Which colours will help you achieve the mood you wish to evoke in your home?

East Anglian Daily Times: Blue evokes a cool and calming mood. Picture: ThinkstockBlue evokes a cool and calming mood. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: Naphat_Jorjee)

Ever since man understood that red meant danger, colour has been associated with moods and feelings - you can feel blue, be green with envy or even be tickled pink.

Certain hues can trigger instinctual reactions and, even in the most subtle of ways, can therefore affect the way you’re feeling.

Many people base the colour palettes in their home on their personal taste or the trends for the season. Colour trends will come and go and taste can change, but basing the colour on your walls on its psychological impact can bring many benefits to all who enjoy the space.

East Anglian Daily Times: Yellow is associated with happiness. Picture: ThinkstockYellow is associated with happiness. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: yuryRumovsky)

Yellow

Yellow is often associated with happiness, making this energising tone a fantastic shade for living areas and kitchens. In hallways and entrances, yellow can also provoke a welcoming feeling, lifting the mood of anyone who enters your home. Even though it’s a cheery colour, yellow may not a good choice for main colour schemes. It can be overwhelming and even create feelings of frustration and anger in large doses, so be sure to use it sparingly as an accent shade.

Red

Red is bold and is often associated with danger and aggression. But when used within the home it can make a strong statement. As a symbol of passion, it is a great colour in spaces where you would entertain such as kitchens or dining rooms, as it naturally encourages conversation and is even said to stimulate the appetite. On the opposite hand, red has been suggested to raise blood pressure and speed respiration and is therefore usually considered too stimulating for bedrooms.

East Anglian Daily Times: Purple is rich and dramatic. Picture: ThinkstockPurple is rich and dramatic. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: Stockernumber2)

Blue

As the colour of both the sky and ocean, blue has a naturally cooling and calming effect, which can to inspire tranquillity in bedrooms and bathrooms. Lighter blues work better to encourage a calming environment than deeper, darker tones, however pastel shades can come across as ‘chilly’, especially in a room that receives little natural light. If you opt for a light blue as the primary colour in your room, balance it with warm hues for furnishings and fabrics.

Green

Green naturally resonates with nature and the outdoors, making it both a calming and invigorating colour. Combining the refreshing quality of blue and the cheerfulness of yellow, green is suited to almost any room in the home but proves to be a great statement shade in bedrooms. In the kitchen, green cools things down, whereas in a living room it encourages unwinding and promotes comfort and togetherness. Green can also be introduced into the home through the use of plants and flowers, which can further add to the serenity of the hue.

East Anglian Daily Times: Green resonates with nature and the outdoors. Picture: ThinkstockGreen resonates with nature and the outdoors. Picture: Thinkstock (Image: This content is subject to copyright.)

Purple

In its darkest shades, purple is rich, dramatic and sophisticated. It is associated with luxury and creativity and would be a perfect secondary colour in most rooms. Lighter shades, such as lavender and lilac, bring the same relaxing and restful quality to rooms that blue does, all without the risk of looking and feeling cold.

Neutrals

Neutrals colours such as white, black, grey and brown are basic to any decorator’s tool kit. They fall in and out of fashion, but due to their versatility can be livened up with any added colour. White is the colour of clarity and as a result, people respond positively. This psychological effect can be used to create a refreshing and clean look in your home and an airy appearance that is quiet and pure. Black on the other hand is the colour of power, elegance and mystery. With brown, a feeling of naturalness and comfort can be induced into your home. In many places, brown is the colour of earth and as it is found very often in nature, can give us a sense of security and stability. Too many grey areas within a room will also become predominant and could create a dull and boring environment.