Colour isn’t just for kids
Home organization, culling and repurposing of things, creating new workspaces, and elevating décor to lift our spirits have reached an all-time high. How we use our homes, look at our same four walls, and want to live has floated to the top of the to-do list. Everything has been questioned – including the popular choice of living in a monochromatic world. So much to say is; colour is having a comeback moment, and I couldn't be happier.
Colour has a way of changing our lives. No joke.
As a designer, artist and colour consultant, I used to work my colour magic, mainly for children's spaces – because kids love colour. However, I now see most of my residential and commercial projects having a ferocious appetite for pigment. People have opened up to what I have long preached: Colour has a way of changing our lives. No joke. Prismatically, our moods and outlooks are significantly impacted by our surroundings. And colour is one of the most critical players here.
Colour has been my thing since I was a child. Today, I am still deeply attached to the spectrum and read a lot about the psychology of colour. My work as a designer and colour consultant means more than just ascetically shifting and physically transforming things. It's something more profound; colour is a personal form of communication. It can cause reactions and change your actions. I've always loved the quote from the famous (colourful) Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky; "Colour is a power which directly influences the soul."
So, how do you start to work colour into your home and life? Well, colour is a language; through constant integration, anyone can develop the confidence to use it in their world. If you've been living in the land of monochrome, it's best to start adding colour in small increments. Try it. Test it. Live with it. Here are some simple tips for adding colour to your life even if you are the staunchest supporter of a neutral palette:
Stress-free tips for adding colour to your life:
1. Paint your nails a colour you would typically never select.
2. Buy a snappy-coloured phone case.
3. Play with watercolour paints – and hang your artwork.
4. Add colourful flowers to all the primary living spaces in your home!
5. Grab some throw pillows for your sofa in a colour you love and see how it spruces up the room. What else could you add in that colour family to the room afterward?
6. Try a colourful area rug or hallway runner!
7. Paint your bedroom ceiling a calming colour.
8. Buy your next small appliance in a cheery colour.
9. For the more adventurous, paint your front door a happy-making colour. It will make you smile every time you come home.
More than ever, we need to embrace positive changes that are easy to do. Whether that's painting your toenails or your walls all violet and pink, just go for it! As we round the corner on these tuff times, we can come out of our comfort zone a bit. Have a little more fun. Maybe with these simple additions of colour, we catch on to why children are more joyful. Their spaces are typically teeming with colour!