Colour and Psychology: Tones, Shades and Moods in Interior Design

Colour involves so much more than just perception - it is all about psychology. In this article, I will share some lessons learnt from my observations of London's most prestigious interior designers and their deep understanding of the psychology of colour.


Many people think of psychology and they imagine heavy university textbooks, forbidding journal articles and plenty of theory. But in reality, psychology is a practical everyday subject for interior designers. When we see colour, it connects our senses to our subconscious. Specific tones and hues can evoke certain emotions and enhance or subdue certain types of mood - all of which can be fine-tuned by experienced interior design teams.


London has always been a top city for colour trends. Fortunately London also has a burgeoning and innovative multicultural interior design community. This combination has led to a real focus on the psychological associations of colour in the context of interior design. London Interior Design professionals will often employ "earth colours" as either a centrepiece or a subtle enhancement to a comprehensive design scheme. The "earth colours" include hazels, dusky reds, russets and burnt siennas. In terms of psychology, earth colours can create feelings of warmth and good cheer among those who like them. More reticent and retiring individuals may find these colours soothing and restful, and interior designers in London often use them to carry the mind away from the city streets and evoke countryside farms and well-tilled fields in autumn. Darker chestnut colours in particular are often interpreted as being sumptuous, rich and welcoming.


However, for some projects, a professional interior design team will avoid earth colours if the client considers them too uninspired and characterless. In such cases, it may be appropriate to focus on sunnier earth variants, such as oatmeal or camel.


Interior designers will also refer to the "life colours" when thinking about composites or envisioning fresh new designs for London residences. The life colours include greens, which often call to mind feelings of solitude, serenity and forest-fresh organic lifestyles. Another life colour is blue, which is adored by individuals who have an affinity for deep waves, space, stillness and relaxation.


As with the earth colours, interior designers often have an innate sense of "how much is too much" in respect of the life colours. In London homes, which are often smaller and feature awkward spaces, interior design teams need to be wary of using too much green, which can be seen as uninspiring or overpowering in tightly-dimensioned living areas. Similarly, a focus on blue can engender feelings of frigid isolation. The professional interior designer or colour consultant will know exactly how to create precisely the effect you desire for your London home or office.


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