The Role of Colours in Interior Design
Learn how to leverage on colours to build your perfect room!
Date Updated:15 December 2019
Date Posted:30 August 2019
Authored By:
The Role of Colours in Interior Design
Colours play a vital role in our lives. It is a universal visual language understood throughout the world. When one is trying to communicate or transmit something through interior design, the best way to do it is through colour. The deliberate choice of colours for each setting requires the skillful thought process of understanding the way each colour behaves, as well as how it affects our mood.
Colours can generally be categorised into two groups – warm tones and cool tones. Warm tones like red, orange, and yellow energise a space, and consequently its occupants. On the other hand, cool tones like green, blue, and purple add a calming and relaxing feel to a space. Further, colours usually behave in three ways. They can be active, passive, or neutral. Neutrals include black, white, grey, and brown, and these colours are often used to establish balance in a décor that includes both active and passive shades. The choice of the colour combination depends very much on individual preferences - whether to create a soothing and relaxing feel, or a more exciting and energising atmosphere.
When choosing a colour palette for a décor, it is important to envisage the kind of ambience you would like to create. For instance, a bedroom may be designed with an inclination to be warm and cosy; whereas, a living room may have striking features to impress your guests. Whichever the case, the chosen colour should either harmonise or contrast depending on the design and its intended vibe. Therefore, consider wisely when selecting the tones and shades for home décor.
Room Colours and their Effects
Let us take a look at colours and zoom into the roles they play. Orange and yellow evoke excitement and enthusiasm, are good options for kitchens and dining rooms.
Red is a stimulating colour that raises a room’s energy level and should be used in small portions. Colours like burgundy are a good option for an accent wall or a piece of furniture.
Blue is believed to bring down blood pressure and slow heart rate. That is why it is linked to calming and helping a person relax, and it is highly recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms.
Purple represents luxury, sophistication, and exclusivity. It is suitable for creating a perfect atmosphere in formal living rooms and dining rooms. Lighter versions of purple like lilac may bring the same restful quality to bedrooms as blue does.
Green is said to be calming and peaceful so it goes well with almost any room in the house. In a kitchen, green helps to calm things down; in a living room, it strengthens family cohesion.
Neutrals (black, white, grey, and brown) are essential to the interior designer’s toolkit. All-neutral schemes fall in and out of fashion, but their virtue lies in their flexibility - add colours to liven things up; subtract to cool things down.
Colour of the Year for 2020
Last but not least, as 2019 is coming to an end, any thoughts on the colour of the year for 2020? (drum roll please...) It is Classic Blue, a dark navy blue that is described as being “Suggestive of the sky at dusk”! Classic Blue has been officially announced as the Colour of the Year 2020. It represents calm and dependability, a colour that can be relied on. In addition, it is perfect for any interior space, whether used in a whole room or as an accent colour.