Your home is an extension of your personality and an environment of self-expression. Learning how to use colour can help you to create the balance you need to lead a healthy and happy life.

So how do you go about selecting the right colours to suit your home and how can the interior design support people of different seasonal types psychologically. There are four personality types that date back to the time of Hippocrates; the lively sociable Sanguine, cool diplomatic Phlegmatic, dynamic and confident Choleric, and the introverted perfectionist Melancholic. Contact Jules and find out how you can discover your personality type.

Sanguine personality types

Sanguine personalities tend to feel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, so creating a sense of light is more important than space. Big windows, light coloured walls and furniture will all appeal to this personality. Preferences should be for cane, wicker, chintz, modern, florals all in light colours; heavy, dark wooden pieces and colour schemes can be depressing for Sanguines.

Favourite decorating colours are blues, greens and yellow. Fresh pinks and creams are also popular.

Phlegmatic personality types

Phlegmatic types love soft, delicate fabrics, dainty furnishings and good proportions. For this reason period properties with high ceilings, pillars and columns are highlighted. Subtle prints in pastel shades will give them a sense of calm and order that they need. They love elegant antiques with intricate detailing and pretty furniture, favouring fabrics like silk and satin that are lovely to touch.

Favourite decorating colours are pastels of all colours, particularly blues and pinks which combine well with the neutral greys and creams.

Choleric personality types

The Choleric personality likes solid furniture and raw textures and space is not the most important issue here. They love brick, stone, earthy warm textures and colours, tribal influences and heavy dark antiques.

Terracotta colouring is perfect for autumns along with red, brown and orange. These shades can be offset with autumn gold and the neutral tones of stone and beige.

Melancholic personality types

Melancholics need space and so love using glass. They also like to use chrome, metal and all things modern to create aesthetically pleasing lines and forms with clarity. They prefer solid colours, with black and white and neutral colours often being favourites.

The perfect environment for a typical Melancholic room would include glass coffee table, black leather sofa, grey marble fireplace with white walls and splashes of strongly coloured artwork.

Lets look briefly at Colours and how they affect the home.

Green – balancing and harmonious - best in family rooms.
Blue – soothing and calming – good for living rooms and bedrooms.
Red – inviting, sociable and romantic – for dining rooms and areas of communication (splashes of red only for bedrooms!).
Pink – calming and nurturing - all bedrooms.
Orange – communicating – great in family dining areas (use paler corals or peaches for eating problems).
Yellow – stimulating – perfect for studies and playrooms (provided no hyperactive children) and not for bedrooms in large quantities.
White – reflective, spaceous – enlarges hallways and small rooms, use anywhere to create space.
Grey – neutral and supportive – too much can be depressing.
Black – total absorption – use sparingly best for Melancholic types.
Brown – earthy and stabilising – good to use as furniture.