In Feng Shui, every colour has a meaning. Understanding what the colours represent, along with what colours make you feel good and work with the size and shape of the room, can help narrow down your choices when you are looking to repaint your home, office, retail space or strata.
This may sound too “touchy feely” for you when it comes to paint selection, but with our professional painting tips we hope that you’ll begin to see that all of these considerations are just to help you feel at home and at ease in your updated space. There are plenty of resources to help you translate Feng Shui beliefs into the perfect colour pallet for your home and we’ve compiled some of the best advice we can find here to help you. Whether you are a Feng Shui veteran or a complete newbie, we hope we can help you find your way to the perfect hue.
The “What” of Feng Shui
The thoughts behind colour Feng Shui is that different colours have different “vibrations” that circulate different energies throughout our environment. These energies, sometimes called “chi,” can effect your mental state, mood, and general well-being.
Different colours work in different contexts so choosing the right colour has a lot to do with finding a balance between technical principals and your unique scenario. Feng Shui is all about balance, so there’s never a fear of being “wrong”—there can always be a counterbalance.
The “Who” of Feng Shui
Different residents of different rooms will have different needs. This is probably pretty intuitive as you’re designing a space. You wouldn’t paint a child’s room red or black, for example. Who uses the room and what it is being used for will play a critical role in your decision making.
Follow your instincts when it comes to colour selection. You can also keep in mind this general guide for what each colour represents:
Red: A stimulating colour
Pink: Romance, love, and partnership
Orange: Uplifting and positive
Yellow/Gold: Symbolic of wealth, health, wisdom, and patience
Deep Blue: Introspection and wisdom
Blue-Green: New beginnings, youth, and confidence
Green: New beginnings, healing, freshness, and growth
Purple: Spirituality, prosperity, and adventure
Black: Reflection, contemplation, mystery
White: Clarity, communication, and precision
Grey: Helpfulness. Also represents “harmony” (as in a harmony of white and black coming together as grey)
Brown: Security and stability
The “Where” of Feng Shui
Fire Colours, like reds, oranges, and yellows, work best in high energy rooms. The dining room or a personal workout space, for example, will benefit from these lively colours. If you find these types of colours too overwhelming in a single space, you can always use them in smaller segments of the house—like a hallway or foyer.
Energetic colours work well in hallways because they are all about movement, constantly circulating people throughout the house.
Red is even considered a colour of luck and good fortune. But don’t paint a room red just because of that! Make sure you have a deeper connection to the colour before selecting it as your colour of choice. You’re bound to feel building frustration and discontent if you choose a colour that you dislike just because of what it is supposed to represent. And those negative feelings are not what Feng Shui is all about.
The “When” of Feng Shui
When you want a room that promotes calmness, like a bedroom, use cool, neutral colours like light greens and blues.
When you want something dark, bold, and shocking, consider balancing it with something lighter. If you want to use the colour black, try balancing it with patterns or you can use it on a single wall as an accent. Darker colours can work to “ground” a room, so long as they are well used.
The same caution can be applied to bright whites. White seems like a “neutral” colour but can actually come across as striking and quite sterile. Instead, tone it down a bit by using a darker white, off white, or light grey.
If you love neutral colours, though, run with that! An all-neutral colour scheme can look elegant and timeless. Instead, mix it up by incorporating different textures through carpeting, throw blankets, coffee tables, and upholstery. You can mix and match stone, faux fur, and knitted patterns. Add a metallic accent or two to tie the whole room together.
The “Why” of Feng Shui
Consider why you are choosing the colour that you are. Are you playing it too safe? Don’t be afraid to try new things and overcome challenges or fears. Your intuition is important, but could it be inhibiting exploration? If you are feeling tired and uninspired in a wash of neutrals and light blues, would a splash of orange or red liven things up for you? Find a colour that represents something you need more of in your daily life and let it inspire you, even if only subconsciously.
You can also let colour play off one another with the right pairings. Bright, shocking colours like yellow can be “toned down” by carefully pairing them with a light grey or beige. If you have a lot of blues, greens, and greys in your home, add a bright red or orange touch to create a totally energized space.
The “How” of Feng Shui
Before deciding on a colour, text it out in both natural and artificial lighting. Something that looked good in the store or in your imagination might be completely changed by these elements. So whatever colour you select for yourself, grab a swatch for it, one shade cooler, and one shade warmer. Use a test pot or paint a small square on your room wall. See what it looks like throughout the day, as the level and direction of the light changes. Then, you can make your final choice.
Even once you’ve made your decision, you can always change things up as your needs and desires change. Wall art, throws, pillows, rugs, and other décor can easily introduce different elements of colour to your space. Feng Shui is all about inspiration and change, so don’t ever feel “stuck” with your current design. New beginnings and ideas are always just around the corner.
Atlas Painting & Restorations has 40+ years in the painting industry specializing in residential, strata, commercial, and institutional painting in Vancouver and the lower mainland. Give us a call today for your free quote at (604) 244-8244 or reach out to us through our contact form to the right. We look forward to working with you!
