Colour personalities: wellbeing and the home

We are all affected by colour psychologically. But it’s important to realise that there are no “good” or “bad” colours per se. There are no absolutes in the universe. The key lies with the way in which each colour is used. Colour personalities are also present in fashion, although for this sector, seasons and shades are based more on skin undertone, eye colour and hair colour. The (Angela) Wright Theory focuses on psychological responses, and how the combination of colours triggers this response.

The Colour Affects system removes the guesswork from choosing a colour palette. Once you identify your personality type, you can focus on the corresponding colour season. Happily, all the colours within each season are compatible with each other. In other words, there is a pre-selected palette which you can combine in any way you like. No more painful procrastination or prevarication! Knowing your colour personality and season gives you a fantastic framework to work within. It enables you to make key decisions about interiors much faster, with much more confidence.

The Summer colour personality is cool, calm and collected, especially when compared with its Spring counterpart. Sensitive and creative, they appreciate order and balance. Summer personalities are witty, yet restrained: think subtle, serene and self-possessed. They do not tend to enjoy primary colours, preferring cooler shades with grey-blue undertones, which are delicate but not necessarily light. Traditional, understated, elegant interiors appeal to the Summer personality. Soft, floating fabrics and patterns, symmetry and muted shades are key characteristics to embrace. Nothing too showy – always aim for discretion.

As you’d expect from a season associated with such intense shades of red and orange, rich, golden hues associated with the earth, but often set against deep blues attracts the Autumn colour personality. They tend to be intense, inquisitive and external things motivate them, unafraid to take charge and get things done. The Autumn colour palette is rich, fiery and offbeat, with warm tones. These personalities enjoy cosy interiors, and prioritise making their living environment feel homely, warm and inviting. They feel a strong connection with nature, so materials such as wood, cotton and jute will suit. Autumn colour personalities appreciate mixing beautiful elegant objects with rustic finishes that showcase craftsmanship and quality.

Winter personalities need clarity and precision, so the Winter colour palette of primary colours, with its strong contrasts between pure hues will ideally suit them. Winter colours are cold, and are either very light, very dark or very intense. Imagine surrounding yourself with an icy blue or cold grey sky, with accents of black, red and dark blue. Interestingly, Winter is the only personality where a main colour is black. Winter interiors should be bold and bright. Mix striking geometric patterns with luxury furnishings and textures to create a clear and strong design statement.

Once you have identified your colour personality, it’s easy to understand how important it is for your home to reflect and support your inherent preferences. Fads and fashions come and go, and should not be the priority when embarking on any major redecoration or renovation project. Focus instead on using colour psychology to identify your season, and create an interior that complements perfectly on the outside how you feel on the inside.