The psychology of colour

Ever since man understood fiery red meant danger and those purple berries were poisonous, colour has been associated with moods and feelings. The colours used to decorate rooms in a house can affect the occupants' moods.

Red

Associated with: danger, passion, energy, warmth, adventure, optimism

Best for: dining rooms as it promotes sociable and lively feelings, and stimulates the appetite

Pitfalls: it can be overpowering and lead to headaches. Either vary the shade, paint one wall red, or use it for accessories only. Don't use red in a baby's room.

Pink

Associated with: love

Best for: bedrooms as it can be peaceful and restful.

Pitfalls: can appear to be very girlie and sickly sweet. To counteract this, introduce hints of dark charcoal or black.

Orange

Associated with: stability, reassurance, warmth, and is thought to aid digestion

Best for: living and dining rooms

Pitfalls: might keep the occupant awake when used in a bedroom. It can make a room look smaller because it's an advancing colour, so make sure the room gets plenty of light.

Green

Associated with: nature and energy, calming and restful, balance (halfway between red and blue) security, stability

Best for: bedrooms, living rooms

Pitfalls: too much green is thought to make people too complacent or too laid back. Inject some red or orange to counteract these feelings.

Blue

Associated with: calming and soothing; promotes intellectual thought; believed to keep hunger at bay; loyalty, serenity, authority, protection, contemplative.

Best for: bedrooms, bathrooms, studies

Pitfalls: can look cold and unwelcoming. Make sure it doesn't look too chilly by choosing a blue with a warm undertone

Yellow

Associated with: sunshine and energy, stimulates the intellect

Best for: kitchens, dining rooms or north-facing rooms

Pitfalls: not very restful for a bedroom. Yellow is thought to enhance feelings of emotional distress.

Lilac

Associated with: spiritual matters - suggests the misty area between the sky and heaven, feminine

Best for: bedrooms and bathrooms to create a stress-free sanctuary

Pitfalls: can be insipid. Liven it up with black or silver, or both.

Purple

Associated with: creativity, fertility, joy, but also magic, evil, death and sex

Best for: bedrooms

Pitfalls: can be overpowering

Brown

Associated with: security, stability and very practical

Best for: living rooms

Pitfalls: introduce a livelier colour for mental stimulation such as green or blue

Black

Associated with: death, eccentricity, drama. It's a non-colour that absorbs colour and reflects nothing back.

Best for: using in moderation

Pitfalls: depressing - think of all those angst-ridden teenage bedrooms. Use it to temper the sweetness of sugary colours such as pink, but don't use it as a base colour.