Colour psychology is basically the way our brain perceives what it visualizes, in this case, colours. Research has shown that different colours generally give off different vibes. In decorating the interior of your house, different colours can be put to use in different rooms to create a desired effect or mood. You do not need to be an interior decor expert to match colours like a pro. Before choosing your colours, think of the ambience you want that particular room to convey and what the room will be used for.

A basic understanding of the general effects of each colour would go a long way in helping you choose different themes for different rooms when you are designing.

• The illusion of space: if you want to give a room a spacious feel, then bright colours like yellow and white would do a good job of achieving that. These bright hues give the room an airy feel and make it look bigger than it actually is. You can make use of just one bright colour or you can mix them.

• Appetite building colours: Study shows that the colour red increases appetite in a lot of people.This is one of the reasons why a lot of restaurants opt for red in their decor design. You can incorporate red easily into your kitchen and dining areas by using red cabinet doors, red table top designs, napkins, appliances etc.

• Colours that help you relax: Shades of blue or green; colours that are usually associated with the sea and nature are known to give a relaxing effect when used to paint or design a room. Being surrounded by these colours help to calm the mind and reduce tension so they are a good choice for bedrooms. After an overwhelming and stressful day, it would do your nerves a lot of good to relax in an environment that has a soothing effect and these colours help to achieve that.

• Appropriate colours for bathrooms and sanitary wares: Ever wondered why most bathrooms you see are white? The colour white symbolises purity, freshness, sterility and cleanliness, a bathroom that is painted white passes across this exact message. In setting up your home, it is advisable to get white sanitary wares because they can’t hide stains so it makes for a thorough cleaning. A bathroom with lovely white painting can put the mind at ease and inspire relaxation.

Colour psychology helps you to make meaningful statements in your home using colours, bearing in  mind that how you combine these colours go a long way in determining the general feel and ambience of your home.