza kuonekana kuvutia kwa baadhi ya rangi ya chumba cha kulala nyekundu, lakini itakuwa bora kutumia rangi hii katika eneo la nyumba ambapo kuna mengi ya nishati, kama nafasi wewe burudani wageni badala yake. Inaweza kuwa ya kutuliza kwa njia, lakini pia inaweza kusababisha tabia ya nishati, tangu ni pamoja na wigo sawa na nyekundu. Hata hivyo, rangi nyekundu laini huonwa kuwa <unk> tamu<unk>. Unaweza kupata rangi hii inafaa zaidi kwa chumba cha msichana mtoto, au hata bafuni kwa kugusa zaidi ya kimapenzi. Jambo lenye kupendeza ni kwamba hutumiwa katika hospitali kuchochea furaha, na katika magereza kuzuia tabia zisizo za kawaida! Ilidhaniwa kuwa rangi ya kirafiki, na pia inachukuliwa kuwa ya kufurahisha na yenye nguvu. Tumia rangi hii mahali ambapo unafanya mazoezi mara nyingi, na uepuke rangi hii mahali unapoweza kupumzika. Orange pia inaweza kuchochea hamu yako ya kula, na kuifanya rangi nzuri kwa jikoni yako na/au chumba cha kula (isipokuwa wewe ni kwenda juu ya lishe!). Kwa sababu ya ushirika wa rangi hii na "furaha" na jinsi inaweza kuwa mkali kama mionzi ya jua, haishangazi kwamba rangi hii huleta na nguvu chanya na joto. Ni rangi nzuri na nzuri kwa jikoni au chumba cha watoto, hasa kama miale ya kwanza ya jua la asubuhi huchukua rangi ya manjano kwenye kuta zako. Rangi ya joto na ya kijijini, kwa ujumla inahusishwa na udongo na uimara, na hubeba hisia ya utaalam na ubunifu. Lakini, rangi ya kahawia yaweza pia kuonwa kuwa chafu. Kwa hiyo, ni afadhali kuitumia kwa kiasi katika maeneo ambapo unataka kujisikia vizuri. Kuanzisha vipande maridadi vya mbao (au hata ngozi!) Vifaa vya kulala katika chumba cha kulala vinaweza pia kusaidia kuifanya iwe na hali nzuri ya nyumbani. Rangi nzuri kwa ofisi yako ya nyumbani kama ni utulivu juu ya macho. Mara nyingi huhusianishwa na asili, na huwapa wale wanaopenda kuwa nje kitu kidogo cha ziada: Kuleta ubaridi huo wote ndani ya nyumba! Kijani kinachotumiwa kwa ajili ya utajiri na fedha, wakati rangi ya kijani ya mint inahusishwa na hisia ya kuburudisha zaidi, kwa hiyo ni juu yako nini unataka nafasi kutafakari. Kwa kawaida hufananisha anasa na ufalme. Rangi za zambarau zenye kina kirefu huwa na hisia ya ajabu na ya kimapenzi. Rangi nyangavu za zambarau, kama vile lavender na lilac, ni nzuri sana kwa vyumba vya kulala. Zinaweza kusaidia kuamsha usingizi wenye kutuliza na wenye kupumzika. Rangi ya zambarau ya kina inaweza kuingizwa katika nafasi za kijamii, kama vile vipande vya fanicha au ukuta wa kipengele. Rangi hii imekuwa na sehemu yake ya haki ya maana chanya na hasi kushikamana. Kwa upande wa kwanza, inaonekana kuwa na elegance ya wakati na sophistication ya kifahari, na kwa hiyo unaweza kuitumia kwa kuangalia ujasiri hasa kwa ajili ya mlango. Hata hivyo, kwa ajili ya mwisho, wengi wamekuwa jadi y mawazo ya uovu na kifo wakati wao kufikiri ya rangi hii. Kwa hiyo, hakikisha unatumia rangi hii kwa kiasi, ikiwa hutaki watu wafikiri kwamba wameingia ndani ya nyumba yenye roho! Rangi ni chaguo la kibinafsi na kitu ambacho kinapaswa majaribio na kupata mechi kamilifu, hasa na muda wote tumekuwa kutumia nyumbani. Ni wakati wa kuondoa brashi na kutoa nyumba yako safu mpya ya rangi, kuachana na sura ya zamani na hisia ya nyumba yako! COVID-19 inabadilisha jinsi tunavyofanya kazi na kucheza, kwa hivyo unafikiria jinsi nyumba za siku zijazo zitakavyoonekana? Tazama jinsi nyumba za wakati ujao zitakavyoonekana mwaka 2031 na baadaye!