The Psychology of Colour: Choosing a Paint Colour

Have you ever been inside a house for the first time but suddenly felt warmth and comfort like you are in your own home? Or do you have a favourite spot or room in your home or office where you feel more relaxed and calm? How does it happen? The secret is not as complex as you think. Most of the time, it has something, if not everything, to do with the paint colour.

Yes, paint colour speaks more than just aesthetics. Artists, interior designers and paint colour consultants believe that colour can primarily affect moods, feelings and emotions. Psychologically speaking, that is true. Paint colour choices can impact how a person will feel when in a room. It communicates with people’s minds and senses and influences how we think, feel and behave.

Notice how fast food restaurants use vibrant and loud colours to exhibit happiness, energy and excitement. That is why people who go to these places are people in groups, like families or a group of friends, often in a celebratory mood. Fine-dining restaurants, on the other hand, use calm colours that express an elegant, quiet and intimate atmosphere. The same pattern goes to cozy cafés, relaxing bookstores, neat hotels and many more. These places show off their brands and nature of business through paint colours.

You can apply the same principle in your very own home. Choose the right paint colours for your home according to your branding or how you want to express yourself to your future house guests.

How to choose paint colours for your home

The easiest way and the first thing to consider when it comes to choosing the perfect paint colour for your house is to contact a colour consultant. Colour consultants in Sydney are also sometimes called paint colour experts, colour advisors and paint colour specialists. They are professionals who offer colour consulting services or assistance in selecting the right colours for homes, buildings and establishments, both the exterior and the interior, newly built or for renovation purposes. You can choose any one among the many choices of colour consultants in Sydney, depending on your location, your budget and the type of colour consultation you prefer. However, if you are confident and want to be hands-on in the project, you definitely can do it yourself.

With or without a colour consultant, you must know the basics of choosing paint colours for your home. To guide you, here is a little ABCs to remember:

Ambience/Atmosphere. Decide on what ambience or atmosphere you want for your home. Do you want it to be relaxing, cheerful or cozy? It is all up to you. After all, it is your home.

Brightness. It is important to note the lighting in your home. Does it have enough windows for sunlight to pass through in the morning? Do you have enough lighting at night? Knowing the brightness in your home makes it easier for you to decide whether to paint it with bright, dark, warm or cool colours.

Colour Palette. A colour palette or a colour scheme is a range of colours. It includes 1-5 colours to use in the entire home to maintain uniformity. It could consist of colour in different shades or a combination of base, accent and neutral.

Design. The paint colour must go with the design or theme of your home. For instance, the standard paint colours in a modern industrial home design are white, grey and black, combined with other colours in the darker or brighter shades.

Expenses. Be aware of your expenses. Know the fees of your colour consultant, painters and other labourers, not to mention the cost of the paints and other materials to be used. In that way, you can choose the paint brand that suits your budget. You can also decide how many colours you want to use for your home while sticking to your budget.

Furniture. More often than not, you have already acquired pieces of furniture before deciding to paint or re-paint your home. It is a more straightforward case because you can choose paint colours that match your furniture and other appliances.

Picking a colour that represents you

Many people also pick the colours of their homes depending on their personality or what some would refer to as their ‘personal brand’. They take their home as an extension of themselves and choosing the colour for their home expresses who they are.

To learn more about the psychology of colours and how you can use them in self-expression through your home colours, here are the common colours used in painting homes and their ‘meanings’.

White represents cleanliness, youthfulness and purity.
Black signifies power, ambition and elegance. But too much black may express depression. Therefore, it is better to use black subtly.
Blue speaks calm, cool, strength and friendliness.
Red is for passionate, outgoing and energetic people.
Yellow expresses optimism, happiness and inspiration.
Green represents balance, stability and persistence.
Pink symbolises femininity, innocence and romance.
Brown means simplicity, comfort and security.
Orange signifies enthusiasm, friendliness and warmth.

Purple represents wisdom, luxury and wealth.

The next time you are in someone else’s home, compliment not just how big and beautiful their appliances are. Take your time to appreciate their colour choices and honestly say what it made you feel, just like how you would want your guests to appreciate yours.

Finding a master painter

Do you need a colour consultant in Sydney?

Masters Painters Australia independently represents and assists painters and decorators doing business in the painting and decorating industry across NSW and ACT. With proven track records, our members provide quality workmanship and professional service. Whether you need a master painter or a colour consultant, we can help you. Contact us for further details.