Colour code

RED

Red, adored around the world from the Victorian era to the present day, is always warm and welcoming. It is also the most powerful of colours. Painting a room in red - from strong "Radicchio", which combines a sophisticated richness with vibrant liveliness, to dusty and nostalgic "Cinder Rose" - is not for the faint-hearted.

Strong reds are very suited to dining rooms because they add drama and weight. In contrast, a less vivid red will create a more restful atmosphere, as the effect of the colour strengthens over a larger area.

While red is sensual, pink has a gentler feel and its effect is a little more soothing. Although it is often viewed as a colour exclusively for girls, the great colourist John Fowler used pinks like "Setting Plaster" or "Pink Ground" extensively, creating spaces that were certainly soft but still full of impact.

YELLOW

Yellow has been enduringly popular since the 18th century, but it was only in the 20th century, when the influential interior designer Nancy Lancaster used the colour extensively, that it really entered the mainstream. It is still a mainstay of decoration, everywhere from rustic farmhouses to contemporary apartments, never failing to create a hopeful and optimistic atmosphere.

Although yellow can sometimes appear raw in bright light, the magic of these "India Yellow" walls is that they come into their own after dark. This exuberant Paris home is filled with colour, which makes it feel uplifting during the day and then glow at night.

GREEN

Green, so often associated with health and good luck, is lush and uplifting. It represents the colour of nature. In one of the earliest recorded references to painted decoration, Henry III ordered that the panelling in his principal residence at Windsor be painted green. Whether this was to promote a feeling of health and vigour or to reflect the balanced feeling of nature is unknown, but to this day green rooms retain an essence of life unmatched by any other colour.

BLUE

When it comes to decorating, blue tends to divide opinion more than any other colour. For some it immediately conjures up cold, unfriendly spaces, while for others it evokes calm and serenity.

The price of blue pigment once exceeded that of gold, but now the colour is more widely used in decoration than any other. It reflects the soothing tones of both the sea and the sky, creating rooms with a timeless appeal.

The most relaxed and easy-to-use blues are those that lean towards grey.

Cleopatra is said to have used pure ground lapis lazuli as eyeshadow. Indeed, blue is often thought of as regal, but it should also be viewed as calm and spiritual when used in the home.

It is the uncomplicated nature of this sitting room, painted in clean blue "Parma Gray", that makes it so attractive. Bright "All White" used on the bookcase and lamp base means that you perceive more colour on the walls - a perfect example of how sometimes "less is more."

ENLIVENING A DRAB SPACE

If you are concerned that your decoration is a little plain, then using an accent colour in even the smallest of quantities can inject life into a colour scheme. The interiors of kitchen units, closets, and other hidden areas can be painted in uplifting colours to achieve an element of surprise without affecting the overall mood and style of the room.

Whenever colour is used below the eye line it feels much less intimidating, so strong colour on the underside of freestanding bathtubs, kitchen islands and even on table legs is perfect if you are adverse to taking risks. Bold colours can go anywhere in the right dose, and a flamboyant accent colour on a piece of furniture that can be moved around a room is perfect for emphasis or contrast.

An intriguing dark paint effect has been used on the chimney breast of this room, which adds an extra dimension. The strength of colour provides glamour and additional interest, particularly as it is combined with dusty "Cinder Rose" on the walls. Both the wall colour and the paint effect stop at the picture rail, creating an intimate atmosphere.