How colours make you feel: the influence of colour in interiors

Colour has a remarkable ability to influence how we experience a room. A deep red dining room can feel intimate and inviting, while a pale blue bedroom might create an altogether different atmosphere.

But our responses to colour are rarely straightforward. Personal associations, cultural influences, natural light and the colours surrounding a particular shade all play a part in how we perceive it.

Understanding these relationships can help us make more confident decorating decisions, whether we’re looking to create a restful bedroom, a welcoming sitting room or a lively kitchen.

Here, we explore the different moods associated with colour and how to use them throughout the home.

What is colour psychology?

Colour psychology explores how colour can influence human perception, emotion and behaviour.

Certain associations are widely recognised. Green often reminds us of the natural world, blue of the sea and sky, and yellow of sunshine. Yet the way we respond to these colours is also shaped by our experiences, preferences and surroundings.

In interiors, this means there is no single colour that will make everyone feel calm, happy or energised. A shade one person finds comforting might feel overwhelming to another.

Rather than following rigid rules, it’s more useful to consider the atmosphere you’d like to create and how colour might contribute to it.

Whites and neutrals: creating a sense of balance

White and neutral colours are often associated with simplicity and calm, but their undertones can make a considerable difference to the atmosphere of a room.

A crisp white can feel fresh and bright, while a softer off-white or earthy neutral may create a more relaxed setting.

Plain White offers a clean, versatile backdrop, while Milk White, with its yellow ochre and subtle black pigmentation, is a gentler choice for sitting rooms and bedrooms.

For something with more colour, earthy neutrals such as Clove can create an inviting atmosphere while allowing furniture, artwork and textiles to take centre stage.

The key is to consider the light in your room and the other materials you’re working with. A white that feels soft in one space may appear much cooler in another.

Greens: a connection to nature

Green is closely associated with the natural world, making it a popular choice for interiors that seek to establish a connection with the outdoors.

Softer greens can create a gentle, understated setting. Eau de Nile is an elusive green-grey that works beautifully in bedrooms and sitting rooms, while Granite Green offers a more grounded alternative.

For a stronger statement, Royal Grass Green and Invisible Green introduce a more vibrant approach to decorating.

These richer greens can work particularly well in studies, kitchens and sitting rooms, where they provide a colourful backdrop for natural wood, artwork and collected furnishings.

For something fresher, Pomona brings a lively apple-green note to a room.

Blues: from restful to dramatic

Blue is often associated with tranquillity, perhaps because of its connection to water and the sky. But the effect of blue in an interior depends greatly on the particular shade.

Pale, muted blues can create a gentle backdrop, while deeper, more saturated tones can feel dramatic and enveloping.

Aerial Tint offers a delicate option for bedrooms and spaces where a lighter palette is desired. For something richer, French Blue is a smoky, grey-blue inspired by the indigo-dyed uniforms of 19th-century French infantrymen. Its muted character works particularly well alongside natural stone, marble and lighter neutrals.

At the bolder end of the spectrum, Azurite is a richly pigmented blue inspired by the historic mineral of the same name. Jewel-like in evening light and brilliantly colourful during the day, it makes a striking choice for dining rooms, sitting rooms and painted cabinetry.

When choosing blue, pay particular attention to the room’s orientation and natural light. The same shade can appear quite different in a north-facing room compared with one receiving warm afternoon sunshine.

Pinks and reds: softness, warmth and expression

Pink and red belong to the same broad colour family, yet they can create very different atmospheres.

Soft, muted pinks are often chosen for bedrooms and sitting rooms, where they offer a gentle alternative to conventional neutrals.

Jonquil is a plaster-like pink with a yellow undertone, while Cuisse de Nymphe Émue offers a more delicate, dusky interpretation.

Both work beautifully alongside natural materials, antique furniture and soft textiles.

At the other end of the spectrum, deeper reds can create a more intimate and expressive setting.

Red Ochre is a rich, earthy red that makes a striking choice for dining rooms and sitting rooms, while Sang de Boeuf offers a darker, brownish alternative.

For those who prefer something less distinctly red, Mummy and Wainscoat introduce deeper, earthy tones that work particularly well in rooms used during the evening.

Yellows and oranges: bringing energy into a room

Yellow is commonly associated with sunshine and optimism, while orange can bring a similarly lively quality to an interior.

These colours can be particularly effective in kitchens, hallways and other spaces where you want to introduce a cheerful note.

Naples Yellow offers a bright, expressive approach, while richer golden shades such as Lute bring a more earthy character.

For orange tones, Malahide provides a rich, burnt-tangerine colour, while Header and Hespan offer softer, terracotta-inspired alternatives.

These colours can also be particularly useful in rooms with cooler natural light, where their yellow and red undertones can help create a more welcoming impression.

How to choose colours that feel right for your home

Although colour associations can provide a useful starting point, the most successful schemes are those that respond to the individual room and the people who use it.

Before choosing a colour, consider a few practical questions:

• How do you want the room to feel? Think about whether you’re looking for somewhere restful, sociable, uplifting or intimate.
• When do you use the room? A sitting room used mainly in the evening may benefit from a different approach to a kitchen filled with morning light.
• What colours are already present? Flooring, furniture, artwork and textiles can all help guide your palette.
• How does the light change? A colour can appear quite different throughout the day, particularly in rooms with changing natural light.
• Which colours are you naturally drawn to? Personal preference matters more than any prescribed rule about what a colour should make you feel.

We always recommend trying sample pots or hand-painted A5 colour cards before committing to a shade. View them in different parts of the room and at different times of day to see how the colour responds to its surroundings.

If you’re unsure where to begin, our Colour Consultancy service can help you develop a palette that suits your home and the atmosphere you’d like to create.

Ultimately, colour is personal. Whether you feel most at home surrounded by soft neutrals, rich greens or vibrant yellows, the right palette is one that makes your space feel distinctly yours.