insideKENT Magazine Issue 42 - September 2015 | Page 107

INTERIORS

Colour Psychology
FOR THE HOME
When we’re born, the first thing we see is colour. With eyes that cannot focus
on faces, people or things, all we have is the bright and beautiful world around
us, and it is wonderful. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
We are so lucky; however, sometimes, as we grow older, it seems that we
begin to take those colours for granted, without remembering the joy of
being a child immersed in them. Children just know that sunshine yellow
brings a light, bright happiness, and deep, dark blue soothes the soul. As
adults, we tend to forget these things; at least outwardly. Deep down we
know the difference colour can make. Just think of waking up to a perfect
blue sky compared to a dull grey one.

Dark Blue

Psychologists have been studying the effects of colour on people for years,
and have concluded that colour can change a person’s emotions, thoughts,
and even physical being. Experiments include giving patients different
coloured placebos – the patients responded different to each one, even
though they were really the same. Even the colour of food can make a
difference to how it tastes, which could be why children (and some adults)
shy away from green vegetables, but will happily eat baked beans, for
example.
When it comes to home décor, we need to think back to what colour
means, and how it makes us feel before deciding on a palette for the house.
Just because we like a colour doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to decorate
with it. And just because we don’t like a colour doesn’t mean that your
home wouldn’t benefit from a touch of it. Planning your home décor – from
paint to wallpaper to knick-knacks – using the psychology of colour is a
balance between beautiful things and beautiful feelings.

Orange

Dark blue, far from being oppressive and dingy, is actually a great colour
to us