Brush away the blues with spring's strong hues.
In all this doom and gloom, "we're attracted to colours that are optimistic, upbeat and full of life, and at the same time drawn to neutrals that give us the sense of stability and permanence of solid foundations," says hue guru Kate Smith.
So why not grab some paint and coat your home in shades of happiness. Paint is powerful, says Smith. "Without changing anything else, paint can change the entire way you feel in a room and take it from so-so to sensational in just hours."
The wall colour creates a background for your furnishings but also sets the mood of the room and expresses your personality -- "there is a lot of value in a can of paint."
And spring is a perfect time to put your creative energies to work giving a fresh look to your home.
"Adding a new colour to our home, whether covering the walls or in an accent piece, can give us the same hopefulness for the future we get when we see the first bright yellow or purple of spring flowers push up through the ground," says Smith, of sensationalcolor.com.
According to Smith, change the colour, change the mood. "Colour has the power to instantly evoke emotions and connect with our feelings because it affects us both psychologically and physiologically."
Generally, red accelerates our heartbeat and blue slows it down. Green rejuvenates and soft yellow uplifts our spirits. Neutrals provide a sense of balance.
