Hue knew? Here’s our guide to lifting the mood with colour
, by Ruth Wilbur, 5 min reading time
With a wet winter and no sign of the British weather letting up this January it’s no surprise that many of us are craving blue skies. Whilst we can’t promise the weather will improve, we can suggest a few colours which will lift those January blues and bring the sunshine in.
Colour therapy (also known as chromotherapy) is the ancient art of using colour to improve mood. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians used colour to promote healing and balance in the body. Today, experts believe that different hues can elicit different emotions and even influence our physical responses. According to color theory, color can calm, invigorate and even boost mood.
We dive in and explore how to use colour in your home to great effect.
The Basics
As a general rule bright, warm colors - reds, oranges, yellows are energetic, lively colours whilst blues, greens, purples are soothing and calming. We believe colour is about joy so look for hues that speak to you and make you smile, you’ll be the one living with them after all.
Define your style
Creating a mood board will allow you to narrow down colours and plan for practicalities. Colour works best when combined with texture and pattern as it provides a richness and interest to your design. Capturing your inspiration and the requirements of your space really helps to map out the style you truly love. For more on colour head over to our guide on Colour Drenching.
Blue sofas for tranquility
Blue shades are internally popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. Blue can be calming creating a serene spot in the bedroom. Studies have found that exposure to blue can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythm and reduce stress levels - we all know that walking along a beach is a great way to relax so it makes sense that the shade works for quiet corners. Mid to dark blues are great for creating depth and comfort.
When it comes to blue sofas - we go all out glamour, our Spink & Edgar Monique sofa takes its style straight from the 1930s, the beautiful soft, crushed opium velvet is simply divine. We love the way it catches the light, with its vintage feel. Interestingly the colour is on trend too as Valspar nominate Encore their colour of the year for 2025. Jewel coloured gems sit well against saturated shades, shades like teal turquoise and navy will pop against a moody backdrop, lifting a room to ensure that no matter how bold you go on the walls, your sofas work with your scheme.
Those that prefer a lighter shade may appreciate a sofa with a little texture or pattern, this works particularly well for homes with history.
Luxurious purple sofas - dramatic and opulent
Purple has a dramatic, regal history. Historically it was incredibly expensive to produce and reserved for nobility. We love how this colour can never be a wallflower. Its popularity is on the rise in 2025 with several notable experts recommending purple basil - a bold, opulent shade of violet to add a splash of luxury to your home. Deeper shades such as this make a wonderful choice for snugs and studies. Our sofa suggestion for this shade is the delicious Plum Bertie, the classic Chesterfield suits both period and contemporary properties - it’s absolutely stunning - the jewel coloured gem has timeless elegance and always looks impeccable.
Our tip for period properties is to consider shades such as lilac and mauve which provide the perfect complement to natural stone and wood.
Sunshine yellow sofas
If you want to inject vivacious energy into your home - then we’d recommend a joyful yellow like our mustard yellow Albert. Yellow makes it feel like the sun is shining even when it’s grey outside. We love the mood boost and how when paired with natural light, you almost feel like you are soaking up the rays. For a cocooning effect, try something that is a little more grown up like a gold (our Sunday wears a beautiful old gold well) - you’ll find it brings warmth but also soothes.
Green goddess sofas
Bring life and nature into your rooms with a touch of botanical inspiration. Green is nature’s neutral, sitting in the middle of the colour spectrum, it’s the perfect blend of warm and cool meaning it works in almost any room. Lighter greens like celadon and olive are fantastic for living areas whilst darker emerald shades work beautifully to create a serene atmosphere in bedrooms.
Sitting pretty - pink sofas
How could we not mention our hottest colour? Pink is the colour of empowerment. We love the energy it brings to a room, its playful quality. Our Albert in Pink Cerese is no wallflower, unabashedly bold, this sofa speaks of unbridled joy with a fair dose of ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude… We all want to be THAT person and own THAT sofa! We love this paired with our maximalist accessories and lamps - after all - why not go all in with a dose of maximalist dopamine decor!
