Exploring the art of colour in interior design

The days of everything in grey or beige tones are behind us, thank goodness. 2024 is the year of choosing whatever colours bring you joy in your home. I’m sure you all know the power of a good lick of a paint in a room - it truly is transformative. Colour theory is a fundamental aspect of design in both residential and commercial interiors. 

Colour Vocabulary

We often hear words like shade and tone thrown around - but do we really understand what each one means? Consider us a handy little dictionary:

Shade: A colour that has been darkened by adding varying amounts of black, creating a darker and more subdued version of the original colour.

Tone: A colour that has been altered by adding both black and white. It involves adjusting the intensity or brightness of a colour without changing its underlying hue.

Hue: This represents the pure, basic colour of an object or a pigment that allows us to classify a colour as red, blue, green etc. It’s what enables us to distinguish different colours without other factors such as brightness.

Tint: A colour that has had white added to it, resulting in a lighter and pastel version of the original hue. This reduces the colour’s intensity, creating a softer appearance. 

There are plenty more pieces of vocabulary for our ‘colour dictionary’, but that will do for today!

Emotions evoked by colour

Let’s dive into the emotions involved with each colour. In interior design, when you are picking colours for a room, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions.

What is this space used for?
How do I want to feel in this space?

Your answers to those questions should be considered when choosing the right colour palette for a room. For example, if your answers were; “I’d like this space to be for sleeping” and “I want to feel calm and relaxed”, colours such as blue and green are your friends.

Let’s take a look:

Red
Let’s start with a powerful one! The colour red is known to stimulate energy and evoke a sense of passion. When strategically used, it can add warmth and vibrancy to a space, making it an excellent choice for social areas like living rooms and dining spaces. It can also stimulate feelings of hunger (think of the branding of your favourite fast food chains!). However, excessive use of red can lead to overstimulation, making us feel angry or frustrated, so moderation or lighter tones are key.

Blue
Blue hues, such as tranquil blues and soft aquas, create a calming and serene atmosphere. Ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms, blue promotes relaxation. Deeper blues can add sophistication and depth to a space, ideal for a living room or study. Other feelings associated with blue are loyalty and trust, which is why many businesses opt for this colour in their branding (think of banks or legal firms).

Deep, ink blue walls exude sophistication in this new-build living room. Paint colour is ‘Ink’ by Neptune.

This gorgeous light blue (paired with wallpaper), ‘Celestial Blue’ by Little Greene is Chloe’s choice for her son’s nursery. Perfect for a calming space - hoping for her little one to get a full night’s sleep!

Yellow
I’m sure it’s no surprise that yellow is synonymous with sunshine and happiness. Incorporating this colour into interiors can evoke feelings of joy and optimism, often seen in family kitchen and dining spaces or play rooms. However, if used in excess, yellow can lead to feelings of anxiety or caution, so again, moderation is key!

Green

Symbolising nature and growth, it’s no shock that green is a popular colour choice in our homes. It brings a refreshing and renewing quality to spaces. It’s ideal for bedrooms, living rooms or any area of relaxation. Darker greens exude sophistication (think home office), while lighter shades evoke a sense of openness.

‘Cooking Apple Green’ by Farrow & Ball was the perfect fresh, yet relaxing green shade for our Shaftesbury living room project. We love the fun touches of colour through the artwork here too, which was brought forward into the room on soft furnishings.

Purple
Purple is often associated with luxury, creativity and a touch of mystery. Deep purple, like eggplant or plum, add a sense of opulence to spaces, making them perfect for accent colours or statement pieces. If used in a small room, such as a downstairs toilet with little natural light, deep purple can give a ‘wow factor’, although if used in a larger living space, it could be a little overpowering. Lighter purples, such as lavender, can create a whimsical and romantic atmosphere.

Orange
Combining the warmth of red and the brightness of yellow, orange is an energetic and sociable colour. It’s commonly used in dining rooms or social spaces to foster a lively atmosphere. Tangerine and coral tones are popular for their modern and playful vibe.

Neutrals
Neutral tones like beige, grey and white serve as a timeless canvas, allowing for versatility in design elsewhere. They create a backdrop that lets other colours shine while providing a sense of sophistication and elegance, when used thoughtfully!

Displaying sophistication and simplicity at our Swindon project, this neutral hallway is the perfect canvas for these patterned floor tiles to do the talking.

Black
Black, when used carefully, adds a touch of elegance and drama to interiors. It’s often associated with sophistication and can serve as a powerful contrast in design. Incorporating black elements such as furniture, hardware or decor pieces, can create a chic and modern aesthetic. 

Understanding the emotional impact of colours empowers our clients to curate spaces that align with their desired atmosphere and way of living. At Chloe Roberts Interiors, our expertise lies not just in choosing beautiful colour palettes but in harnessing the emotions they evoke to craft spaces that feel unique to you and your family. In our next post, we’ll be discussing how to put together a cohesive colour scheme, using everything we’ve learnt today about emotions in colour to help us.