Green is the colour of the future..... but here's some more colours for your eco friendly space

Here at Element Painters Inc. we like to inform you of all your options. When we meet with you for a Free In Home Consultation our first question is "What can we achieve for you?"

It's where you spend the majority of your time and it should make you feel happy and positive so you can go about your day without ugly walls surrounding you. We work with you to make sure your first reaction walking in your door is not one of shock but one of happiness and peace. That's why knowing the colours you choose and how they affect you is an important part of decorating your environment.

Where to begin?

We have come up with a simple explanation of colours and how they can affect your family or employees. One thing to remember is what's pleasing to your eye may be unpleasant for another's. So get some input from your family members or staff and see what suggestions they come up with. You don't want to invoke anger in an office environment with a strong red, so ask and make it a something for everyone to be involved with.

Fact: Green is the only colour that the eye doesn't have to make any adjustments to focus on it!

Red

Red is commonly associated with passion and strength, both positive emotions. Used in a bedroom, a vibrant red can awaken romance. Used in an office it can represent power and determination. A subtle shade of red on an accent wall in a dining room can create a cosy, relaxing tone and the same shade used in hallway can give the feeling of grandeur. For a restaurant a red used in a entranceway can invoke feeling of luxury and the feeling of superior food that awaits them. Be careful when using red in some spaces such as a living room, as a base it can be overpowering for some and make an open space feel enclosed.

Positive Emotions: Passion, Strength, Power, Energy and Romance

Blue

Blue can can change your mood for the better but it can also help your health. It can help to lower blood pressure and slow down respiration as well as heart rate. If used in an office, blue can signal a conservative environment that goes with the flow. In a bathroom it creates a serene and calming effect much like that of the ocean. A word to the wise though, not all blues can be pulled off in a room. What looked pleasing on a colour swatch can look cold and uninviting on the wrong walls.

Positive Emotions: Calming, Airy, Light, Cooling, Serenity and Balance

Green

The colour green is said to represent rebirth. Think of the trees and grass. Its is a friendly colour and restful for the eyes. In a family room it can harmonise and encourage relaxation. In a hallway it can set a warm tone leading onto other rooms. For the bedroom it is believed to help with fertility! In an office it can indicate a successful business seeing as green is the colour of money.

Positive Emotions: Refreshing, Calming, Grounded, Fertility and Riches

Yellow

This colour represents sunshine and feelings of joy. It can set a mellow mood in most rooms such as a kitchen. A gold yellow like a sunflower can look eye catching in a basement bathroom since a lack of natural light presents certain issues for the final colour of a paint. A soft yellow in a babies room is a great neutral colour. What a perfect colour to lighten up a closet space that would normally be forgotten about.

Positive Emotions: Joyful, Peacefulness, Mellow, Calming and Content

Orange

Orange I have found from experience is a colour you absolutely love or positively hate. I am somewhere in the middle. If used in coordination with the right palette you could be on to a winner. Some of the bigger companies like cheap airlines use orange in their logo or staff uniforms to signify lower prices or a "what you pay is what you get" philosophy. Do your research before committing to using an orange in business as you may not want to give your prospective clients that idea. Accents of a warm orange however, can create a cosy nook or set off an antique collection in a dresser.

Positive Emotions: Energising, Fast Paced, Excitable and Glowing

Purple

Purple like the plant lavender can create a healing room in the house. If your place of relaxation is your bathroom then perhaps to frame pure white tiles in a vibrant purple would suit you. Being associated with healing and creativity a play room for the your children might be a good idea if they get excitable easily and find it hard to concentrate on learning. When used on a focus point in a room it can bring added depth. A great combination for the home office if you invite clients around would be a warm grey with a lavender accent wall above a piece of your favourite artwork.

Positive Emotions: Healing, Creativity, Concentration and Free thinking

White

When you think of white, you think of cleanliness, purity and peace. The purest of whites can open up even the smallest of spaces . For a basement project strategically using white with an accent colour or two throughout the space can give the powerful illusion of space, often needed when natural lights is at its minimal. In a funky house decorated with modern art and contemporary furniture a crisp white can make a focal point of your favourite piece, allowing it to speak for itself. White can be tinted accordingly, for example if you want  to go for a deep rouge in the bedroom but don't feel it can carry it, try going for a white tinted with a rich cerise and then use the furnishings to liven it up. Trim can have a huge impact on a room so why not see what other colours you could use that would complement your colour scheme. White doesn't have to be boring anymore.

Positive Emotions: Purity, Cleanliness, Peace, Clarity and Openness

Black

Black, if used incorrectly can be overbearing and unwelcoming. On the upside, when used in a prime space it can be mysterious and bring added depth to a room. Do you have a room that is filled with photos and they aren't organised. If you were to frame those photos using cool black blocks behind them they are immediately a focal point. Think minimal with a twist when using monotone colours. Hints of black and white mixed with a deep blue can bring a touch of the country to your town home or condo. Frame a window with a deep black on the trim for impact, the eye will naturally be drawn to the window seeing what's on the other side. When used in an office black denotes seriousness and professionalism. A cool grey behind your desk gives the impression that you are serious and mean business.

Positive Emotions: Mysterious, Sultry, Passive, Professional and Security