Introducing colour to your space, whether it be on your walls, floors, ceiling, accessories, or furniture, can help to add depth and interest and really bring out your design style. If taking a trip to your local paint store tends to give you anxiety with the hundreds of paint swatches to choose from and thousands of possible combinations, I’m here to help. Colours can affect you physically, mentally, and emotionally so it’s important to choose the right colour for each space. People react differently to each colour and their effect on you is dependent on your own specific life experiences as some colours may trigger memories that bring you joy or pain. Colours may also have different meanings to other cultures and religions, so while each colour has its own psychological profile, your personal feelings towards each shade may override the profile. When choosing a colour, take note of how you wish to feel in a room, whether you would like to feel relaxed, energized or focused. No matter what colour you decide to go with keep in mind that darker colours will make a room feel smaller while lighter colours will expand spaces. Lighting will also affect the way colours stand out so be sure to take a swatch home and place it in the area you wish for it to be used to see how the shade will work with your existing architecture, furniture, and other elements. Finally, trust your own judgement. Choose colours that speak to you and your individual design style and you’ll be sure to love your space.

RED

Red is the most powerful colour in the spectrum. Known as the traditional colour of love, it is also used in signage to draw attention to danger. Items painted in red will attract instant attention. Red falls into the warm spectrum on the colour wheel which means that it can raise energy levels and using too much red is actually known to increase a person’s blood pressure. Its powerful impact can be overwhelming in large doses and can cause a room to feel as if it’s closing in, so it’s best when used as an accent rather than as the main colour scheme of a room.

While this may all seem very negative, the colour red is also known to stimulate a person’s appetite which makes it a great colour for use in a kitchen or dining area. Muted and earthy shades of red are less likely to increase the heart rate than the more vibrant shades and are a better option for residential designs. When used in a hospitality setting, red is the colour most chosen for fast food restaurants as when paired with other warm tones such as yellow and orange, it encourages diners to eat and leave quickly, allowing for a faster turnover rate.

Personally, red is my favourite colour, even though I don’t use it very often in my designs, I love to see splashes of red accents throughout a space in the form of a vase or a stove or as an accent in millwork as shown in the photo.

BLUE

The colour of the sky and sea. It’s no surprise that blue is known to be a calming colour. It’s also said to increase intellectual thought and can lower the blood pressure. Blue almost works as a complete opposite the colour red. It is the coldest colour in the spectrum and coulld be used to cool down a hot room with heavy sunlight (a huge plus in you live in Jamaica like I do). It is best combined with a warm accent colour or a natural tone as too much of it can be uninviting.

Blue is best used in the bedroom and bathroom due to its calming nature and relation to the sea. Use in a kitchen or dining area isn’t recommended as it’s known to decrease appetites since it’s not a colour commonly found in food groups.

Blue is my go-to colour in most residential projects as the home should be the place you choose to unwind and relax and there’s no better colour to create that atmosphere of relaxation quite like the colour blue. While blue accents are certainly a nice touch, this is a colour that’s safe to use in large quantities such as walls, floors and especially ceilings. I use the word ‘especially’ because I’ve noticed that many people tend to ignore their ceilings and stick to the standard white when a cool light blue ceiling can do so much to lift and cool a space.

YELLOW

Bright and cheerful, this colour like sunshine can become overwhelming if used in large doses. Studies have shown that people are less likely to lose their temper in a yellow room and the colour can make a room feel larger. It’s however best used as an accent colour for curtains, pillows, and accessories such as a vase or a side chair. Intense injections of the colour yellow can be irritating and cause increased levels of anxiety and anger so it isn’t recommended for an entire wall to be painted in this colour.

Yellow is a great accent to use in an office setting whether at home or in the commercial space as it’s known to release serotonin in the brain which is said to be the ‘happy’ chemical and studies have shown that because of this release of serotonin caused by the colour yellow, it wakes up the brain and enhances concentration. According to the international colour specialist Leatrice Eisman in her book ‘Color: Messages and Meanings’ psychologically, yellow is the strongest colour.

Using yellow in an office setting can help you become more analytical as it’s used generally to help persons take note of their surroundings (think hazard signs). Roopashree Sharma in her article ‘Color Psychology: How Yellow Color Affects Your Mood?’ “The Chinese and Egyptians during ancient periods used chromotherapy, the practice of using colors to heal.” … “In chromotherapy, the yellow color is used for soothing, purifying the body, and stimulating the nerves.” “As per color psychology studies, yellow color also increases activity in the left brain which is responsible for rational thinking and analytical ability.”

PURPLE

The historical colour of royalty, originally harvested from the glands of shellfish, it was so expensive that only the wealthiest of persons or those of high influence would wear or use it in their homes. The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, once proclaimed that he was the only person allowed to wear the colour. The psychological effects of this colour are thus created by its historical background and promotes a sense of luxury in the space within which it’s used. In 2018 Ultra Violet was declared Pantone’s colour of the year which created a boost in use of the colour and maintained it’s significance throughout the years. Purples with stronger tones of blue have a calming and mysterious effect while stronger tones of red demand attention and can become overwhelming when used in large quantities.

While historically purple is a royal colour, depending on where you’ve grown up in Jamaica you may react differently to its use as it’s typically the colour chosen for funeral homes. Your surroundings can alter the perception of colour so because it’s most commonly seen at funeral homes, persons in the country are less likely to use purple in their homes as they relate the colour with death.

ORANGE

Energetic and sensuous, this colour blends both psychological profiles of red and yellow. It is known to increase the appetite and is warm, inviting, and fun. Regarded as a holy colour in India and Nepal, it can evoke a spiritual connection from persons associated with the culture of that region. It has an earthy undertone reminiscent of that in terracotta and is widely used in Mediterranean design.

Using the colour orange in your interior spaces is beneficial in creating a cozy, sophisticated, and cheerful atmosphere. It’s a very versatile colour and pairs well with other shades. As with all colours, a little can go a long way and too much orange in a space can become overwhelming. Muted tones of orange can subtly brighten up a dark space and because it grants the benefits of both red and yellow, you cant go wrong with using orange in your space.

GREEN

This colour evokes feelings of safety and fertility and as it’s reflective of nature, it has been termed as a ‘feel-good’ colour. Green is also associated with finances, wealth and envy so it has a balance of both positive and negative connotations. Mild green tones on the wall can create a calming environment and has the power to soothe both physically and mentally and can relieve depression, anxiety, and nervousness. With the vibrancy from its yellow tones and calming effect from the blue undertones, it makes a great colour to finish an office as it will both calm the mind, inspire intellectual thought and bring cheer.

In designing I love to add green into all my spaces in the form of plants as they are the most versatile use of the colour in every setting. Plants can uplift any space and help to purify the air while adding a little bit of nature into each area. Personally, green for me is the most versatile colour on the spectrum as it’s so common in nature it’s a colour that we’ve subconsciously become most accustomed to. I hope to see more persons using green in their homes in the form of furniture, artwork, and especially plants.

PINK

In most parts of the world the colour pink is viewed as a feminine shade but historically it was the opposite. Originally considered a neutral tone, in 1918 an article was published stating that pink was for boys due to it being a ‘more decided and stronger colour’ while blue was for girls as it is ‘more delicate and dainty’. The gender stereotype changed in the 1940s when manufacturers started branding pink clothes for girls and blue clothes for boys. In places such as France, pink is used very often in both masculine and feminine interiors and is not viewed as being gender related.

The colour is popularly used in hospitals and schools in Jamaica as it has soothing and healing qualities and will also create a sweet and fresh feeling in a space. Despite the gender relation, pink is often used in Jamaica for exterior paint on homes. I can relate with the 1918 article in that for me pink is indeed a strong colour and I tend to shy away from using it in my designs because like purple, it can evoke different responses for people in Jamaica which could be a gamble when used in a commercial or hospitality setting. If you love the colour pink and would love to incorporate it into your space, give me a shout because I’m looking forward to one day working with this colour in an actual project.

BROWN

Shades of brown in both dark and light tones care said to bring comfort as it’s a natural colour and can remind persons of certain comfort foods such as chocolate or coffee. It is a neutral shade and when used in a room it can add warmth and depth and will give you a reassuring, stable, and safe feeling. Natural browns in the earth tones will work just about anywhere while synthetic browns not typically found in nature can make a space come across as one dimensional and obnoxious. Browns used in furniture when polished and stained will give a sophisticated feel while the raw and unfinished form is useful in creating a rustic atmosphere.

The quickest way to warm up a room is to use red but the most soothing way is definitely to use brown. This colour when using earth toned shades is the epitome of warmth, and if I was to put a colour to the feeling of receiving a warm hug from a loved one it would be brown. My favourite way to incorporate brown into a space is through the use of materials instead of paint so by using wood for flooring, shelving, millwork, light fixtures, the list is endless.

WHITE

In different cultures and parts of the world, white can mean different things. In the western hemisphere, white is associated with purity and cleanliness while in parts of China and Japan, it is the traditional colour for death and mourning. When used in a space it can make it feel airy and larger than it actually is and can evoke a feeling of freshness. Pure white when used in large areas will create a sterile and high-maintenance look and may sometimes come off as stark and cold. Adding tints to the colour to create variations such as ivory, can add warmth to the space making it feel softer and more inviting.

White is the most commonly used colour for interiors in Jamaica because it is a safe choice. White is the simplest shade to use; however, it doesn’t express personality or create emotion so too much white can feel boring and lifeless. I would recommend if using white as a main colour in a space to use one that has warmer undertones to prevent the space from feeling sterile. White as a base is great because it allows you to choose bold colours for your furniture, finishes, and millwork.

GREY

In interior spaces, grey can be used to create a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere without being too conservative. It is the best colour for creating a space that is calming with understated confidence. Various tints of the colour can evoke different feelings, when mixed with yellow it can create a murky shade of grey that will come off as depressing. Too much grey in a room can create a dull and moody atmosphere but when blended with other colours such as white or bright tones, can create a beautiful chic space.

Grey has been used extensively within contemporary and minimalist design lately so it’s been growing in popularity. Brutalist architecture has been using grey in the form of bare concrete since the 1950s and bare concrete with rounded forms has been on the rise within contemporary design so using grey within your interior spaces will put you at the forefront of modern design but again, use it in moderation and add other colours to create complexity within your space for a well rounded design.

BLACK

Although black is associated with death and mourning in the western hemisphere it is also a symbol of power and prestige. When used in an interior space, it will add elegance and can help to draw attention to key areas. It is best used as an accent as the colour absorbs light and can appear menacing when used in large doses. Black when paired with lighter colours will stand out and draw attention to small details such as ornaments or furniture. Be careful when using in a tropical climate as it tends to absorb and give off heat.

I enjoy using black as an accent in my designs and I’ve once convinced a client to let me paint his restaurant walls and ceilings black and it came out perfectly. I wouldn’t recommend it in most settings but in the case of this restaurant it was the ideal atmosphere as it was a long space which had one of the largest faces completely open to a view of the sea so there was ample light and air for the creation of the design. In small spaces, black may not be the best choice as it can completely engulf a space. It’s great in spaces like a theatre room where dark tones will help to cut light interference but not very useful in a kitchen or area where lighting is important to accomplish tasks. Apply this colour cautiously if like myself you reside in Jamaica, as it will radiate heat and attract mosquitoes.