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DON’T REPLICATE OTHERS DESIGNS, APPLY YOUR MIND AND USE YOUR TASTE AND PREFERENCES IN DESIGNING YOUR HOME

In Oman there are no specific colour trends, when it is related to painting homes and rooms inside them. There is a lack of awareness on this issue. People are concerned about their clothes and their colours that change from one season to the other but not about the colour themes at home. Mostly, people prefer to apply white and off-white shades and this trend is common almost in all the houses in the Sultanate. People sometimes fear to use such colours and apply them on their houses because there is no awareness in how to use these colours and what psychological effect each colour has and how can they be associated with certain mood, senses or feelings. Therefore there should not be any hesitation to consult the colour consultant or the interior designers in order to be properly guided for colour preferences.

Each colour has a different effect and is associated with different feelings, so when we set to create a cosy mood in such a room, then warm colours would be the best to us, such as yellow, oranges, and shades of red. But we should also be careful when applying these colours as they tend to make the areas look narrow. Therefore, these type of colours can be applied only on one wall to create a focal point. When someone is seeking serenity and tranquility, then shades of blue and green should be selected, they embody the spirit of water. These colours tend to widen the spaces and make them look spacious.

The first step to relinquishing fear in the use of colour is to understand the psychological effect it has on us, then we should decide on the mood we need to create in each room. For example, hospital rooms, class rooms, fast food restaurants and offices should be painted in such colours to influence the behavior and moods of the people who use these spaces. For example, red is known to stimulate the appetite, so it is an excellent colour for dining rooms. Both blue and green are fresh and calming; they are colours of nature and could be perfect choices for bedrooms and areas that need to look wide and spacious.

The first step to relinquishing fear in the use of colour is to understand the psychological effect it has on us, then we should decide on the mood we need to create in each room. For example, hospital rooms, class rooms, fast food restaurants and offices should be painted in such colours to influence the behavior and moods of the people who use these spaces. For example, red is known to stimulate the appetite, so it is an excellent colour for dining rooms. Both blue and green are fresh and calming; they are colours of nature and could be perfect choices for bedrooms and areas that need to look wide and spacious.

Yellow and orange are energizing like sun, so they are good choices for rooms where energy is required. Orange and purple can be good choices for home offices. If you are stuck with idea, when trying to decide what colour scheme to choose for a room, look at the furniture and objects you want to use. Many interior designers build up a complex colour scheme from just one item.

This does not mean that dramatic colours do not have their place, for too many houses are painted with various shades of beige and off-whites, these colours are very easy to live with but in order to avoid monotony you should contrast and enliven them with bright highlights in your accessories and upholstery.

Colours can be toned down, for example, a bright red in dining room, can be toned down by application of various glazes so that its vibrancy is turned to a rich burnish. Bright yellows can be colour washed over a white base to wash them out. In such cases original character of the colour is maintained and only its brightness is muted.

Using colour is an art which needs a good knowledge of how to blend and match colours. It also depends on the individual’s personality, taste and preferences.