With a focus on serotonin dressing or better known as happy dressing, the home and its interiors have needed more attention.
Happy dressing has some science behind it, the belief is that dressing in colours, and what you wear makes you feel good, you are more productive, less stressed, and generally happier. With all the positives, why have people been less likely to apply these attributes to their homes? Within the UAE we are surrounded by a beige landscape and warm sunlight tones, a pop of colour could be a welcome addition to an otherwise beige environment. So many are afraid to use colour and struggle with knowing, which is best to use, what works and how to apply it. Colour is a powerful tool and to get it wrong there can be strong implications. You are surrounded by it; cannot be escaped from, and it will be noticed if wrong every time you step into a room. Get it right; well then you will never want to leave.
Jade and Gallia at shell+core, an Abu Dhabi based interior design firm know that if you get it wrong, it not only looks wrong but can affect moods and attitudes towards things. When they are working on commercial interior design projects it is so important to get the balance ‘just right’ between the client and the customers that will use the space. They suggest starting slow in your home: “We would suggest subtle integrations of colour through items that can be replaced or easily changed; think soft furnishings, art and decorative pieces. That way, your palettes can evolve with your style, and still add a touch of character and personality.”
There is a focus on neutral homes, beige, brown and all tones in between, the UAE as a renter’s market often finds that UAE residents fear adding colour, or just do not want to commit. Nada Debs, a Lebanese designer living and working in Beirut and Dubai believes that UAE residents are looking for something timeless. “The neutral colours offer that for them. Colour should be added as accents and gives more freedom to play with the interiors. It also feels safer, and one won’t get tired of a colour overload.”
The question should be ‘how best to add colour’; and what key items are worth focusing on? It could be easy to rush the process and add colourful sofas, bedding, some flowers and think that it is complete. With this haphazard approach, you are more inclined to notice it as a sharp contrast to the neutrals in place in your home. So, asking colour enthusiast and Dubai based interior designer Emilie from Stella and the Stars how best to add colour to a home for maximum effect she has some great advice for newly converted colour lovers that wish to get some happy into their homes:
“Having pops of colour in your interiors adds depth and interest” says Emilie. She understands that some may find it overwhelming or even a scary task to start the process, her advice is to ‘choose one that speaks to your soul!’ A great way of knowing what your ‘soul’ wants is to have a look at your wardrobe. Often you are drawn to certain palettes or tones and that is a great starting point in the home. With the colour confirmed where should you start? “For a living room, it could be a rug, for example, something that will add a focal point to an otherwise neutral colour palette. For a bedroom, it could be as bold as painting the walls or as small as a set of decorative cushions on the bed. If you are feeling like painting the wall in a different colour could be overwhelming, how about painting halfway up the walls?” is Emilie’s advice.
There are so many ways to have fun with colour that is easily reversible, nothing is forever in your home and in a renter’s market it is often more important for the colour to be temporary.
The key is to go with your gut feeling and not worry about what other people think! Everyone has a different set of colours that makes them happy, that they have an emotional reaction to, those colours are the ones that should be in the home. It is often the case in UAE rental homes that kitchens and bathrooms are not the best, that tiles can be ugly and that staying neutral is the easiest and best option to avoid clashing or drawing attention to the not-so-attractive parts. However, there is a solution to every problem, if the kitchen splashbacks are not the best, apply temporary sticky back tiles, bathrooms are not great then have them wrapped by a professional company that specialises in renters’ homes. It creates a blank canvas to start a not-so-neutral home. Start small, invest wisely and after time the home with a new sprinkling of colour will start to feel like your happy place, and you will not want to leave.
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