Without a doubt, one of the most challenging and core aspects of interior design is understanding how a colour behaves. This can be in terms of lighting, space, mood, and interior style. The right colour will instantly transform your room: calming, energising, or inviting. 

But moving beyond the aesthetic point of colour behaviour, it’s also important to take into account how a certain colour would make you feel. In other words, turning to colour psychology to guide our choices as much as everything else. 

Decorating your space is already stressful enough without the second-guessing that comes with it. To ease some of that pressure off your shoulders, we’ve compiled this guide with some tips and tricks on how to choose paint colours for your home that truly speak your language. 

It All Begins with Light

Whatever your colour preferences may be, put them on hold. There’s one crucial thing to understand and get right before that: how light interacts with your walls. And it’s not just natural light you need to think about. Artificial ones can dramatically influence how your wall colour appears throughout the day.

Ignore this, and you risk falling in love with a shade under shop lighting—only to feel completely let down once it’s on your walls at home. The difference can be dramatic and disappointing.

Natural Light

Natural light varies depending on the direction your windows face. If your room is north or east-facing, it receives cooler, softer light throughout the day. If it is south or west-facing, it enjoys warmer and brighter sunlight throughout the day. The general advice here is to choose wall paint colour that is warm for rooms with cooler natural light and a cooler paint colour for rooms with warmer light.

However, the different types of paint can also affect how light and colour interact. Consult our guide to better understand the types of interior paint and how they can help you choose the perfect one for your space.

Artificial Light

However, you can also use artificial light to better understand the situation. Warm bulbs bring out yellow and red tones, making your wall colours feel cosier, while cool bulbs enhance blues and greens, making the atmosphere crispier. 

The best thing you can do to avoid any unpleasant surprises is to test different paint samples directly on your walls. Observe them at different times of the day and under different light sources. Don’t just paint a small portion of your wall; paint large swatches or use sample boards you can freely move around the room to see how colour shifts.

The Room’s Purpose & Mood

Turning our attention now to the question of colour itself, understanding colour psychology will probably help you create the atmosphere you’re after based on each room’s function. Colours, after all, tend to influence our emotions, energy levels, and even behaviours. So, if you choose wisely, you will boost your daily living experience.

Blues & Greens

These colours are mainly associated with calmness and relaxation and are considered the best paint colour for bedroom walls and bathrooms, as these are generally the places where people unwind. If you’d rather stick to a more neutral colour palette for these room’s walls, we strongly recommend incorporating blue and green wall art pieces to introduce a sanctuary feeling.

Yellows & Oranges

Such warmer colours evoke energy, happiness, and creativity, making them ideal for kitchens, dining rooms, and workspaces. Yellow can stimulate the appetite, while orange is known to encourage social interaction and warmth.

Neutals & Earth Tones

Beige, taupe, and soft brown bring a more grounded, comforting feeling. They’re the perfect serene backdrop for living rooms and home offices. Earth tones are also among the latest trends in painting walls, as they promote our well-being and connection to the natural world. Neutral wall art can also work together with earthy paint colours to enhance the serene feeling.

Reds & Deep Hues

Red is nothing short of a passionate, energising colour that boosts the adrenaline pumping in our veins and increases the excitement we experience. For that reason, it’s best used sparingly on accent walls in social spaces to add a pinch of drama and warmth. Deep jewel tones like emerald and navy will add sophistication to the place without overwhelming it. 

However, even with colour psychology and light in mind, do follow your instincts and don’t be afraid to break the rules to create a space that feels uniquely yours.

Existing Decor & Architecture

And just before we let you out the door to fall in love with a paint colour, take a final good look around the place you plan on decorating. Observe the furniture, flooring, textiles, and architectural features (mouldings, exposed beams, etc.). The right colour will complement these existing elements. 

Start by identifying some dominant tones in your decor. Do you see predominantly warm or cool colours? Light or dark? Build your palette around that knowledge. If your room has rich wooden floors, then warm neutrals might be just the thing. For your cooler-toned furnishings, however, we’d recommend soft greys and dusky blues. 

The Right Wall Paint Colour Combinations

If you’re feeling eccentric, you might also consider a colour combination. This may sound like way more work, but we have some tips up our sleeves to make things easier for you. 

Some trending combinations (if you want to be on the safe side) include:

• Warm neutrals + deep greens: Imagine soft beige walls with forest green accents for an earthy, calming vibe. 

• Muted pink + soft grey: A modern romantic pairing that works beautifully in bedrooms and living spaces. Consider playing around with pink and grey wall art as well. 

• Navy + terracotta: If rich and sophisticated strikes a chord, embrace it. This mix balances cool and warm for an elegant feel.

And if you’re wondering how much of each paint to include in your design, here’s a timeless approach: use the 60-30-10 rule.

• 60% of the room is in a dominant colour (usually a neutral or soft tone),  

• 30% in a secondary colour (this will be furniture or accent walls),

• 10% in bold accents (through accessories or smaller areas).

But whatever you choose to do, stick to a cohesive undertone and test your combinations in different lights before committing.

Choose a Colour that Speaks to You

One last piece of advice from us is to forget the trends when choosing the perfect colour for your space: focus on creating a home that reflects your personality and supports your lifestyle. It has to feel right, not trendy. Consider the tips we’ve shared with you, and you’ll be certain to pick the colour that truly makes a difference. 

And if you need any additional support, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re dedicated to helping you build a home that feels as good as it looks.