Life in technicolour

Whether we are aware of it or not, colours have the capacity to impact our mood and influence our physical and mental well-being. For instance, red symbolises passion, anger, power and energy; violet, on the other hand, represents creativity and spirituality. Green and blue are often associated with a calm atmosphere, while yellow brings joy and happiness.

The colours that we choose to surround ourselves with, in our homes, play a larger role in influencing our mood and feelings than we think. so choose well.

This tendency of the human brain to associate colour with emotion depends on the cultural context, however, colour psychology is quite universal (minus personal biases). Jyoti Sobti, a psychologist, explains that research in neuroscience and psychology has shown the effect that colour has on our brain and our hormones, and, therefore, can affect our mood, behaviour and physiology. So, the colours that we surround ourselves with on a daily basis can influence how we feel, express, and live. Colours can reveal a lot about one. Therefore, the choice of colour in our homes is important.

Even a miniscule change in furnishing can have a prominent effect on one’s life. “Soft furnishings are used differently in environments depending on their functional requirements. So, It is really important how you play with colours here,” Rajiv Kanwar, co-founder , Win-dow Passion expresses.

Explaining the science behind this, Jyoti shares, “Light is made of colours, and when it strikes our retina, it converts into electrical impulses that pass onto the hypothalamus, which in turn affects our hormones. Different colours have different wavelengths and, therefore, they affect the endocrine system and consequently our mood and stress levels in different ways.”

When it comes to homes, selecting colours becomes even more crucial as they set the mood of a place. But, if one is not a fan of big changes, people can always make minor changes by introducing the use of various colours in soft furnishing.

The role of individual biases, especially when it comes to colour preferences, is considered with equal emphasis. Rajiv adds, “It is important to think about the space that you are decorating. Is it light or dark, small or big? For a small, dark space, you probably wouldn’t use dark hues that can make the space seem even smaller and wouldn’t reflect any light unless you are specifically aiming to create that mood.”

 Apart from playing a major role in other aspects of the interior, colour and lighting is equally important when it comes to choosing curtains, cushion and wall prints. So how should one choose soft furnishing? When it comes to deciding for these, fabric is an important component. Rajiv explains, “In bespoke furnishings, it depends on taste or theme of the house. If it’s a classical house it is advisable to incorporate classical themes on furnishings such as borders on the curtains similar to the cushions”.

“Similarly, if the house is modern it should have subtle hints of bespoke designs like modern borders on window blinds so set them apart from basic blinds,” he continues.

“A lot of people are using linen fabric because of the fabric being light. A nicely styled sheer curtain is preferred by a lot of people these days. Along with that window blinds are preferred as they are easy to use and easy on the space.” he concludes.