With more focus today than ever before on physical and mental health, sleep quality, and work-life balance, creating a home environment that supports all of this has become not just desirable, but crucial.
To address this ongoing shift, Homebase has teamed up with Karen Haller, the UK's leading colour psychology expert, to reveal how the right wall paint choices can dramatically enhance our living and working spaces. Surprisingly, your home could be the key to unlocking better sleep, increased productivity, and a happier you, and a big part of that is down to the colours you use.
What are the best hues to use in each room of the home?
'Colour has the power to change how we think, feel, and behave in an instant. Every emotion can be expressed through colour. It can excite and soothe us; it can irritate and overwhelm us, and it can bring us happiness and joy,' Karen Haller explains. According to Karen, homeowners should consider the following colours in specific rooms in the home:
Bedroom
Karen explains, 'It's important that we get a good night's sleep and colour can help us achieve that. For a relaxing night's sleep, using the theory of colour psychology, look for colours that emotionally soothe, which will be at the lighter end of the spectrum.'
Karen recommends soft light blues to soothe the mind, helping people to relax and prepare for sleep. To soothe on a physical level, choose a soft pink, as it helps people to feel like they're being wrapped in a warm, comforting embrace and can also help reduce feelings of anxiety. Soft greens are the best choice to soothe on a holistic level, helping to create a sense of equilibrium and reassurance.
Home office
With many people creating an office space at home, finding the perfect wall colour to enhance the workday and maximise productivity and focus has become a must. Karen suggests dark blue to aid focus, concentration, and productivity.
Karen advises using red for a 'pick-me-up'. Adding a splash of red can raise energy levels for important sales calls—just a splash is enough, as too much can lead to feelings of overwhelm and drain. Yellow is a great choice when you need an injection of optimism and to boost self-confidence, but quantity is important; a small amount is sufficient, otherwise, it might cause irritability.
Living room
Your living room's ambience is vital for relaxation, and wall paint colours can significantly impact this. Karen recommends brown if you are looking to create feelings of warmth, cosiness, and support, and green to achieve a sense of balance, peace, and reassurance. Avoid lime green, as it can be too invigorating and lively. Orange is a great option for a sense of fun, playfulness, and joy.
Bathroom
Bathrooms can set you up for the day and help you unwind before bed, so it's important that your choice of paint colour encourages this! Turquoise is a great colour to wake up your body and mind in the morning.
For those who aim to create a relaxing, spa-like bathroom to unwind after the workday, stone or beige are perfect choices to add a sense of luxury to your space.
Paige McCallum, Home and Decorating Buying Manager at Homebase, comments: 'We're seeing a huge surge in customers embracing bold and vibrant colours on their walls as a cost-effective way to transform their homes. Whether it's creating an energizing home office or a calming bedroom retreat, people are really understanding the power of paint and are using it to transform their living spaces. Karen's expert insights offer exciting new possibilities for our customers to express themselves and create homes that truly reflect and support their lifestyles.'
More information:
Homebase
www.homebase.co.uk