The psychology of colour

You’ll have heard the one about ‘fast food red’ inspiring us all to eat more burgers. Whether or not that specific theory holds up, it’s a fact that colour has a significant effect on our behaviour and emotions.

Although influenced by myriad factors including gender and culture, chromology, the psychology of colour is said to be able to alter our appetite, metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.

Is your energy boosted when you enter in a room filled with bright colours? How’s the serenity when you step into a pale-coloured space? It comes down to personal perspective but colours are also commonly associated with certain emotions and notions: red with excitement, yellow with optimism, green with nature, pink with femininity and white with cleanliness, for example.

At home, the tweaks colour makes to our state of mind means it pays to consider paint and décor selection not only from an aesthetic standpoint, but from an emotional one too. It’s easy to imagine the soothing effect neutrals might have on a household but what of some of today’s trending shades?

Here are some hot-right-now hues and how to use them on your walls to set the mood.

Sage and moss green

These greens are undeniably lovely and a refreshing link to nature. Says Auckland-based designer Debbie Abercrombie: “There’s nothing nicer than gathering herbs, watering plants or trimming foliage in the garden. It’s never stressful and that’s what greens can do for us indoors too. Not only do they help reduce stress, they’re also nurturing and suitable for any room in the house.”

Sage and moss greens are tranquil promoters of balance and harmony offering a sense of growth and renewal. Enhance your wellbeing at home with favourites including Resene Spring Rain, lucky Resene Amulet, quiet Resene Green Spring and smoky grey-green Resene Tom Thumb. As they do in nature, such greens go well together: think forest Resene Dingley layered with Resene Olive Green and misty Resene Pale Leaf.

Pairing sage and moss greens with timber, go for a soothing effecting by coupling them with white or cream from Resene’s The Range White & Neutrals palette, or aim for a cocooning effect with several shades of grey such as warm, dense Resene Jumbo and Resene Half Jumbo, or anchoring navy such as school-blazer blue Resene Bunting.

For most, sage greens bring nature to mind and are among the most restful and rejuvenating hues. Try layering them in a bedroom like this one. Walls and floor in Resene Alabaster, colour blocked painted wall feature in (from left to right) Resene Helix, Resene Peace and Resene Silver Chalice, dresser in Resene Silver Chalice, plant pot and tray in Resene Noir and tea light holder in Resene Helix. Styling by Vanessa Nouwens, photo by Melanie Jenkins.

Sunset pinks

The au courant cousins of the ever-popular blush pink, “sunset pinks make time stop”, says Abercrombie. “They soften and energise a space without being demanding and are also rather romantic for a bedroom.”

Conjuring up soothing images of tender moments and otherworldly beauty, sunset shades from sweet pastel Resene Pink Lace, to peachy Resene Romantic, to lilac pink Resene Twilight go dreamily together. They are divine combined with sky blues, such as hazy grey-blue Resene Smokescreen or slate blue and lilac Resene Panorama. Pale yellows like lemony Resene First Light are a welcome complement to this type of colour palette, as are taupes like Resene Nomad and dusky corals such as Resene Coral Tree.

Sunset pinks are a soothing option, which could help lower stress if used in a home office. Right wall in Resene Just Dance, corner wall (left) in Resene Smoulder, timber floorboards finished in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, large vase in Resene Cleopatra, small vase in Resene Soulful and Resene Sorbet, plant pot inResene Half Tea and pencil cup in Resene Sorbet and Resene King Tide. Styling by Laura Lynn Johnston, photo by Bryce Carleton.

Spice brown

This colour requires a measured approach but the rewards are worth a little more thought. “Just like cooking with spices, the success of these colours generally depends on what you combine them with,” says Abercrombie. “I see brown as the support crew, making white fresher, pink softer, and so on. Use it in a media room for moodiness or somewhere unexpected like an entryway.”

Resene Cumin is a warm copper brown to add flavour in a palette with ochre, brown and orange Resene Whiskey Sour and deep green Resene Midnight Moss. Also a warm copper brown but slightly lighter is Resene Cinnamon, delicious with creamy Resene Anglaise. A bolder choice is rich brown-edged orange Resene Moroccan Spice, a striking seasoning for blue-purple-black Resene Bullitt.

Sapphire blue

Reminiscent of clear skies, blue is often interpreted as calming – so much so that some cities have experimented with blue street lighting to help combat crime.

Sapphire blue, in particular, is eye-catching and uplifting – and you don’t need much of it to have a positive effect on your home, says Abercrombie: “Don’t be afraid to rev up the intensity, using less but using it well.” Try it as an accent in a dining room, formal lounge or bathroom.

Clear, bright Resene Half Resolution Blue or indulgent Resene Decadence are a good place to start to determine your preference for blue or purple undertones. If restraint isn’t your forte and you want to up the ante, combine sapphire blue with other jewel-toned paints and accessories for luxurious glamour – such as emerald-like Resene Bingo and amysthest-esque Resene Deep Koamaru, accented with Resene Solid Gold metallic paint and velvet soft furnishings to seal the deal.

Bright and breezy, this bedroom is enveloped in a fresh palette of Resene blues, including hints of comforting sapphire. Batten walls in Resene Quarter Emerge, floor in Resene Quarter Concrete, nightstand in Resene Fast Forward, large vase in Resene Mystery, small vase in Resene Indian Ink and lamp base in Resene Raindance. Each shade plays off a different coloured cushion, making for a cohesive looking space. Styling by Vanessa Nouwens, photo by Bryce Carleton.

Earthy yellow

Often associated with happiness, bright yellow is a cheery choice for kitchens and entryways and can make a small bathroom more inviting, while softer interpretations are neutral ground for nurseries.

Yellow’s earthier counterpart has become all the rage – mustard yellow imparts a warm energy that wraps you up in cosiness, says Abercrombie, ideal for the chilly season. “Heading into winter, it’s beautiful when complemented by navy, black, brown and neutrals.”

Turn your living space or bedroom into an on-trend haven with ruddy yellow Resene Tulip Tree and pale Resene Half Buttermilk. Furniture in mustard or gold velvet, greenery in cream pots, and accents of blush pink, sage green and soft grey round out a palette such as this, topped off with texture in the form of soft furnishings – throws, cushions or a rug.

If you’d prefer to take a subtler approach, Debbie suggests seeking wallpaper with just a hint of earthy yellow in it, such as the painterly roses of Resene Wallpaper Collection 36921-1 or the layered florals in Resene Wallpaper Collection KOS004.

Whatever you choose, be certain of a colour’s influence before you commit by using Resene testpots or drawdowns (A4 drawdown paint swatches) to test its effect in your space and how it changes under different lighting circumstances. Both can be ordered online or from your local Resene ColorShop.

This content has been created in partnership with Resene.