The Nature of Colour

What element most influences the mood of a room? Colour! And what most influences our response to colour? The way it occurs in nature. To create the mood you desire in a room, take your cue from nature. Observe the play and mix of colour in the natural world; then translate that colour confidently into your home.

Yellow, orange and red are associated with sun and fire, so we think of these colours as warm, cheerful and inviting. Hues of blue, at the other end of the spectrum, remind us of cool mountain lakes and oceans -- tranquil and refreshing.

Brighten a dark room

• Tones of orange, tan and golden brown are warm, cosy colours, popular for sitting rooms. Brighter accents can enliven a basic colour scheme of neutral browns.

• Plums and purples have a formal, almost regal association - the result of cultural influences rather than their presence in nature. Select strong purples to deliver impact and drama, and use paler tints of mauve and lavender to create a subtle, delicate effect.