Pairing colours in residential architecture for different interior types

Abstract

Most colour studies focus on single colour effects; however, interiors are multi-coloured environments and contemporary users are looking for more innovative colour schemes in interiors. Interior architects rely on their own subjective experience and instincts when they take up the challenge. This study aims to reveal colour semantics of paired colours on walls for different residential interior types (eg, living room) as a second part of the previous study conducted by the same authors. Both studies explore colour semantics through 42 Munsell colours (with variety of hues, value, and chroma levels) with 14 adjectives (eg, beautiful, unpleasant, cold) under controlled conditions. The predecessor study had explored single colour meanings, however, in this study, participants were asked to pair colours for the same residential interior types on the same semantic scales. Thus, its results can be compared to single colour data on different residential interior types through same methodology and participants. Results reveal that all colour attributes affect semantics paired wall colours. Orange is associated with negative meanings more whereas yellow hue induces positive meanings more for all adjective pairs, except cold-warm and feminine-masculine. For positive association, lighter colours and less saturated colours are selected more compared to saturated and darker colours. Comparing results of single colour study and the current study reveals that pairs cannot be anticipated through single colours for all residential interior types and adjectives, and positive adjectives tend to require different colours than their single associations in their pairs.