The familiar quiet that precedes a domestic dispute had settled over the kitchen. "Isn't it about time," began Geoff Beattie's partner, "that we freshened this place up a little?" The Professor of Psychology at Edge Hill University knew the discussion about their chipped white walls was inevitable, especially when a glossy interior design magazine landed on the table.
The Science Behind the Shade
While his partner fluently speaks the language of clay pink and muted teal, Professor Beattie approaches colour from a professional standpoint. He argues that selecting a new palette is a psychological decision, not merely an aesthetic one. A growing body of neuroscientific and behavioural research confirms that the hues surrounding us directly influence our emotions, cognitive performance, social interactions, and long-term wellbeing.
Colours affect us through a complex mix of evolutionary predispositions, physiological responses, and learned cultural associations. This means the colour of your walls could be shaping your daily life in subtle but significant ways you rarely pause to consider.
Choosing Your Palette: Strong or Subtle?
So, what does the evidence say about choosing between bold and muted tones? Neutral shades like whites, greys, and beiges are low in visual stimulation, which can help reduce sensory overload and stress. They also make spaces feel larger and can aid cognitive performance. However, the impact depends heavily on context; cold greys or stark whites in a dim room might evoke feelings of sterility or sadness.
Despite trends leaning towards vibrant shades like chocolate brown, burgundy, or Ikea's 2026 'Rebel Pink', psychological studies suggest opting for low to mid-saturation colours for long-term comfort. For instance, blue and muted green are linked to enhanced creativity and better problem-solving. A muted green home office could foster innovation without you consciously realising why, thanks to green's connection to nature and mental restoration.
Warmer, energising colours are best suited for social or active areas. Soft yellow feels cheerful, but highly saturated versions may increase agitation. Red is particularly powerful: it raises physiological arousal and can even amplify perceptions of attractiveness. Yet, it's also associated with danger and warnings. Studies show that children perform worse on tests with red covers, and merely seeing the word "red" can hinder intellectual performance, making it a risky choice for a home office needing calm focus.
The 60-30-10 Rule and a Psychologist's Proposal
In the face of this expert advice, Professor Beattie's partner cited the interior design staple: the 60-30-10 rule. This suggests dividing a room's colour scheme into 60% dominant colour, 30% secondary colour, and 10% accent colour for visual balance.
Applying both this rule and psychological principles, Beattie proposed a scheme for their living room: soft sage green as the dominant colour to reduce stress and mimic nature's benefits, warm cream as a secondary hue to add cosiness, and brushed gold as an accent colour. Gold can subconsciously signal confidence and positivity through its cultural links to achievement, though he cautions against excess.
The article, showcasing the intersection of design and psychology, leaves the professor waiting to see which paint tins his partner ultimately brings home. It underscores that our colour choices at home are far more than decorative—they are a daily investment in our mental landscape.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Find out more about studying psychology at Edge Hill University.
