If you are in a quandary about how to choose colour that will add a specific dynamic or mood to a room, a spot of Feng Shui thinking may help.

By Oliver Kensington

According to the 3,000-year-old Chinese tradition, the five fundamental elements of Feng Shui science – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – are inextricably linked to key colours. And introducing them into the design scheme of a room (wall and floor coverings, furniture, soft furnishings, art and accessories) will foster certain energies.

But remember, the golden rule of Feng Shui is yin and yang – creating balance with polar energies. So, rather than cause explosive chaos by choking a room with wall-to-wall hot red, add breezy blue to the mix in order to cool down the sizzle and generate equilibrium.

The five pillars of Feng Shui:

(1)

Element: Wood

Predominant colour: Green

Energy and properties: Stimulates personal growth, aids renewal and powers decision-making. Also adds a calming aura to domestic dwellings. Plants with lush green foliage are a perfect way to introduce green into your interior scheme, but ensure to combine varying shades in order to benefit from the full Feng Shui factor.

Tip: The rejuvenating energy of green makes it a good choice of colour for bathrooms.

(2)

Element: Fire

Predominant colour: Red

Energy and properties: Rouses action, courage and passion, and can also increase heart rate and respiration. Used in moderation, it is also capable of inciting feelings of elation and counteracting depression. However, too much can over-stimulate the senses and evoke outbursts of anger and frenzy, so punctuate rather than saturate rooms with raging tones. Dilute the potential negative impact or red by introducing more pastel shades and tints, such as rose.

Tip: The racy power of red makes it a good choice of colour for bedrooms. It can also add spark to areas designated to social interaction and entertaining, such as dining and living rooms.

(3)

Element: Earth

Predominant colour: Soft yellow

Energy and properties: Buttery and sandy shades of yellow equip a home with welcoming and enlivening energy, and can boost personal self-esteem and even improve cognition and mental health. Light yellows have long been used as a colour to help improve the focus of children with dyslexia, and it is no coincidence that post-it notes are predominately golden.

Tip: The welcoming spirit of yellow makes it a good choice of colour to meet and greet guests in the entrance hall of your home.

(4)

Element: Metal

Predominant colours: White and grey

Energy and properties: White and grey enhance clarity and aid wisdom. They streamline space, support precision thinking, encourage measured caution and help generate a purity of focus.

Tip: The streamlining powers of white makes it a good choice for wall covering in any room that is cluttered or crammed with furniture.

(5)

Element: Water

Predominant colours: Blue and black

Energy and properties: The colour blue powers serenity, inner peace and personal contemplation. Soft hues, in such fabrics as soft silk in particular, can also aid health by calming racing heart and breathing rates and lowering blood pressure. Used sparingly, black drives strength, power and stability in the home.

Tip: The calming and restful powers of light blue make it a good choice of colour for both bathrooms and children’s bedrooms. However, it is known to curb appetite, so limit its use in kitchen and dining areas.