Colour is the most powerful decorating element in our homes. Colour is memorable and above all personal. An understanding of colour can really help us achieve the goal of a pleasant , personal and comfortable home. There are hundreds of options but only one decision maker , that matters and that is You. The people who eat and sleep , entertain , play and rejuvenate in the spaces are the ones whose well-being is affected.

If we understand the basics of the colour , then we can make a perfect colour scheme. The colours are divided into three categories

Primary colour- These are the three basic hues , red , blue and yellow. They are the foundation of the colour wheel and all other colours are derived from them.
Secondary colour – When two primary colours are mixed , they form a secondary colour . They are orange , green and violet.
Tertiary colour- When two secondary colours are mixed , they form a tertiary colour , like citron , olive , russet. THE COLOUR WHEEL – The colour wheel is a complete picture of all the colours available , once you understand this , there will not be any problem in forming any colour scheme. In the colour wheel at the right , the primaries form a triangle with equal sides with in the circle , and the secondaries form another triangle opposite to that. Each colour has a ‘complement’ which is located directly across from it on the wheel. Thus , green is complement of red , orange is complement of blue.

A perfectly balanced colour scheme might use equal parts of three colours which are equidistant on the colour wheel . Interior designers often compensate for intensity by either tinting (adding white) or toning ( adding black ) or by graying (adding complementary colours ) . In these way they create contrast through a change in value (lightness and darkness ) or intensity ( brightness and dullness ) . With even this limited information , it is easy to see how the possibilities for combining colours are infinite and inviting. Using the tints and tones ,the total effect is lively and pleasing but not overwhelming , a beautifully coloured room. Now here are some of the colours with their effects and the nature they depict and the places where they are suggested to use.

RED : Red is the most dramatic , emotional and active of the three primaries . It is an especially versatile colour in its effects , enlivening interior spaces by creating excitement , warmth and elegance . The use of red suggests a bold and confident attitude. It is used in those areas where one needs excitement like the bars. It is less often used in sleeping area because of its energizing quality. The complement of red is green.

BLUE : Blue is the only colours which is the most universally equated with the beauty. Blue is timeless , linking the present with tradition and lasting values. It is the most versatile in expressive values. Psychologically, blue is associated with tranquility and contentment. In interior design , softer and lighter blues are generally preferred for the larger areas.

YELLOW : It is a powerful colour , both light in value and extremely intense in its purest form. It evokes a sense of energy and excitement. Yellow is a perennial favourite in interior design , combining with greens to provide the natural freshness and with red for gaiety and richness.

GREEN : Green is the most common choice of the designers. It is often used as a dominant room colour . Green goes with every other colour and makes it a natural neutral. It represents the greenery of the nature and thus provide the room with liveliness.

VIOLET : It seems to be a colour of emotional contrasts. Its paler tints are unabashedly romantic, fragile and quiet feminine . It enjoyed the popularity in the Victorian era and now as pure colours emerge again , beautiful violet is certain to be a player.

ORANGE : It is amazingly versatile , capable of emitting great energy in its purest form and as an earth tone , it evokes warmth , comfort and reassurance. Nowadays , the lighter orange , popularly known as peach is common in use as it gives a cool effect.

PASTELS : Pastels are simply lighter tints of any hue , white added to red yields pink and light pink is a pastel. There is not any particular definition for a pastel colour but when colours become so light that they almost seem to be white , they are pastels. The pastels are becoming more and more popular as they crate the most sober and elegant look.

NEUTRALS : Using neutrals does not mean not using colour . Any low intensity colour that is used as a background for other accent colours , features , furniture and objects in a space can be classified as neutrals. Neutrals are practical and by changing accessories and fabrics the look of space can be dramatically altered against the same neutral background.

Enjoy colour , take these tips from the professionals and then you can become creative. You must think about the people in your home who matter the most for you and then imagine the things you do together and then finally go for a final colour scheme.

Colour has a profound effect on our mood. In clothing , interiors , landscape and even natural light , a Colour can change mood from sad to happy , from confusion to intelligence , from fear to confidence. Particular Colours have different effects on each individual . Response to a Colour may be influenced by a number of factors such as the body’s need for a specific Colour , a sad or happy memory associated with a Colour. In previous decades , certain Colours or group of Colours dominated every palette . Now in millenium , the stopper is out and uniqueness and personal preferences are really in. There are no absolutes in the world of Colour. Some Colours make you want to get out of your chair , others make you want to nestle down and read. Some Colours are articulate and must be listened to. Others are very quiet . Some Colours indicate that you have travelled or are well read. Yet others create a desire for closeness , intimacy and love. Following are some of the most typical responses to various Colour groups.

NURTURING NEUTRALS : These Colours create a sense of peace and well being. They foster quiet conversation with family and friends and can dispel loneliness. Throughout time , mankind has found a sense of peace and tranquility when in touch with " Mother Earth " . It follows that Colours which impart a sense of warmth and serenity come directly from the earth. In addition to the earth Colours in the neutral group are Colours associated with sea such as sand , shell , coral , pearl , stone , seaweed. GREEN is a Colour which helps us to adjust to new environments and situations. It will always be found among the ‘nurturing neutrals’. The BLUES represented here will range from winter sky to stream to midnight. The neutrals are somewhat like the furniture while other palettes are more like accents or accessories.

INTELLECTUAL ColourS : These are the sharp , witty and unique Colours which convey a message that the owner has travelled , is well read and has something to say. These Colours will command respect without being overbearing. This palette also starts with a earthy , warm base. Grey is a Colour which promotes creativity and will often be found in foundation of an intellectual palette. These greys will be warm and gentle. Some tones of blue suggest communication and trust , so it will naturally be found in the intellectual palette. Navy blues will often find their way in this palette , but its effect is warm and never cold and fragile. Red also appears in this intellectual palette , but the shades will be earthy and complicated burgundy , cranburry.

PLAYFUL ColourS : These Colours are exiting and used for a fun providing environment These playful , whimsical palettes create their own kind of music , like the sounds of children playing. There are highs and lows , lights and darks and always movement and activity. Used in active spaces within the home , a ‘playful’ palette can add energy and vitality. But if overdone , this type of palette becomes irritating and stressful. The foundation of this palette is WHITE . This could be anywhere from vanilla ice cream to snow drift to winter moon. Then comes the bubble gum pink , buttercup , wintergreen , all the berry Colours and crayon Colours. Many of these Colours will be cool , and even in lighter tones there will be brightness and clarity. The bottom line in creating this type of palette is that the Colours should suggest a sense of freedom , play and downright fun.

HEALING ColourS : This palette includes the Colours which are very refreshing and rejuvenating. Like nurturing Colours , ‘healing Colours’ also begin by getting in touch with nature. The first group of Colours considered in this palette is GREEN. Because they have the power to help us adjust to new environments , skillful designers use lots of plants and other forms of green . Healing greens may be warm or cool , but not muddy or mysterious like those in the intellectual palette. Healing palettes also take inspirations from warn earth tones. These palettes usually contains contrast as well as a clarity of Colour that is inspiring. They will include a range of lights and darks but will never be muddy.

ROMANTIC ColourS : Many species including the human beings attempt to attract the opposite sex with Colours. RED is the Colour of sex and lust and is often called the most romantic of Colours. It is no accident that red is the chosen symbolic Colour for the Valentine’s Day. In interior design , however , a less intense , softer tone of red is far more conducive to romance than the pure hue. Often referred as PINKS , these Colours vary from cool to warm and from light to dark. Pinks have an interesting quality that seems to halt the body’s ability to stay angry. PURPLE is another Colour which is definitively romantic because of its passionate , unpredictable and quixotic characteristics. Paler , less intense tones of ORANGE such as apricot and peach are often included in the romantic palette , suggesting purity and innocence. BLUES in the romantic palette will be cool and inspired by water.

PERSONAL STYLE : There are no trends in Colour as important as personal style. Today , most designers draw from many historical periods as well as contemporary influences and mix them together to create unique personal spaces. The most effective Colour palettes reflect and enhance the interests , collections and activities of the people who live there as well as architectural features.

The effects of Colour on mood will vary from individual to individual. Colour schemes have emotional messages too. An awareness of the emotions generated by different Colours is helpful in planning personal palettes that will be pleasant to live with , but it must be understood that this information is not absolute. Subtle changes in tone can increase or decrease the emotions evoked by a particular Colour , allowing it to be included in many diverse palettes.

Notice the difference in the colours and how it affects the feeling we get from them.

The emotional impact is definately affected.