Using Lighting in Interior Design

Whether artificial or natural, the type of light under which a particular colour is viewed, impacts how the eye perceives the hue. This is an integral part of planning a successful colour scheme for a room.

Natural light: Direct sunlight is considered the ideal light source because it provides the truest representation of colour as it a balance between the warm (yellow cast) and cool (blue cast) ends of the light spectrum. However, natural light changes throughout the day. The intense golden rays and distinct shadows of a sunny, late afternoon can have a significant effect on the colours in a room. The difference in the same hue in artificial light is significantly noticeable. Natural light will also be affected by whether the room is south, north, west or east facing.

The sunlight that floods into a south facing room for much of the day can be harsh. Subtle and muted colours with a lot of grey will absorb a little of the light and soften the effect. 

Rooms with north facing windows never receive direct sunlight. For these rooms the colours chosen should contain no black and should be colours that brighten and lighten the space.

For rooms with east or west facing windows the light still needs to be maximised, as when the sun is off the house, either in the morning or in the afternoon, the room may feel a little dreary. Similar to north facing rooms, colours selected should be kept bright and light.

Artificial light comes in several forms, all of which influence the way hues are seen. The advantages of using artificial light are that the amount, source and direction can all be manipulated. There are also many choices of styles such as chandeliers and pendants, low voltage halogen down lighters as well as incandescent table lamps and up lighters. Dimmers are also very useful, as they can be altered to balance the changes in daylight.

Complementary Colour Schemes

Complementary colours are colours that are exactly opposite one another in the colour wheel, such as red/green, purple/ yellow and orange/ blue. This is a high contrasting, balanced colour scheme as it will always have a warm and cool colour together.

Complementary colours are the two colours that are of most contrast to each other, so when put together they make the other look stronger and more striking. A successful interior design technique is to choose one colour to dominate - by giving it a bigger area or a fuller saturation - whilst using the other as an accent. Using high chroma hues will make bold, bright, eye catching statements. However, any shade or tint of a colour can be used in a complementary colour scheme, so when a more subtle look is needed then softer, more natural hues can be selected.

These opposing colours do create maximum contrast, so using very intense colours used in large amounts can seem gaudy and unsettling to the viewer.

Analogous Colour Schemes

Analogous colour schemes are another method of accomplishing harmony. They use adjacent colours on the colour wheel , such as yellows and greens, or pinks and purples. These colours usually work well combined together, creating serene and comfortable designs.

Analogous colours look very natural and are relaxing on the eye. In interior design the best results are created by choosing two or three colours: one to dominate, one to support and one to accent. However, analogous colour schemes can lack colour diversity. They are not as vibrant and dynamic as complementary schemes.
 

Using the Colour Wheel in Interior Design

A harmonious colour scheme should strike a balance between monotony and over-stimulation resulting in a room that is visually appealing. Since the Renaissance theories on what creates harmony have included the common themes of: changes in chroma and value within the same hue, the use of adjacent analagous colours or contrasting complementary colours.

Colour wheels are useful to show such relationships and allows the designer to explore variations of engaging colour schemes. The wheels include a number of saturated hues as well as a variety of tints, tones and shades, which are less saturated versions of the hue that include more white, grey or black, respectively. While combinations of pure hues create vivid, dynamic colour harmonies, more subtle and subdued harmonies can be created by using less saturated colours.

Using Orange in interior design

Decorating with Orange

These oranges are warm and rich colours. The advantages of using oranges are that they can create a relaxing, welcoming, cosy atmosphere. However they are also energising and stimulating so are best not used in rooms such as bedrooms. They are also advancing colours and so can be overpowering smaller rooms.

Using Blue in Interior Design

Colour blue when decorating

Blues are cool and light and can create a serene and calming atmosphere. Some blues can make an area recede, therefore making a small room look larger. However, they can also make a room feel chilly and formal. Some darker more saturated blues are warmer and richer. Used as focal points in a room they can add a splash of warm and depth, whilst maintaining a harmonious and peaceful feel to a room.

Pyschological effects of green in interior design

Using green in decorating

In several religions, green is the colour associated with resurrection and regeneration. It is used worldwide to represent safety. It also has strong associations with money because of the colour on bank notes. Green creates feelings of expense, reassurance, renewal and hope.

Green soothes and relaxes people physically and mentally. Green is the pervasive colour in the natural world which makes it an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere. An intense green is best broken up with whites or creams. A green colour scheme is best combined with different hues of green or complementary colours.

Greens can go wrong in interior design. Some hues are reminiscent of illness and rotting, for example khaki. Too much in blocks can also look very unnatural, probably because in nature everything is many shades of green; even a small leaf or patch of grass contains several hues. Also combining with complementary colours can look very unnatural and overly harsh if a severe, artificial shade is chosen.

Pyschological effects of purple in interior design

Using purple in decorating

The colour purple has strong associations with royalty and high office because purple dyes were rare and expensive. For centuries, the colour purple was used to show that the wearer was nobility. To this day, it plays an important part in the Catholic Church and other religions. So the colour purple has connotations of luxury, wealth, wisdom and spirituality.Good uses: Purple has an uplifting, calming creative impact on people. Purple embodies the balance of red's stimulation and blue's calm. By adding white, tints of purple - mauves, lilacs and lavenders - are created. These are softer, more restful versions of purple and work well in bedrooms and bathrooms as they promote daydreaming and inner calm.

Saturated purple is a dense, dark colour that can provide a powerful punch with great impact. Intense shades of purple should be used carefully. Excessive quantities can feel overpowering and gaudy. As it has a relaxing effect on people it is not best for kitchens or studies where activity is needed.

Psychological effects of red in interior design

Using Red in Decorating

Neolithic hunters considered red to be the most important colour endowed with life-giving powers. A red flag was used by the Romans, in the French Revolution and by the Bolsheviks. Ancient cultures used the colour red to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation. Red is the colour of power, action, passion and danger.Of all the colours in the visible spectrum, red is the one that demands - and attracts - the most attention.

Red stimulates the nervous system and breathing rate, and increases energy levels. In nature's palette there is an abundance of greens, blues, browns and even white. Against any of these backdrops, red stands out and impacts our moods: arousing, startling, warning, energising or agitating us.

Large foyers and hallways wear deep reds well as they suggest warmth and stimulation and aren’t spaces you spend a lot of time in. Smaller accents of these same shades, in a chair, rug or a pillow, work extremely well in both living and work areas and can make a neutral colour schemes come to life. A touch of red in a bedroom can be arousing and romantic.

Copious amounts of red can look disturbing and vulgar. Red can agitate and create irritability, so not an optimal choice for a bathroom. Large amounts of red are best avoided in places where a lot of time is spent, trying to relax.

Psychological effects of yellow in interior design

Using yellow in decorating

A sacred imperial colour, yellow is universally associated with
the sun, so it has connotations of warmth and joy. Yellow and gold often signified divine love in ancient cultures - Greek and Roman brides wore yellow. Yellow is psychologically the happiest colour in the colour spectrum. It is the ultimate “feel good” colour, radiating energy and fun.

Good uses: Scientific experiments show that people in yellow environments are more cheerful and optimistic. The advantages of using yellows in design are that they are reflective, take on tones of other colours and add flattering lights. It is a natural choice for a kitchen because its golden, buttery, custard tones suggest deliciousness. It can also bring the illusion of sunlight into narrow or dark spaces such as hallways or homes with rainy climates. Gold provides an elegant and luxurious touch especially when accented with accessories.

Cream, lemon shades are easier to live with than sunflower yellow. The more intense the yellow, the more energising and less soothing it is, so not ideal for a bathroom. Yellow is eye-catching and stimulates caution in our brains - hence why a yellow car is the least likely car to be involved in an accident. Disproportionate amounts of yellow have been shown to stimulate hostility and loss of temper, therefore it is not the optimal colour choice for an office that needs peaceful contemplation. As it has been proven to evoke emotional distress (studies show babies cry more around bright yellow) it would be unwise to use in a nursery.