How your décor colours reveal who you are

Red is the colour of choice for go-getters. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• It is when people go beyond the basic décor elements, such as flooring and floor coverings, furniture, lighting and gardening, to find decorative items that are specially appealing to them, e.g. wall papers, that personality orientation comes into play

By WILSON MANYUIRA
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Researchers at the University of Westminster in the UK has put a finger to the role that colour plays in a person’s intricate brain pattern, and how this affects home decor.

The latest issue of the university’s journal (Westminster Research Journal) has an article detailing the connection between colour and people’s character, personality and social mannerisms, as established by research.

The study notes that the colours people use in their homes or offices reflect their perceptions and the way they view life in general.

“The first thing you note when you enter a house is the colour of the walls, and depending on whether you fancy it or not, you create a positive or skeptical perception of that house’s décor schemes,” the researchers report.

This is because of the intricate nature of the brain, which can pick up thousands of tiny details per second. “We then form perceptions based on these details and act accordingly every so often,” the report explains.

Colour, it further notes, is one of the things that give the brain plenty of information to process.

Colours and personality

Ms Becky Siwa, an interior designer, says colour has long been known to shape a person’s preferences, and what the researchers at the University of Westminster have done is to create a specific association between colours and personality.

“Unless you are colour-blind,” she says, “the colour a person chooses for his or her wall is largely determined by their personality. We have known that for a while now in interior design, but the researchers went a notch higher and established a direct link...”

And, says Ms Siwa, it is when people go beyond the basic décor elements—flooring and floor coverings, furniture, lighting and gardening—to find personalised decorative items that are aesthetically appealing to them, such as wall papers, that personality orientation comes into play.

Individuals who favour homogenous colours, the study reports, tend to share certain characteristics. For instance, red is preferred by goal-oriented, focused, go-getters and determination driven people, who are never satisfied with what others consider to be good.

According to the study, you are most likely to find red in its various hues and shades in the homes of career women, young people who are climbing the social ladder, and generally, other very determined people.

Orange is a little similar to red, but people who find orange appealing are extremely energetic. They channel their energy into pursuing happiness rather than career success.

“For someone with orange kissing their walls, they can be great company and always exude an aura of happiness around them,” the report states.

Meanwhile, people who find yellow pleasing are outgoing. However, according to the research, they are outgoing well within the limits, as they are well-controlled.

They are also persuasive and prefer making consultative discussions in their home — where they have yellow on their walls — as this brings the best out of them.

Ms Siwa concurs, noting that previous studies have established that yellow is good for talking as it makes people trusting.

“We normally advocate for yellow in the dining room, as this is where much of the family talk goes on,” she says.

Green, according to the research, is associated with being caring and helpful. “For an accountant or analyst’s house/office, expect to find blue on the wall, as this is the colour for analytical and cautious personality,” state the researchers.

For Purple, which is most common with women, according to the study, is for people who treasure comfort and value dignity. Purple will be mostly found in houses where their owners are very particular about dignity and what people say about them, and think comfort at any cost is their birth right.

On the other hand, people who are peaceful, organised and generally good at organisation, will choose white when running the brush against their walls, while nerdy, conservative but creative people will prefer black instead.

If you are a personnel manager and you want someone who will always beat deadlines and accomplish tasks and look at things from the practical side, go visiting homes, and immediately hire the one whose walls are painted brown.

Colour and moods

“Interior design is basically about creating an appealing visual look of the house based on the client’s personality and preference, but it also helps in building an overall tone for the house,” she says.

And this is where colour psychology comes in, as the bedroom, for instance, looks better when painted in cool colours such as light blue, light green, and light purple, which have a calming effect ideal for a resting place.

In contrast, the study notes, conversation and entertainment areas in the house, such as the dining and living rooms, call for a lively mood, and this is where warm colours—red, yellow and orange—come in.

However, Ms Siwa adds, there should be a balancing act as a little too much of hue/accent or shade would spoil your décor party.

“Remember to use a few neutral colours here and there, and this will play the delicate balancing,” she advises.

Colour and perception

This, according to the study, is the most important role colour plays in décor, as, apart from hiding the little imperfections in the house, it also tricks our eyes into believing that the house is spacious while in reality, it is not.

Says Ms Siwa: “That is why smaller rooms are painted lighter colours to create an illusion of space...”

The ceiling, she adds, should also assume a light shade. To create a more dramatic impact, colour blending and complementing will bring out a more open look.

Instead of using dull colours that have always been advocated for when you have spaces in your house to the extent that it dwarfs you, the research suggests use of bright (not light) and bold colours.

The thing about bright colours, as explained in the study, is that they draw attention from other décor items in the house by drawing the eye to them. This way, one subconsciously ignores the empty space in the house.