Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly felt like smiling? Or calm? That may be the result of the ethereal powers of colour psychology. As it turns out, the paint on your walls doesn’t just function as a fun mode of self-expression. It can also deeply influence the mood of your guests, help decrease stress, and even improve your sleep patterns. It all just depends on what colours you choose.

So, what are the dos and don’ts of choosing colours for certain rooms? Here are some laws to live by.

How To Hack Your Mood Using Colour

It is all about you

Your feelings about colour are often deeply personal and rooted in your own experiences or culture. Some people and cultures, for example, view red as a passionate or aggressive colour, while others associate it with luck. Similarly, some societies see white as a colour of innocence or a neutral colour, while for others white is a colour of mourning. The point is that you are the one occupying the space and whatever colours you use should speak to you.

Sleep Sense

In this day and age, getting a good night’s sleep is as rare as hen’s teeth. Between the stresses of work, current affairs, and the constant ping of notifications on our phones, many of us have fallen into poor sleeping habits. Our walls shouldn’t contribute to those. So, if you are looking for something to encourage sleep or a general sense of calm then it’s time to turn to blue. A 2018 study found that softer shades of blue worked the best to promote sleep, followed by green. Unsurprisingly, the worst colour for sleep was red, followed by orange and yellow. Whichever colour you choose, avoid glossy paint as they can be more reflective and result in your brain being stimulated more often than you would like.

Blue is a state of mind

While you may not find the answers to your mental health issues at the bottom of a bucket of paint, decking your walls in soft, cool colours will certainly help you find a more tranquil and relaxed frame of mind. Colours like blue, green, light purple and silver can help set your mind at ease. They are also great at making a room seem more spacious.  

Statement colours

Sometimes, what you want from a room is a statement. Something bold, that gets conversations going and injects everyone who walks into it with energy. For these rooms you need warm colours. Whether it is getting a wonderful two-tone effect near the stairwell or dousing your living room in bright, burnt orange heat, warm colours will bring fun and intimacy into a space. Be wary as they can be overwhelming if applied too generously.

Don’t be a one trick pony

Gone are the days when it was one colour for one room. Instead, mix and match shades or go with accents features. It doesn’t even need to be a big job. By simply applying an accent colour to the trims, you can dramatically spice up the look and feel of your room. Similarly, you can achieve a stylish monochromatic look by just playing with shading on your mouldings and trims.

ALSO SEE: 3 Ways to use dark paint in your bathroom

Light my fire

Colour is all about light. Finding the right lamps and light to complement your colour scheme can take your room to the next level. White light bulbs are closer to daylight, so your colour choices can be more versatile. LED lights are cooler and give off a bluish glow, which works well with cool pastels for a more contemporary look.

It’s all in the window framing

Windows give your home a bit of je ne sais quoi. When the light comes through them just right, they can cast an elegant glow that stirs the soul. If you get your windows and window frames right, you can very quickly turn your house into the neighbourhood style icon.  For example, choosing a black window frame is an easy way to make a home look tasteful. For a high contrast look, you can pair it with white, or go for greys or even add wood finishes to make the frames really pop.

Avoid using colours like red or orange unless you are going for a very particular kind of look and feel.

No matter what your colour needs, Builders has an army of knowledgeable, well-trained staff who are on hand to help your décor dreams come true. Picking a paint colour can be overwhelming. Chat to the pros to find your perfect mood match.

For more painting and colour tips, click here or visit blog.builders.co.za.