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Using colour in interior design can transform an otherwise dull, lifeless space into some thing very special. By following our guidelines below, you can create a special living space in every part of your home.
Red is an emotionally intense and very extreme colour. It symbolises heat, fire, blood, passion, love, warmth, power, excitement and aggression. Red has the effect of stimulating people to make quick decisions and to increase expectations. Red suggests physical strength, rejuvenation, self-confidence, love, passion, sensuousness, danger, courage, and vitality. It also stimulates the appetite, making it an excellent colour choice for dining rooms. But it's not right for all rooms - the intensity of the colour makes it unsuitable for use in the nursery.
Orange is the colour most associated with appetite and is friendly, cheerful and happy. It's more friendly than fiery and more welcoming than seductive. Orange is associated with glowing warmth, contentment, fruitfulness and wholesomeness. It looks strong, generous and optimistic. A good choice for living rooms, family rooms and children's bedrooms. Orange in its toned-down terracotta form can be an ideal choice for a home office. It has the energising effect of both red and orange, but isn't so bright that you won't be able to stay settled at your work desk.
Yellow is optimistic - it lifts our spirits. It produces sensations of brightness and warmth, and represents playfulness, light and creativity and an easygoing attitude towards life. It's as inviting as a glorious sunny day. Pure yellow is the most cheerful of the spectrum, enhancing concentration and also speeding up the metabolism. Yellow is the colour of the intellect - a clear mind that can take in and understand ideas and respond to them. A good colour for the social areas of the house but not for babies' bedrooms. Babies will cry more in a yellow room than in a room of any other colour.
As the dominant colour in nature, green can be used anywhere in the house. It suggests balance, harmony, replenishment, wealth, refreshment, compassion, rejuvenation, balance, moderation, concentration and security. Green has a calming effect and confers a sense of relaxation and comfort. It represents health and prosperity, and refreshes the spirit. It is the most well-liked colour and the easiest colour for the eye to see. Light greens work well in bathrooms and living rooms. Mid-range greens are great choices for kitchens and dining rooms. Blue is refreshing, soothing, calm, dependable and relieves insomnia and headaches. It slows the metabolism, lowers blood pressure, decreases heartburn and indigestion and is associated with travel and leisure, authority and strength. It's non-threatening and is a symbol of trust and longevity. However, the same blue that lulls us to sleep also suppresses our appetites, possibly because there are very few naturally blue foods. Soothing blue is an ideal bedroom colour choice for both adults and children, but not good in the dining room.
Purple contains elements of surprise and magic. It's the colour of royalty and stands for luxury, wealth and sophistication. Purple is the colour of philosophers and also suggests romance, imagination, passion and sensitivity. It suppresses appetite, but fosters love, wisdom, reverence, spirituality and quietness. Purple eases the mind and overactive glands, conveying creativity. Purple is a good choice for areas of the house where concentration is required, and also for children's bedrooms. Not a good colour for the dining room, though.
Browns are often described as 'earth tones' and are just that - colours we see in nature. Earth tones tend to be harmonious, rich in colour and depth and impart a feeling of solidity and permanence. Light brown implies genuineness, while dark brown is reminiscent of wood or leather. Men are more apt to say that brown is one of their favourite colours. Integrating earth tones into your environment brings a sense of approachability. They are part of our everyday existence. They are familiar and comforting and make a great choice for home offices and living rooms.
Neutrals are far from boring. These timeless hues come from the pigments used by the earliest artists - ochre, charcoal, umber and sienna - and create colours that are restful, soothing and completely liveable. They present subtle, calming palette, creating a tranquil, refined look. It's almost impossible to go wrong with neutrals - they go with everything and clash with nothing. For a truly sophisticated effect, it's best not to mix the different tones. Dont pair the red-toned neutrals with yellow- or blue-toned neutrals. | 
