Before decorating any room with furniture, the first thing that comes across your mind is probably “What colour should the walls be painted”?

And rightly so, since the colour of the walls will dictate what kind of a mood the room will have. If you want energy, paint it red. Or if you will rather designate the room as a respite from the daily hustle and bustle, blue is the right colour for the walls.

Even the shade of the colour can mean a big difference in effect. For example, bright orange will be great for imparting a cheerful exuberance, perfect for a room for a young child. Conversely, dark red might ignite untold passion in the bedroom!

Besides having the effect on mood, colours can also be used to reflect your personality. Obviously, if you cannot stand bright colours for long periods of time, you should choose more neutral or darker ones.

Another use of colours is the effect on the perceived size of the room. Light colours, especially white makes a room appear bigger while darker colours will make it look smaller. This applies to the perceived height of the ceiling too – light colours will make the room seem like its ceiling is higher while dark colours give the effect of a lower ceiling.

The kind of lighting to be used frequently is especially crucial in working with the colour to achieve a certain effect. For example, if a room is to largely used only in the daytime, consider that you will likely be using natural light mostly to illuminate the room – perhaps a neutral pastel shade to counter the harsh sunlight? Or, the use of soft dim lamp light against a deep brown can make a room extremely cosy and inviting.