Deck the Walls!

Approaching the end of the year is often a time to take stock and look at how things are and think about how they could be. We start to plan for the future. For some that means a gym subscription, for others it could mean finally re-doing that room you've been living with (and loathing) for the past year. Scrolling through the papers this week, a picture caught my eye which might be able to help get the creative juices flowing... 

It seems that colour, and our preference for what colour we put on our walls, is influenced by where we live regionally. B&Q were asked which colours, excluding white, British homeowners are actually buying. It brought sales data together to map our preferences:

Blue is clearly the winner, despite the peachy hiccup in the North East, but the shades differ. The bright turquoise of Scotland is opposite to the grey slate of the East Midlands, while Wales edges towards royal blue with the South East opting for a richer colour. 

What is it about the palettes of blue, grey and varying shades between the two which makes them so appealing across the country?

Looking at the psychology of colour, blue is essentially soothing; it affects us mentally, rather than the physical reaction we may have to a colour such as red. Strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter, soft blues will calm the mind and aid concentration. Consequently it is serene and mentally calming. It is particularly good for bedrooms. Although for some it still can be perceived as cold and unfriendly.

The neutral appearance of the colour grey makes it an excellent backdrop to a scheme and as a colour, it does not overpower other colours. Grey should not be perceived as a 'cold' colour, though used wrongly, it may feel to some as oppressive. There are some beautiful warm shades around, not to mention the current love we have for 'Greige', that mixture of grey and beige.

So, if you're currently thinking about how to decorate in the new year and need some inspiration in these colours, here are some room schemes using some of the nation's favourite shades: