• Jan 27, 2017

Psychology of Colour

Many decisions on painting a home are instinctive. Looking at the Psychology of Colour graphic below we can recognise colours associated with emotions. For example we may consider blue for a home office based on blue being associated with being productive or purposeful or successful or loyal.

Choosing Colours for a Rental Property or Busy Kids Room

Some decisions like a colour for a rental property or busy kids room must take into account it's maintenance qualities. A colour with high opacity with colour strength that covers well will allow one coat when it comes to a minor repair. This will save money on maintenance.

Blair often recommends Resene Black White when it comes to rental properties due to the factors mentioned above.

An experienced painter like Blair can give you an indication of the finsihed product.

Before and After Colour Change

Colour can give an Emotional Response

"...while colour itself, the result of wavelength of photons, may be (relatively) simple, our ability to perceive it is anything but. It's down to complex systems in our brains, ones that evolved and develped over millions of years. This means there's ample scope for the neurological mechanisms of colour perception to be intertwined with the brain's emotional systems."

"...Vision is the dominant human sense. Some estimates suggest 80 to 85 of our perception, learning, thinking, and general brain activities are mediated through vision in some way. So the idea that seeing certain colours would trigger an emotional response isn't such a stretch."

Universal Colours

A universal colour is one that if you were choosing clothes would look good on anyone. The fashion industry has known this secret for some time.

Universal colors are:

• Neither very warm or cool in COLOUR TEMPERATURE.
• Between medium light and medium dark in COLOUR DEPTH/VALUE
• Are neither obviously bright & clear or dull and grayed in INTENSITY (chroma or saturation).

Colour Examples

• Teal
• Soft White
• Charcoal

Orange is a colour that a 'cool' person could never wear. Often people have a preference for cool or warm colours. A universal colour would work with either person.

Are you aware of your own colour preferences?