insideKENT Magazine Issue 42 - September 2015 | Page 108

INTERIORS
Colour Psychology cont.
Green

Yellow

Bright and beautiful, yellow is the colour of summer, and it brings a fresh,
clean, warm, friendly look into your home. Yellow is also the colour of
intelligence and mental agility, and placing yellow hued trinkets, accessories,
and furniture around your home, or including it in your home décor designs
by way of curtains or wall coverings will give your brain a boost. Use it in
the study, living room, or kitchen, but try to stay away from it in the bedroom
– the one place you usually need your brain to switch off.
Green is the colour of healing, nourishment, and regrowth. It centres you,
stabilises your thinking, and relaxes even the tensest situations. Surround
yourself with green hues and you will immediately feel calm and in control.
Because of this, green will work anywhere in your home, but a green
bathroom is fantastic as this is where you can truly be yourself by yourself.
A green patterned shower curtain, a set of green bath towels, or some
green bathroom accessories will set the tone. If you really want to get the
most out of your colour choices, why not add green tiles?

Pale Pink

Red

Pink was once the colour of a little girl’s bedroom, and in its brightest
incarnation it still is; but in paler, more pastel shades, pink can enhance
any room. Pink, as you might guess, is the colour of love and gentleness,
and can comfort someone who is feeling fragile or down. It’s not as
stimulating as red, but it lifts and boosts the mood nonetheless – and
sometimes a gentle touch is what’s needed. One pale pink statement wall,
a vase containing pink flowers, or a pink rug will all give you the feeling of
contentment you are looking for.

Black

A real bright red is stimulation for body and mind. It wakes you up, gets
your blood pumping, and sets you up for the day ahead (which is why it’s
not recommended to use in a baby’s bedroom – they really don’t need the
extra stimulation). Red is the colour of bravery, of courage and fearlessness.
If you find that you have a somewhat nervous or timid disposition, a little
red in the room (perhaps curtains, a hint in your cushions, a picture frame,
or some candles) will help enormously. Be careful not to overdo it though;
too much red can be over-stimulating, and can sometimes cause anxiousness
or agitation. When it comes to red, a little really does go a long way.

108

It may sound surprising that black could be a useful addition to the colour
palette of your interior design plans, but it’s true; after all, isn’t black every
colour absorbed together? And if each colour has a different effect, wouldn’t
black be the most powerful of them all? Perhaps so. It's certainly seen as
a shielding colour that also provides those around it with absolute clarity
in their lives. It evokes seriousness, and that can be useful in many aspects
of life. We’re not saying that you should paint your entire bedroom black,
or only have black furniture, but a little here and there – especially when
off set against white – will have a wonderfully protective effect on you and
your home. As a bonus, it also gives off a feeling of glamour and sophistication!