Colour selection
Colours affect people in different ways. But there are certain colours or groups of colours that tend to get a similar reaction from most people. Here are a few hints and tips to help you get the colour of your living spaces just right.
5 top tips
- Fabric, carpeting, furniture and tiles are available in a more limited range of colours than paint, so choose them first and then decide on your paint colour.
- Limit the number of colours in a room to no more than three or four. Too many colours can make a room look busy or cluttered.
- Remember that the stronger a colour is, the more it tends to make a space appear smaller, whereas tonal colours can open up and refresh a space.
- Light colours are expansive and airy, they make rooms seem larger and brighter.
- Dark colours are sophisticated and warm, they give large rooms a more intimate appearance.
Colours 
Neutrals (black, grey, white, and brown) are a basic for decorators.
- All-neutral schemes fall in and out of fashion, but their virtue lies in their flexibility: Add colour to liven things up; subtract it to calm things down.
- Black is best used in small doses as an accent to give a room depth.
- Avoid a bland room by incorporating a bold colour as a feature panel or wall. Tie through homewares that support that feature colour.
- Alternatively stick to neutral tones on the walls and break it up with some earthy, textured homewares.
Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness.
- It’s perfect for kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, where a happy colour is energising and uplifting.
- In halls, entries, and small spaces, yellow can feel expansive and welcoming.
- Although it is a cheery colour it is not a good choice as the main colour scheme in a living room. People are more likely to lose their tempers in a yellow room.
Blue is calming, relaxing, and serene.
- It’s perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms.
- However pastel blue that looks pretty on the paint chip can come across as unpleasantly chilly when it’s on the walls and furnishings, especially in a room with little natural light.
- If you opt for a light blue as the primary colour in a room, balance it with warm hues in the furnishings and fabrics.
- To encourage relaxation in the rooms where people gather, consider warmer blues.
- To have a calming effect when used as the main colour of a room, go for softer shades of blue.
Green is considered the most restful colour for the eye.
- Combining the refreshing quality of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow, green is suited to almost any room in the house.
- In a kitchen, medium green cools things down.
- In a family room or living room, it encourages unwinding but has enough warmth to promote comfort and togetherness.
- In a bedroom, it’s relaxing and pleasant.
Purple is rich, dramatic, and sophisticated.
- It’s associated with luxury as well as creativity.
- Lighter versions of purple bring the same restful quality to bedrooms as blue does, but without the risk of feeling chilly.
Red raises the energy level in a room.
- In the living room or dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation.
- In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression.
- It is usually considered too stimulating for bedrooms
For more ideas on using colour in your home, visit www.dulux.com.au or book a Colour Consultant by phoning 13 25 25.