It really can. Here is Hengovek’s Guide to picking life changing colours!
Selecting the perfect colours for your home can be an exciting but challenging process. Whilst its fun to choose your hues and perfect your pigments it can be quite daunting too.
Understanding how colours behave in different environments and their impact on mood, space, and light is one of the most critical—and often perplexing—aspects of interior design. The colours you choose will not only shape the aesthetic but also strongly influence the atmosphere and functionality of a space.
Colours play a profound role in affecting our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours. While these effects can vary based on cultural background or personal experience, certain colours evoke universal responses. So where should you start? We’ve put together a guide to help you make informed and inspired colour choices.
When to pick your Colour
'When looking at a new kitchen or cabinetry try to resist fixating on a colour from the start.'
Its far better to concentrate on the form and function primarily and then once this stage is completed look to add colours. This way you can see how the tones interact with your actual design rather than have them somewhat depicting the design. For example if you design your kitchen using a bold colour it might deter you from having the amount of cabinetry/storage you need as the colour is making it look more overpowering than it is.
Understanding Light and Space
Before selecting colours, consider the amount and type of light in the room. Natural and artificial lighting greatly affect how colours appear. Light changes throughout the day, which means a colour that looks perfect in the morning might feel entirely different under evening lighting. Test samples at various times of day to see how they interact with the light in your space.
Make sure to also bear in mind that you can usually change the colour temperature of your artificial lighting fairly easy. Warmer temperatures 2200-2700k is considered relaxing and soothing similar to candlelight. Cooler/brighter temperatures 4000k+ is more suited to task lighting, (kitchen worksurfaces, bathrooms)
The direction your windows face is also crucial. South-facing rooms typically benefit from abundant natural light, making colours appear warmer and more vibrant, while north-facing spaces often have cooler, dimmer light, which can make some colours feel muted. Additionally, take into account the architecture, size, and purpose of the room, as these factors will influence which colours work best.
Making a Statement
Colour can transform a room, so think about where you want to create visual emphasis. A bold focal colour can make a dramatic statement when used on a feature wall or architectural elements like cornices or woodwork. Alternatively, using tonal variations of a single colour family can highlight details subtly and harmoniously. Combining vibrant shades with neutral tones creates balance and ensures a cohesive look.
Hengovek tip – Want to be bold but not 100% certain you will like it? Keep your walls and cabinetry muted but feature bold colours in a more flexible way such as soft furnishings or large art prints. An added bonus of this is you can change the colours at will or even suit the season.
Choosing Colours That Feel Right
Natural intuition is an invaluable tool when selecting colours. Start by thinking about the purpose of each room and how you want it to feel. Bedrooms, for example, often benefit from soothing tones like soft greens, calming blues, or gentle neutrals to create a restful atmosphere. In contrast, a kitchen or open-plan dining area might be the ideal place for brighter, more energetic accent colours that reflect activity and vibrant.
Colour Therapy and Psychology
Warm Colours: Energy and Passion
Red: Often associated with excitement, passion, and energy, red can stimulate physical responses like an increased heart rate. It grabs attention, making it popular in advertising, but excessive red can lead to feelings of agitation or stress. It’s also a colour commonly linked with appetite stimulation, which is why it’s often used in the design of restaurants and food packaging. (Not so great for a kitchen if you are trying to hit that diet goal!)
However, excessive exposure to red can also cause restlessness or stress, so it’s important to balance its use in design.
Yellow: Known for its bright and uplifting qualities, yellow exudes happiness and optimism. It’s excellent for inspiring creativity, but too much can evoke feelings of anxiety or frustration.
Orange: A vibrant and energetic colour, orange combines the cheerfulness of yellow with the intensity of red. It promotes enthusiasm, creativity, and social interaction, though in some cases, it may feel overwhelming. Best used sparingly or very intentionally.
Cool Colours: Calm and Serenity
Blue: A calming and soothing colour, blue is often linked to feelings of trust, peace, and stability. Here in Cornwall blue has obvious ties to the ocean mirroring those same emotions we feel when looking out to sea.
Light blue (think, calm sea) is ideal for creating a serene environment, hence you often see it used extensively in healthcare to help reduce anxiety and evoke trust and calm.
Dark blue (think, stormy sea) can evoke a feeling of uneasiness, sadness and loneliness so needs to be used thoughtfully. I personally love a dark blue but it does need to be used in contrast to a lighter palette.
Green: Intrinsically linked with nature and the environment, renowned for its ability to create a tranquil and rejuvenating atmosphere. It symbolizes growth, renewal, and vitality, making it an ideal choice for spaces where relaxation and restoration are desired. From deep forest greens to soft sage, the earthy tones of green contribute to a sense of calm and balance.
However, there is a ‘dark’ side to green. In certain contexts, such as literature or symbolism, green can represent negative emotions like envy, jealousy, and even nausea. This duality gives green a unique emotional complexity.
Purple: . Softer shades of purple, such as lavender or lilac, are particularly known for their calming and soothing properties, making them ideal choices for bedrooms or wellness centres. The colour purple, in both its vibrant and muted forms, can encourage introspection and a deeper connection to one’s creative or spiritual side.
To add to this throughout history, purple has been associated with luxury, nobility, and power due to its rarity and cost in ancient dyes. It is often linked with qualities such as creativity, spirituality, and imagination. Purple inspires a sense of mystery and intrigue, making it a popular colour in artistic and creative spaces.
Neutral Colours: Balance and Sophistication
White: Symbolizing purity and simplicity, white promotes clarity and focus. However, it can feel stark or cold if overused.
Black: A powerful and sophisticated colour, black can create a sense of elegance or mystery. However, it may also evoke feelings of sadness or isolation if used excessively.
Grey: A neutral tone, grey offers a sense of balance but can sometimes feel unremarkable or evoke gloominess if overdone.
Bright and Multi-coloured Environments
Multi-coloured settings, such as those featuring a mix of vibrant hues, often spark creativity and joy. However, the arrangement and intensity of the colours matter greatly; chaotic combinations can feel overstimulating.
In summary, choosing colours is truly both an art and a science and should be approached as such. Luckily its now easier than ever to visualise your project using cad software, rendering and modelling. We recommend taking advantage of these process to push your own comfort levels and make sure you get the most benefit possible from your project.
At Hengovek Studio there is no limitation on the colours you can use in your project, no 'bespoke range', we can offer any colour from any range, we can even colour match to physical samples such as textiles or ceramics. There is no limit. We hope this guide has been useful for you, please get in touch if you would like to discuss your project.
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