Use of Colour
Colour Theory
Colour is the key to a successful decorating scheme. Achieving the balance of colour and ambience you are looking for in a scheme can be tricky. Whether you are after a bold dramatic effect or a simple, neutral scheme, knowing a little bit more about colour and how you can use it will help with your carpet purchase.

All colours are made from three basic colours; red (magenta), blue (cyan) and yellow. Other colours are formed from blending different amounts of these colours. Lighter and darker tones are achieved with the addition of black or white.

Once the colours sit in the wheel you can see how to create room schemes. For very simple calming schemes in smaller spaces, which need opening out, you, can chose a hue (colour) and use varying tones of this same shade. Using the wheel you can also enhance a colour theme with the addition of highlights in a complementary colour.

Complementary colours are found directly opposite each other on the colour wheel. So in its simplest form, green and red are complementary, as are blue and orange, and yellow and purple. This becomes subtler as you work with softer hues of the basic colours. E.g. Warm yellow creams can work with soft lilacs, giving a subtle energy to a scheme.

Colours have certain characteristics, which can be used to create an atmosphere in a room or can be appropriate for the function of a room.



Red – a fire colour it can be used to create warmth in a room. Warm colours give the illusion of moving towards you, which can make a room seem smaller and cosier. Red is a colour that stimulates activity and interaction, so can be good for hallways to encourage movement or to warm up colder rooms.

Yellows – this is a welcoming positive colour and will give a room an optimistic feel; it works well in kitchens and breakfast rooms.

Orange – from strong rusts and terracotta through to palest peaches this balances the passion of red and the optimism of yellow. It is also said to stimulate appetite and can be a good choice for a dining room.

Pinks – a romantic and feminine colour where the energy of red has been toned down with white from a confident fuchsia to the most subtle baby pink.

Blue – the water association of this colour has a cooling effect on a scheme, and also can make a room seem larger as it appears to move away from the viewer. A restful calming colour it is useful for bedrooms and relaxing spaces.

Green – a colour for comfort and security, which encourages healing and harmony. People often seek solace in large open spaces surrounding themselves with all the greens of the natural world. Using greens in your home will create your own sanctuary spaces.

White – can be soothing, it has associations with neutrality and innocence and a white scheme will create a sense of space. It can be elegant but also hard to maintain as a clean and uncluttered space.

Black – offers contradictions, to some it is a negative colour, and yet the Chinese think of black as a lucky colour and combine it with accents of bright red. It can be used to make very bold striking statements in the home.

The most important thing to remember about colour, is that whilst you can be aware of the influences and effects of a particular colour, personal preference is the most important consideration. Don’t underestimate your own innate colour sense.