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Sophie Robinson
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10 May 22

How does colour make you happy?

Interior designer Sophie Robinson in her home. The hallway has cobalt blue walls, black floral painted chest of drawers large floral artwork and blue artichoke lamp base with pink pleated shade

I’m so lucky that I’ve carved a career surrounded by colour! My own personal preference is a very saturated one which has helped me stand out from an otherwise beige crowd.  I am looked upon as ‘The Colour Queen’ and someone who is brave and daring with colour, but it all comes from a very authentic place that started early on in childhood. I’ve always been excited by a tin of colouring-in pencils and compelled to wear the rainbow-striped jumpers. Fast forward and I still get a real visceral thrill when I open up a paint chart or see a new Nike Air max in a bright colourway. It goes on to follow that Interior design for me is like being let into the chocolate factory, and like Veruca Salt, “I want it all”!

My home is like a sweet shop, as I passionately collect things that make me happy. Photographed by Alun Callender

I’ve long been fascinated by what it takes for us to feel happy in our home environment because for me, creating a beautiful interior has always been hardwired to my sense of happiness. Then, in 2019 the GoodHome report was published. An extensive scientific study was carried out by The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, with the aim to define what makes us happy.  I was both astonished and then maybe not so surprised to discover that happiness in our home ranked second on the leaderboard as to what benefits our feeling of wellbeing. It was second to our mental health but came above our physical wellbeing, our social status, our jobs and even how much money we have in the bank. As an interior designer, I finally feel validated that interior design and indeed how well designed your home is tailored for you, is really so important to our sense of wellbeing and happiness.

The Good Home report has loads of useful insights and research to illustrate what makes us happy in our homes. Key things like natural light, a sense of space and organisation, and even a connection to nature all ranked highly. But one of the top findings was that expressing a sense of self-identity was core to creating a home that supports us emotionally.

Nature is a source of colour inspiration but also helps with understanding your own colour personality. Photographed by Alun Callender.

Another groundbreaking piece of research I have found on my quest for home happiness was carried out by the psychologist Angela Wright in the 1970s-1990s. Angela made it her life work to study and to go on to prove how we individually respond to colour and the moods and behaviours colour inspires in us.

So is it true that only lovers of bold and bright colours can get this dopamine hit of mine? Can you be equally lit up by beige? Well the answer, which will probably surprise you, is yes! A deep dive into the psychology of colour has taught me that everyone has a palette of happy colours that resonates with them on an emotional level. But, and here’s is the clincher, not everyone’s happy palette is the same.

According to Angela Wright, everyone has a very individual sense of style and taste and response to colour. After studying the fundamental principles, I’ve gone on to use these theories in my own design practice, before going on to share this framework in my Colour Workshops and my online course Colour Psychology for Interiors. And it’s been utterly mind-blowing how this resonates with people and shifts something very deep inside. Angela created four harmonious colour palettes, that revolve around a feeling, a mood and a personality type. She called these in her original work the Seasonal Personalities, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. I’ve gone with these titles as they make perfect illustrative sense. For example, Springtime has a real feeling of optimism and newness that feels exciting and energising. As we move out of the monochrome shades of Winter,  the colours we see in nature at this time of year are fresh, light and bright. Think of the crocuses, bluebells and daffodils and the vibrant green shoots as the perfect illustration. This colour palette harnesses this new energy and optimism and consequently resonates with Spring personality types, and makes beautifully joyful interior schemes.

Spots and dashes patterned wallpaper, wall light with wicker shade and vintage plates hung on the wall in the bathroom of Sophie Robinson

A Spring personality loves bright and  light colours, energetic busy prints and humorous touches.  Photographed by Alun Callender

This is why I have never wanted to preach that people should follow ‘my look’ or copy my colour palette in order to design a home they love.  In fact, it’s the reason why following trends, being swayed by what people think, and not listening to your true gut feeling is a sure-fire way to feel disappointed with your end design. It just doesn’t feel right, something is off, and you can’t work out why.  It’s time to move away from the influence of the ‘style police’ and develop your own sense of style, discover what colours resonate with you, and ultimately learn how they all pull together to make your house feel like it’s the best place to be.

Begin by getting in touch with how colours make you feel on an emotional level. Photographed by Alun Callender

You can begin by putting down the paint charts and start to look at colour with fresh eyes. Is that shade of grey inducing a feeling of calm or fatigue? Is this vibrant yellow making you feel joyful or agitated? For most people, a big part of this process is moving away from your preconceived ideas and aspirations about what you think you like or what is deemed good taste.  Great interior design is a much more personal journey. I feel passionate that uncovering your personal colour preferences, which are also linked to your personal sense of style, is key to feeling truly unleashed and able to express yourself in your home.

Over the next few weeks on this blog, I’m going to go into more depth on the four seasonal colour palettes so you have a chance to discover which one resonates the most with you. I’m going to share how these help you formulate harmonious and coherent colour schemes which will bring your home a sense of flow, whilst at the same time looking completely unique and authentic.

But if you are ready to take the plunge and get to the core of what it takes to create a colourful home and one that feels as good as its looks, then I’ve opened enrolment to my online course Colour Psychology for Interiors.  We are going to embark on your own journey of self-discovery, while I’ll teach you how to create harmonious colour palettes with ease. It took me years to work out and define this framework but it’s been the best thing I’ve done for my design practice. Ultimately it’s all about gaining the knowledge that you are creating a home you love and that will make you feel your best, for the long term. What better investment to make in yourself?

 

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Pia on 11.05.22

So much fun! Great post! Looking forward to the deep dive!
Can this change over time, I wonder? Or it is just the subconscious that is picking up on trends?

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According to some recent research 24% of us look t According to some recent research 24% of us look to friends and family for design Inspiration, 21% to makeover tv shows and 18% to instagram. But while it’s great gathering ideas and opinions, ultimately creating a stylish home has to come from you if you are going to love the home you live in. The extraordinary Colour Psychology framework helps you unlock the colour palette that is perfect for you and gives you the superpower to create rooms that feel as good as they look. Suddenly other peoples opinions, trends, and influencers no longer hold sway. Creating a home is deeply personal, an exploration of what makes YOU happy. For me it’s all about the pattern, texture and plenty of intense colour. Tasteful grey interiors leave me feeling flat, I love the energy of a colour clash! If you want to understand your relationship with colour and how to design schemes that affect your emotions in a positive way, this is the last weekend to enrol in my online course, Colour Psychology for interiors. You can find the link to learn more up in my bio. It’s my most popular course to date and has transformed the way thousands of people feel about their interior spaces. 
Let me know what your happy colours are down in the comments below. 

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📷 @aluncallenderphoto styling @katemcphee #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #banthebeige #ihavethisthingwithcolour #myeclectichome #patternclash #maximalistdecor #colourcourse #mycolourfulinterior #punchyhome #cosyhome #countryliving #bedroom
Did you know 50% of people use social media to fin Did you know 50% of people use social media to find inspiration on how to decorate their living rooms? I’m definitely one of them! That’s according to a study by Sky Glass, the streaming TV from @sky_uk . I’ve been investigating the latest interior trends we are lusting after, and how our living rooms are changing- as we say goodbye to three piece suites, and hello to sustainable vintage furniture, statement rugs, wall prints and cosy-ing up the sofa with throws and cushions. As you can see I’m all over the trends! If you head over to the @sky_uk channel today, I’ll also be answering some interior design questions all about styling your TV. Would love to hear what you think are the living room trends to watch. 
 #skyglass #ad 

#banthebeige #colourlover #livingroomdecor #livingroom #maximalistinteriors #livingroomdecore #livingroomdecorideas #homestyle #instahomedecor #chintz #colourmyhome #colourmehappy #cushionlove #styleithappy #florals #gallerywall #berberrugs #ihavethisthingwithpatterns #ihavethisthingwithcolour
Ah @the_rhs Chelsea! What a feast for the eyes! In Ah @the_rhs Chelsea! What a feast for the eyes! Inbetween biblical downpours, thunder and lightning, it was a wonderful day of colour, design and chatter with some wonderful women! I’m slowly falling in love with gardening and my phone roll is full of inspiration after being immersed in natures finest. Thanks @michelleogundehin and @hazelgardinerdesign @thesohoagencyuk for the company. And a big congratulations Hazel on this stunning floral installation. And don’t forget if you want to hang out and be inspired by all things colour then my FREE live webinar is on tonight (25th) at 7pm tonight! Hop on to my profile for the link to sign up. Cannot wait to share some inspirational colour filled time with you all 

#rhschelsea
This is the first room we decorated after our reno This is the first room we decorated after our renovations. The entrance to your home creates the first impression. It’s also the room you walk into first thing in the morning and when you return home at the end of a long day. It needs to create the right welcome and what that feels like is hugely personal. For me I chose my favourite colours, this powerful cobalt  blue has always been a colour I’m drawn to. My wardrobe is full of it. And the bright pink is another one that always makes me instantly happy. Together they are a striking combination and I think anyone who walks through my front door, immediately gets a sense of what I’m about. I’m passionate about creating interiors that authentically  reflect the people who live there. Studying the psychology of colour made it so much easier for me, giving me a deeper understanding on the affects of colour and streamlining my process. If you’d like to know how to unlock your colour super power, join me for a free webinar this Wednesday evening (available to up for 48 hours after). It an introduction into colour psychology for interiors and my hope is it inspires you to have the courage and conviction to know what’s right for you.  And for a deeper dive my online course Colour Psychology for interiors has opened for enrolment. All links to sign up are in my bio on my profile @sophierobinsoninteriors 
What does your hallway say about you? 
📷 @aluncallenderphoto 
CREDITS walls in lazuli by @zoffanyfw stair runner @roger_oates floor tiles @claybrookstudio door painted in rose ash @sanderson1860 

#colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #banthebiege #punchyhome #hallway #boldcolourinteriors #colourlover
My kitchen, the heart of my home. The smallest, da My kitchen, the heart of my home. The smallest, darkest room in the house with no view, but that’s old houses for you! You’ll often find the kitchen in the worst place. So to amp up the joy I chose a forest green (hunters green by @zoffanyfw) for the cabinets to mirror the woodland outside. We sourced reclaimed school science lab work tops and I wrapped the room in one of my favourite papers, Rubarber by @borastapeter. Tom put in retro fit underfloor heating and we used reclaimed terracotta tiles from @ca_pietra_  so the floor looks as old as the house but feels so warm! . For the ugliest darkest room in the house it’s become our favourite because of the colours, patterns and rustic textures.that’s the power of great interior design! 
Next up in my series of posts about the psychology of colour is the Autumn personality. You’ll have a love of rich deep warm Colours, natural finishes, nature inspired patterns and period features. The autumn palette is warm, earthy abs rich and perfect for making spaces feel cosy and inviting. 
To learn more about the autumn personality, hop on up to my bio and click the link to be taken to the blog. And you can sign up to my FREE webinar I’m hosting next Wednesday if you’d like to learn more about this powerful framework. 
Meanwhile have a gorgeous weekend! 
📷 @aluncallenderphoto Styling @katemcphee 

#colourpsychology #banthebeige #autumnpersonality #colourpsychologyforinteriors #kitchen #greenkitchen #countryhomesandinteriors #countrykitchen #ihavethisthingwithcolor #myeclectichome #maximalistdecor
Come and join my FREE webinar on Colour Psychology Come and join my FREE webinar on Colour Psychology next Wednesday 25th at 7pm GMT 🤩 hop on up to the link in my bio @sophierobinsoninteriors to register.
My brilliant online course, Colour Psychology for Interiors, is open for enrolment this month, so if you fancy finding out a bit more about this utterly game changing framework I’d love to have you join. It’s SO MUCH more than ‘ red is energising’, ‘blue is calming’ stuff you’ve all heard before. This is a deep dive into discovering how colours work, how to harmonise them and discovering your own unique and authentic style. Only then can you create a home you live and one that supports you emotionally. I LOVE teaching this stuff because the feedback I get from students is mind blowing! Don’t take my word for it, sign up for the free webinar today! 😍 and if you’ve already done my course, please share in the comments below what you loved about it. 

#colourfulhome #colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #banthebeige #colourlover #confidentcolour #confidentcolourscheming
Have you found your design mojo? Do you gravitate Have you found your design mojo? Do you gravitate towards a style of interiors that just feels so ‘you’. Making a home is so much more than creating beautiful squares for Instagram. It has to FEEL right and this is where the psychology of colour comes in. Colour is light, it has an energy which directly impacts your brain and emotions. And we all have a unique relationship to it. So rather than follow the crowd, be swayed by trends it’s so important to understand your own authentic relationship with colour. Over on the blog today I’m starting a series of posts all about the seasonal colour personalities. First up is spring which is all the joy, uplift and energy. My bathroom, pictured above, is very ‘spring’ with light reflecting walls, energetic patterns and bright colours. The mood  is uplifting, fresh and feel-good. Hop on up to my link in my profile to read the blog post in full and discover if you are a Spring personality and how to create rooms that reflect this joyful mood. 
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📷 @aluncallenderphoto 

#colourpsychology #colourpsychologyforinteriors #banthebeige #colourfulhome #colourlover #ihavethisthingwithcolor #spring #springbpersonality #colourfuldecorchallenge #homedecor #myeclecticmix #bathroom #bathroominspo
So proud of mr best mate @sophieabbottartist who o So proud of mr best mate @sophieabbottartist who opens her house this weekend to showcase her artwork in her home as part of Brightons artists open houses. She’s always been a creative whirlwind and keeps the joy of colour alive in her paintings inspired by the sea, and the local woodlands that surround her home in Brighton. For Sophie, colour gives her life, she’s the ultimate joy monger and I’m so blessed to have her as my side kick in life. If you get a chance today, pop round to heed for a bolt if the feel good vibes

#artistopenhouses #brighton #colourlover #banthebiege #ihavethisthingwithcolour
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