Trends in decor: Using colour to make a statement
News Canada
(NC)—Can you hear it? Listen closely ...you can actually hear what your walls are saying? They might not actually talk, but the colours you choose for your rooms do say something about your space and how they "feel." Are they lively and stimulating, quietly neutral or calming and relaxing? The colours you choose play a large part in the overall statement your rooms convey.
In addition, colour can have a functional role making a small room look larger, a low ceiling look higher, bringing cohesiveness with an adjoining room such as the master bedroom or quickly adding a touch of class to the showpiece bathroom. With a minimal investment and a few quick colour changes, a room with a case of the "blahs" can become your favorite oasis. And, with colour doing so much to affect the feel of a room, the key is learning to use colour correctly.
"Because there are so many home magazines and decorating guidebooks on the market today, people are more comfortable with using colour," said Dominique Pépin, member of the Colour Marketing Group and Senior Brand Manager at Sico. "Television and computers have further empowered consumers to make colour decisions. In addition, traveling has exposed consumers to other influences and provided a wider and more diverse colour palette. Hence, we are seeing a broader and more confident use of colour in today's home decor."
"Because the effects of colour are very real, choosing the right colour is the first step to a successful paint job," Pépin added. Many studies have been done that prove the power of a particular colour can even affect a person's mood. For instance, red is a very physical colour and can actually cause your blood pressure to rise. Blue is related to intellect, and has a calming effect, Green, a combination of yellow and blue, represents balance and harmony.
Your colour choice will depend a lot on the room itself. For example, warm colours such as red, orange and yellow are animated colours and tend to encourage conversation. Try using them in a room where socializing takes place, such as living room or dining room. Blue and green tend to be more introspective colours, making them good choices for a bedroom or study. If you'd like more information and great advice on paint and home decor visit sico.ca.
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Last modified: 09/21/03
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