Colour Me Happy: How to Use Colour Like a (Good Rooms) Pro
There’s a reason life feels better in colour. Our brains are wired for it. Colour can calm us, energise us, even make us feel more creative (or more hungry — looking at you, red dining rooms).
At Good Rooms, we believe your home should make you feel something. And that something shouldn’t be “did I accidentally move into a Farrow & Ball showroom?” Yes, we love a good heritage paint — but when every room is the same moody greige, the vibe gets… well, beige.
So what does colour actually do to us?
Green says rest, nature, harmony — it’s the ultimate bedroom colour for winding down without flatlining your personality.
Blue is the global favourite. It makes us feel safe, stable, and oddly, a bit more trustworthy. (There’s a reason banks love it.)
Yellow boosts mood and energy — but too much and it can feel like an espresso shot to the eyeballs. Use it like lemon zest: a little goes a long way.
Red gets the heart racing. Great for drama, not so great for your upstairs loo unless you want guests panicking.
Pink (yes, even the Barbie variety) brings softness and warmth. Don’t fear it — just pair it with something grown-up like a dark green or navy.
The Colour Wheel — Your New Best Friend
The colour wheel isn’t just for GCSE art students. It’s how designers think about balance:
Analogous colours are neighbours on the wheel — calming, easy on the eye.
Complementary colours sit opposite — punchy, energetic and perfect for a bit of contrast.
Triadic colours form a triangle — bold and balanced if you’re feeling brave.
Our advice? Choose your base tone and then give it a nudge. That might be a coral cushion on your navy sofa, a minty splash in your neutral hallway, or a jolt of mustard in your monochrome kitchen. That’s what we mean when we say a pop of colour — not a rainbow explosion, just a spark of joy.
The Good Rooms Philosophy
We don’t do colour charts for the sake of it. We do homes that make you smile when you walk through the door. So if your bedroom doesn’t help you rest, if your living room doesn’t lift your mood, or if your hallway doesn’t reflect who you are, it might be time for a rethink.