EFFECT OF COLOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 3

EFFECT OF COLOUR

INDOOR DECORATION PASTEL SHADES FAVOURED HARMONIOUS GROUPINGS The effect of colour on both physical and mental health is being realised more and more by those who to-day are planning indoor decoration. It is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate how great is tho effect of homo surroundings on the state of mind of its occupants Everyone has been in rooms which seem to have a curious, unsettling effect, where it seems impossible to be restful. Other rooms, again, give a feeling of restfulness and tranquillity. You may not bo able to say exactly why one room is displeasing and why another feels nice and comfortable, but without doubt the reason lies in the way in which tho whole room has been planned. "Among the strongest colours are red and orange, and these two shades soon tiro tho eye, so it is best to avoid using large expanses of these two colours in the decoration of a room," writes Derek Patmoro, a well-known overseas decorator "On the other hand, colours such as green and yellow please the eye and rest it. And so, by the laws of Nature, they are admirable to use for colour schemes. This explains the enormous popularity of all tones of green and yellow in contemporary decoration." Tendency Toward Contrasts Writing of modern tendencies in interior decoration, Mr. Patmore says the modern decorator is all in favour of sharp contrasts in colour. Tho sharpest colour contrast is black and white, and one of the reasons for the preference as well as for grev and silver, is the fact that these colours are neutral, in that they do not appear in the list of primary colours. .Consequently, they lend themselves to combinations with other colours. White, being closely related to all colours, is strongly affected by others placed beside it. This should be remembered when whito is being used as a principal shade in a room: naturally this also applies to cream. But black and white, as the writer points out, are likely to become monotonous unless 'relieved by other colours. Black has its special virtues, in that it enables emphasis to be placed on other colours in a room, and it brings out tho richness in colours placed beside it. It also makes an admirable background for colour, "but wide areas of black paintwork should be avoided, as black tends to absorb light rather than reflect it. This also applies to colours related to black, such as purple." Certain colours, Mr. Patmore considers, are most successful when contrasted in this scheme. 1' or instance, blue contrasts admirably with black or white. Similarly, red contrasts with white, brown, yellow or orange, but it has been proved that scarlet* is an unhappy contrast with violet and orange-yellow is bad with green. In fact, it is as well to avoid using too much contrast when planning a scheme, and to rely mainly on harmonious groupings of colours. Effective Monochrome Schemes A student of colour will discover for himself that the most beautiful arrangements of colour are usually achieved by a "gradual gradation' of the colours used. All colour in Nature relies 011 the gradual merging of colours, and this can be seen when studying the shade of a flower where the effect of colour is achieved, not by one level tone, but by a series, of varying tints that together create the illusion of one main colour. Effective modern interiors have been created out of the monochrome scheme, which is achieved by taking one mam colour, and then buildine up the decoration of the room around the one shade, usirfg tho various tints of shades closely related to it. This is one of the monochrome schemes which Mr. Patmoro describes: —"Supposing you paint the walls of your room beige, the scheme can be built up by covering the furniture with brown fabric relieved with touches of cream, and curtaining the windows in some material that links it with cream, beige and brown." An all-green scheme—and those can bo very successful —can be built up by using olive green and chartreuse green against apple-green walls. Pastel shades, as Mr. Patmore points out, aro becoming increasingly popular when planning colour schemes, the " advantage being that they are unobtrusive and restful, and form an effective background for decorative detail and furniture." .Light-attracting Tones Mr. Patmore's summary of " the whole difficult question of how to use colour " is interesting. He suggests the following rules to bear in mind:— " Avoid using strong colours, such as red, orange and purple, and, whenever possible, try to use the softer shades of green and yellow, and such combinations of blue as turquoiso, dark or navy blue, can look well as long as they are not used for the main colour of a room. Remember, however, that all blue schemes are apt to appear cold. The architect and tho interior decorator of to-day favour neutral schemes, combining neutral shades of white, black and brown, but when using these combinations it is best to relieve the schemes with touches of colour such as red, green and yellow. Violet, though a lovely colour in itself, does not lend itself to successful colour schemes, and should bo avoided except in small touches. . " Try using light-attracting colours such as yellow and green, as opposed to purple or blue. As u rule, it is a mistake to mix black as a darkening medium for other colours. The correct way to lessen the brilliance of any colour is to mix it with a little of its contrasting shade. Tho range_ of mixed colours is so largo that it is usually possiblo to obtain approximately the colour you desire, and if a softening of tho shade is desired, the painter can easilv do this for you. " Finally, tho science or colour may at first appear very baffling and complicated, but its study brings its own reward. You will be happiest if when choosing your colours you allow your instinct to guide you, for most people instinctively choose the colours _ that provide them . with the most suitable background. However, try to keep your colour schemes as simple as possible, for, ns Richard .Tefferies discovered. ' I'ure colour is rest of heart.' "