Basic Colour Aspects | Colour Trends | Colour and its Meanings | Colour and its Effects
 Every person has a different response to colours. This reaction is based on many factors. They include personal experiences, genetic predisposition, societal influence, and cultural and historical events. Therefore, generalised design guidelines for colour schemes may not be enough to meet individual needs and preferences.
Colour affects our mood, receptivity, and response. Bright reds, for example, serve to heighten blood pressure and cognitive ability. As such, bright red is a recommended colour for meeting rooms and playrooms. A darker shade of this primary colour to a warmer deeper red, on the other hand, invokes openness and friendliness, and is therefore used widely in the dining room.
This response, unfortunately, is also highly unpredictable. An individual's colour preference can change according to age, environment and even physiology. For example, studies have shown that in the Western world, adults prefer cooler tones such as blue and green, while small children like the colours red and yellow. From the age of eight, these children are more inclined to like the adult colours of blue and green. In Japan, however, adults like red and white.
So it is true that colours affect each person subjectively. As such, when developing colour schemes, one must not only look at the purpose of the room, location and sources of light. Colour schemes also hinge on the preferences of those who will occupy them.
Comfort therefore becomes crucial in developing colour schemes. Each person's taste in colour is individual to him or her. And the right comfort colours can have a positive effect on a person's well-being.
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 You can refer to the colour wheel (click here to go to colour wheel) as a good starting point to develop comfort colours that suit your taste. The three primary colours (red, blue and yellow) form the base from which all colours are developed. As such, these colours have an universal appeal. Many find comfort in these colours as they are familiar.
Secondary colours, namely green, orange and violet, are also frequently chosen because of their familiarity and pleasant associations.
Others may find using triads to form colour schemes comforting. Triad colour schemes are formed from combinations that are equidistant to each other on the colour wheel. These achieve a balanced colour scheme. The colours intensify each other to create a lively and vibrant theme.
Complementary colour schemes are colours found directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, and result in colours that harmonize and complement each other. Others may however, prefer monochromatic colour schemes, where only one main colour, and variations of that main colour, may be used.
Still others find their comfort colours in analogous colour schemes. These schemes are formed from three to five colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel.
 For housing interiors, the comfort colours for each room is in a large part dependent on the function of each room. You can therefore find comfort colours that are based on the meanings assigned to the different parts of the home.
Living Room
 To a large extent, many prefer neutral colours such as beige, or white for their living rooms as these are colours that are agreeable with almost everyone. They also serve to make the space seem larger and airier. Green and yellow are also popular colours to use for living rooms. For those who use their living rooms extensively to entertain guests, a warmer colour such as a deep red may be preferred.
Dining Rooms
 The dining room is generally where you can be more creative in choosing comfort colours. Stimulation of appetite and conversation are important goals in this room. Therefore, stronger, more vibrant colours can be used to create excitement and stimulate conversation. That is why red is usually a highly popular colour here. Green and peach/salmon/apricot are also popular colours here.
Kitchen
 The kitchen serves many different functions. For modern families, the kitchen has become a place of interaction, and in some cases, for entertainment. However, the functions of clear and bright lighting and storage are also extremely important here. Many may choose to stick with a neutral colour in the kitchen such as traditional white. More contemporary colours, however, can also be comforting as they will reflect the kind of family interaction that goes on here.
Bedrooms
 Bedrooms are always seen as a personal retreat, where many private moments are spent relaxing, reflecting and recovering. As such, the colours here must truly make you feel comfortable. The colour scheme in the bedroom can really express your character. Tones of blue as well as green are popular because of its soothing effect. You may also favour colours such as yellow or pink, or the timeless purity and restfulness of white.
Bathrooms
 Bathrooms today have come a long way from the typical all-white colour scheme. Brighter colours such as green, red and blue can serve to produce the feeling of a room, and not just a bathroom. You could also decide to find a middle ground and opt for a beige or off-white colour scheme.
Nippon Paint's Colour Creations system allows you to set the mood and tone of your environment. With over 1,000 shades, tints, and hues that can be personalised to your fancy, this unique system lets you create your very own signature colours. You can also customise the colour scheme of your dream home, just the way you want it. Find out more information about Nippon Paint's Colour Creations in your country of residence today!
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