When designing, I try to encourage the use of light blues and greens into colour schemes for bedrooms. Blue evokes a calm atmosphere and is known to slow the heart rate, whilst green is associated with restoration and harmony. Together, the calming effect of these colours help ensure a good night’s rest.

Living areas on the other hand can be looked at from a different perspective. These are areas where people communicate and entertain so the room needs to reflect the energy flow. Because of this, there is plenty of scope to play around with colour in the kitchen, dining and living spaces. Vibrant shades of green, blue, yellow, and orange are friendly, happy colours that encourage communication and are therefore especially welcome in these areas.

Warm hues such as orange and yellow raise the perceived temperature of a room. For this reason, they’re best used in rooms that face north as they will make the room feel warm even when the sunshine is elsewhere. However, the energy these colours bring into a room can make it feel less restful so are best avoided in rooms meant for relaxation, or just used as an accent colour.

Dark greys and black can also be introduced in some environments to help bring down the energy in the room and allow the accent colours to break through more subtly. In this living area above, a dark floor and table helps balance the vibrant colour of the lights and seating cushions. This is also an easier way to introduce colour to a room if you are wary of using too much of it.

Colour is an important part of designing a room and thought must be given as to how you use it. When looking at colours that are on trend, think about choosing the shade of colour that is right for the space, or accent a room with hints of colour so they can easily be changed when the next trend comes around.

Written by JT