The Art of Colour in Interior Design

Colour plays a pivotal role in interior design, profoundly influencing the atmosphere and functionality of a space. Understanding colour theory and techniques is essential for aspiring designers as it enables them to create harmonious, aesthetically pleasing environments that evoke desired emotions and behaviours. A well-developed grasp of colour can transform a bland room into a vibrant sanctuary or a chaotic space into a serene retreat. By mastering the art and science of colour, designers can enhance their creative capabilities, ensuring their projects not only meet but exceed client expectations, ultimately setting them apart in the competitive world of interior design.

“We need colour in interior design to create those points of interest… It’s your furnishings, hard finishes, plants, and artwork… All these things have some form of colour and contribute to the overall design.” Raychel Pierson, State Sales Manager at Resene Paints

Our Interior Design & Decoration short course features a detailed lesson on colour featuring leading interior designers and paint experts from Resene. Learn more about the course here.

In this article, you’ll dive into the following topics:

• Understanding Colour Theory
• The Psychological Impact of Colour
• Cultural & Historical Significance of Colour
• Trending vs Timeless Colours
• Colour Properties & Terminology
• Understanding Colour Undertones
• Colour’s Impact on Perception
• Specifying Colour: Making Colour Choices in Interior Design

Understanding Colour Theory

Colour theory is the foundation of effective interior design. It involves understanding the science and art of using colour to create aesthetically pleasing spaces. Here are the key elements:

The Colour Wheel

The colour wheel is a visual representation of colours organised in a circular diagram. It demonstrates the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colours. It helps us understand the principles of colour theory, such as colour harmony, complementary colours, and the impact of colour combinations in design, art, and everyday life.

• Primary colours are the foundation of the colour wheel and consist of three colours: red, blue, and yellow. They cannot be created by mixing other colours and are the building blocks for all other colours.
• Secondary colours result from mixing two primary colours in equal proportions. The secondary colours are green (blue + yellow), orange (red + yellow), and purple (red + blue).
• Tertiary colours are created by mixing equal amounts of one primary colour with its adjacent secondary colour. The six tertiary colours are:
  • Yellow-orange (yellow + orange)
  • Red-orange (red + orange)
  • Red-violet (red + violet)
  • Blue-violet (blue + violet)
  • Blue-green (blue + green)
  • Yellow-green (yellow + green)

The tertiary colours are sometimes referred to by alternative names:

• • Yellow-orange: Amber, gold, or ochre
  • Red-orange: Vermilion, scarlet, or tomato
  • Red-violet: Magenta, fuchsia, or wine
  • Blue-violet: Indigo, lavender, or plum
  • Blue-green: Teal, turquoise, or aqua
  • Yellow-green: Chartreuse, lime green, or olive green.

Understanding the relationships between these colour categories can help artists, designers, and individuals create visually appealing colour combinations and make informed decisions about using colours.

Colour Combinations

Several types of colour combinations can be used to create different effects and moods. Here's a list of common colour combinations and their characteristics:

• Monochromatic: This scheme uses different shades, tones, or tints of a single colour, creating a harmonious and cohesive look.
• Complementary: As mentioned earlier, this involves pairing colours opposite each other on the colour wheel, creating a high-contrast and vibrant effect.
• Analogous: Using colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel creates a harmonious and soothing colour scheme.
• Triadic: This combination involves using three equidistant colours on the colour wheel, creating a balanced and bold effect.
• Split-Complementary: This scheme uses one colour and the two colours adjacent to its complement, creating a high-contrast yet balanced look.
• Double-Complementary (Tetradic): This combination uses two pairs of complementary colours to create a rich and varied effect.

Let's put this into an interior design example. A designer might use an analogous blue, blue-green, and green colour combination to create a harmonious, calming, well-coordinated living room.

Warm vs Cool Colours

The distinction between warm and cool colours is rooted in psychology and science, particularly in colour theory and psychology.

Warm colours, such as red, orange, and yellow, are associated with longer wavelengths and are closer to the red end of the visible spectrum. These colours are often associated with heat and energy, as they resemble the colours of fire or the sun. Conversely, cool colours like blue, green, and purple have shorter wavelengths and are closer to the violet end of the visible spectrum. They are reminiscent of water, ice, and other elements associated with cooler temperatures.

Beyond the scientific basis, warm and cool colours also have psychological associations that can affect our moods and emotions. Warm colours are often perceived as energetic, lively, and attention-grabbing, while cool colours are associated with calmness, serenity, and relaxation. These associations can be traced back to our experiences and cultural conditioning, which shape our perception of colours and their psychological impact.

The concept of warm and cool colours is a valuable tool in interior design that can be used to create a desired atmosphere, set the mood, and influence the perception of a space. Here's how you can use these colour categories in your design:

• Warm Colours for a Cosy and Energising Space: Incorporate warm colours like red, orange, and yellow to create a welcoming, energetic, and intimate atmosphere. These colours can make a room feel warmer and more inviting, ideal for living rooms, dining rooms, or cozy reading nooks. Warm colours can also make large rooms feel more intimate and comfortable.
• Cool Colours for a Calming and Spacious Feel: Use cool colours like blue, green, and purple to create a peaceful, serene, and refreshing environment. These colours can make a room feel more spacious, airy, and relaxing, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, or study areas. Cool colours can also help to expand smaller spaces visually.
• Combining Warm and Cool Colours: A balanced combination of warm and cool colours can create a dynamic and visually appealing space. For example, you can use cool colours as the dominant shades in a room and add warm colours as accents to create a sense of balance and harmony. Alternatively, you can use warm colours for the walls and incorporate cool-coloured furniture and accessories to create a visually interesting contrast.

By understanding the psychological effects of warm and cool colours and how they interact, you can create an interior design scheme that reflects your desired mood and atmosphere while enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of a space.

The Psychological Impact of Colour

Different colours can have unique psychological effects and evoke specific emotions and responses. Here are some common associations with various colours and their potential psychological impact:

• Red: Associated with energy, passion, excitement, and urgency. It can also signify danger or anger. Red can increase heart rate and stimulate appetite.
• Blue: Often associated with calmness, trust, stability, and serenity. Blue can also evoke feelings of sadness or coldness.
• Yellow: Associated with happiness, optimism, warmth, and energy. It can also signify caution or jealousy.
• Green: Connected to nature, growth, renewal, and harmony. Green can also evoke feelings of envy or nausea.
• Orange: Associated with creativity, enthusiasm, and warmth. Orange can also signify warning or danger.
• Purple: Connected to luxury, royalty, mystery, and spirituality. Purple can also evoke feelings of frustration or confusion.
• Pink: Associated with love, romance, femininity, and tenderness. Pink can also signify vulnerability or weakness.

Understanding the psychological impact of different colours is crucial for interior designers because it allows them to create spaces that evoke specific moods, emotions, and atmospheres. By strategically selecting and combining colours, you can design interiors that align with your client's preferences and needs while effectively conveying the desired ambience.

Here's how you can apply the psychological impact of colours in your interior design work:

• Consider the space's function: Your chosen colours should reflect the room's primary function. For example, blue and green tones can be used in a bedroom to create a calming environment that promotes relaxation and sleep. In contrast, red and yellow can be used in a dining area to stimulate appetite and conversation.
• Understand your client's preferences and needs: Take the time to discuss your client's colour preferences and their emotional responses to different colours. This will help you create a personalised space that resonates with their tastes and expectations.
• Create a balanced colour scheme: Combine different colours and tones to create a harmonious and visually appealing space. Use neutral colours as a base and add accent colours to create focal points and visual interest.
• Experiment with colour combinations: Be bold and experiment with unconventional colours to create unique and memorable designs. However, the overall harmony and balance of the space should be considered.

Incorporating the psychological aspects of colour into your interior design work will enable you to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, and emotionally impactful spaces that enhance your clients' well-being and satisfaction.

Cultural & Historical Significance of Colours

Colours can carry deep cultural and historical meanings. For example:

• Red: In Chinese culture, red is associated with good luck and prosperity, while in Western cultures, it can symbolise love, passion, and danger.
• White: In many Western cultures, white signifies purity and innocence, and it is often used in weddings. However, in some Eastern cultures, white is associated with mourning and funerals.
• Black: Often associated with elegance and sophistication in Western cultures, black can also symbolise mourning and grief.
• Blue: In many cultures, blue is associated with calm and tranquillity. In Middle Eastern cultures, it can also represent protection and ward off evil spirits.

Understanding these nuances can help you design culturally sensitive and meaningful spaces.

Trending vs Timeless Colours

The current trend forecast suggests a mix of earthy, organic, and warm colours. Some popular colours and palettes include:

• Dark Auburn: A balanced red-meets-brown shade
• Persimmon: A vibrant orange-meets-red hue
• Cyberspace: A futuristic blue or purple shade
• Stardew: A light, celestial blue or purple tone
• Friendly Yellow: A warm, inviting yellow shade
• Utaupeia: An earthy green colour

The trend towards earthy tones and organic colours reflects the growing interest in sustainability and nature-inspired designs. In contrast, warmer tones like reds, oranges, and yellows express the desire for cosy, comforting spaces.

Colour design trends are influenced by various factors, including popular culture, fashion, current events, and emerging social and environmental concerns. By staying informed on the latest trends, interior designers can create visually appealing spaces that reflect the zeitgeist.

When it comes to interior design, it's essential to balance following trends and incorporating timeless elements. While trends can add a fresh and current feel to your designs, they can quickly become dated. Timeless colours, on the other hand, provide a classic and enduring foundation for your designs.

Some colours that are considered timeless in interior design include:

• White: A versatile and classic colour that can create a sense of openness, cleanliness, and simplicity.
• Black: A bold and sophisticated colour that adds depth, drama, and elegance to a space.
• Grey: A neutral colour that can create a sense of calm, balance, and sophistication in a room.
• Beige: A warm and inviting colour that provides a neutral backdrop for other colours and patterns.
• Navy Blue: A rich and sophisticated colour that evokes feelings of trust, stability, and professionalism.

To create a timeless design, consider using these classic colours as your base and add pops of trendier or bolder colours through accent pieces, artwork, or accessories. This will allow you to create a current and enduring design.

Blending Neutrals & Colour

While neutral colours have enjoyed immense popularity in recent years due to their versatility and ability to create a calming atmosphere, relying solely on neutrals can result in a space that feels bland, impersonal, and lacking in character.

One specific example is the "millennial grey" phenomenon, which refers to the widespread use of shades of grey in home decor, furnishings, and interior design, particularly among millennials. This trend has been prevalent since the early 2010s and has become so common that it has even been the subject of jokes and stereotypes on social media platforms like TikTok.

Some reasons why it's not ideal to use only neutrals in a home include:

• Lack of visual interest: A monochromatic colour scheme can create a sense of cohesion but may also make a space feel flat and uninteresting. Adding pops of colour or contrast can create depth and visual appeal.
• Lack of personalisation: Neutral colours are a safe choice, but they can also make a space feel generic and lacking in personality. Incorporating personal touches through colour, patterns, or artwork can make a home feel more unique and reflective of its occupants.
• Potential resale challenges: While neutral colours are often recommended for staging a home for sale, potential buyers may find an all-neutral space uninviting or uninspired.

To avoid these pitfalls, consider incorporating a mix of neutrals with accent colours or bolder design elements. This approach can create a balanced, visually appealing space that feels personalised and inviting.

Colour Properties & Terminology

In colour theory, several key terms describe various aspects of colour. Here are some standard terms and their meanings:

• Hue: Hue refers to the colour itself, such as red, blue, or green. It is the purest form of a colour, without any added white, black, or grey.
• Tint: A tint is created when white is added to a hue, resulting in a lighter version of the colour. For example, adding white to red creates a pink tint.
• Shade: A shade is created when black is added to a hue, resulting in a darker version of the colour. For instance, adding black to red makes a deep burgundy shade.
• Tone: A tone is created when grey is added to a hue, resulting in a more muted version of the colour. For example, adding grey to red makes a subdued, muted red tone.
• Value: Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a colour. Lighter colours have a higher value, while darker colours have a lower value.

Designers often rely on paint swatches and colour codes to specify a colour's exact hue, tint, shade, tone, or value when working with paints. For example, when selecting a paint colour, a designer might request a specific hue (e.g., "I need a warm red"), a particular value (e.g., "I need a light grey"), or a specific tint, or shade, or tone (e.g., "I need a pink tint with a subtle grey undertone").

Moreover, understanding colour terminology enables designers to create consistent colour schemes across different materials, finishes, and lighting conditions, ensuring that the final result aligns with their vision and meets their client's expectations.

Understanding Colour Undertones

In the context of colour, "undertones" refer to the underlying hue that influences the overall appearance of a colour, even if it is not immediately apparent. For example, a grey paint colour might appear neutral at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it could have warm (e.g., reddish or yellowish) or cool (e.g., bluish or greenish) undertones.

Identifying a colour's undertone is crucial in interior design, as it can affect how it interacts with other elements in the space, such as furnishings, lighting, and surrounding colours. For instance, grey paint with cool undertones may appear more blue or green in certain lighting conditions, while grey with warm undertones may appear more pink or beige.

Colour’s Impact on Perception

The perception of size in a space can be significantly influenced by colour choices. Here are some ways in which colour can affect how we perceive the size of a room:

• Light Colours: Light colours, such as white, cream, or pale shades, reflect more light and create the illusion of a larger, more open space. Light colours minimise visual boundaries and allow the eye to travel uninterrupted throughout the room, creating a sense of expansiveness.
• Dark Colours: Dark colours, such as black, navy, or deep shades, absorb light and make a room appear smaller and more intimate. This is because dark colours create stronger visual boundaries, making a more enclosed and cosy space.
• Accent Walls: Using a bold or contrasting colour on a single wall, known as an accent wall, can create the illusion of depth and make a room feel larger. This is because the accent wall draws the eye and creates a visual focal point, giving the impression that the room extends beyond its dimensions.
• Ceiling Height: Painting the ceiling a lighter colour than the walls can create the illusion of height in a room. This is because lighter colours recede visually, making the ceiling appear higher than it is. Conversely, a darker ceiling can create a cozy, intimate feel by making the room more enclosed.
• Continuity: Using the same colour on walls and woodwork, such as baseboards and trim, can make a room feel larger by blurring the lines between architectural elements. This creates a seamless visual flow that can make the space appear more expansive.
• Pattern and Texture: The colours used in patterns and textures can also affect size perception. For example, large-scale patterns can make a room feel smaller and more intimate, while smaller-scale patterns can create the illusion of a larger, more open space.

Specifying Colour: Making Colour Choices in Interior Design

Interior designers typically follow a systematic process to specify colour in their projects. Here's an overview of the steps involved:

• Understanding the Client's Preferences and Needs: Designers start by discussing colour preferences, tastes, and needs with their clients. This helps them know the desired atmosphere and functional requirements of the space.
• Research and Inspiration: Designers research current colour trends and gather inspiration from various sources, such as nature, art, fashion, and cultural influences. They also consider the project's location, architectural style, and intended use of the space.
• Developing a Colour Scheme: Designers develop a colour scheme that suits the project's objectives based on their research and the client's preferences. This may involve creating a mood board or using colour tools like a colour wheel to explore different combinations.
• Creating Samples and Mock-ups: Designers create samples of the selected colours using paint swatches, fabric swatches, or digital renderings. They may also develop mock-ups of specific areas to demonstrate how the colours will look in the space.
• Review and Refinement: The colour scheme is reviewed with the client, and adjustments are made to ensure it meets their expectations and project goals. This may involve experimenting with shades, tones, or accent colours until the desired result is achieved.
• Specification: Once the colour scheme is finalised, designers specify the exact colours, finishes, and materials for all design elements, including walls, floors, furniture, and accessories. This information is documented in a detailed design plan, which serves as a guide for implementing the design.

Throughout this process, designers consider factors like lighting conditions, colour undertones, and the psychological impact of colours to create a cohesive, visually appealing, and functional space that reflects the client's vision and meets their needs.

Want to learn more about interior design?

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