Are you feeling the need to brighten up your life? Well think carefully when choosing new wall colours or materials to liven up your home, as your favourite colour may say far more about you than you think…
OK, OK, so every wall in my flat is painted magnolia.
In my defence, it’s a shoebox and I was convinced that cream walls would make it look bigger. Plus I’d overdosed on property TV programmes claiming that ‘neutral was the way to go.’ So I followed.
And now, frankly, I’m worried about what my cream walls say about me – giving a whole new meaning to those oldest of clichés, ‘if these walls could talk.’ Now, apparently, they can.
According to the latest research by Crown Paints, people in Wales tend to gravitate towards rich deep hues in their homes such as rich reds, burgundies and deep blues.
These colours are often associated with intensity and confidence – attitudes naturally applicable to the passionate Welsh stereotype.
Surprisingly the research found that pastel pinks and purples were more popular in Scotland, blowing the Scottish stereotype out of the water.
Londoners were found to go for striking, vibrant shades while people in the Midlands, south-west and Northern Ireland choose creams, duck egg blues and chocolate colours.
The research also confirmed that I am not alone – on the whole the great majority of us still opt for the ‘safe’ cream and whites.
Spice up your life
If you want to banish this grey January and inject some colour into your life, follow Crown Colour Consultant Judy Smith’s five top tips to transform your home:
Bright colours open up enclosed spaces – so try revamping a fading hallway or stairwell by painting it in a striking, confident colour such as bold red or cheerful yellow.
For a simple but chic touch, paint the whole room with a bold block colour, then add a large geometric shape in a bright contemporary colour, such as warm orange.
Make a feature of shelves by painting alcoves with a neutral tone such as white, alongside a colour, which gives contrast, such as sky blue.
To pack a stylish punch, experiment with some free-hand painting – it’s guaranteed to lend a new lease of life to a room.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with colour – if it’s confined to a small area it can always be seasonally repainted and won’t cost you the earth.
Hmmm….food for thought. Maybe I’ll break away from neutral and go out on a limb with a paint choice for my shoebox. If you, like me, are feeling uncertain, a feature wall may be a good starting point – there are also some beautiful wall papers out there which could turn a dull room into something with a real wow factor.
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-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
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