Summertime is a season filled with colour and here's some ideas on how you can tap into the positive influences of colour in your everyday life:

Every day of our lives we are affected by colour. The decorative scheme in a room can quicken our spirits; the bright shades of sportswear can boost our energy levels; the food colours on our plates at mealtimes can stimulate appetite. Outdoors, a bank of yellow daffodils in a spring garden may touch us with delight, or the reds and oranges of autumnal trees amaze us. Natural daylight contains the colours of the spectrum that we see displayed in the rainbow that sometimes follows a storm. Our moods and physiological responses are affected by the different combinations of spectrum colours in daylight at various times of the day and in the different seasons of the year.

Colours for soothing and relaxation
Green promotes healing and harmony. Except for its very yellowy lime shades, green is restful on the eye; combining yellow and blue, it is a colour of balance, associated with the heart chakra and feelings of self-acceptance and security. At times of loss, or when we are feeling bruised following a failed love affair or suffering a sense of rejection in the world of work, a green room or a green area in a room offers natural regeneration and a saving, bolstering influence. Green provides balance, but also needs to be balanced itself. Too much green can be stultifying – you can be soothed too much, and end up slipping into lethargy and indolence.

Blue is a colour of rest, making it an excellent stress-buster after a hard day's work. As well as soothing the mind, it encourages muscular relaxation and settled breathing. Colour therapists recommend blue for the treatment of insomnia and the prevention of nightmares. A headache brought on by overwork or worry and tension will gradually ease in a predominantly blue room. Indeed, the majority of people – just over 50 per cent – name blue as their favourite colour, evidently cherishing its restful, nurturing qualities.

Blue-greens have a cooling effect – delightful in a well-lit space or a hot climate, but perhaps inadvisable in a cold, north-facing room. Turquoise and other marine blues, with their hint of sea-pools, summon a profound calm. They are both relaxing and lively, gentle but full of impact. Lighter blues, greens and tints of turquoise retreat from the eye, making a small room appear bigger. They draw us into expansive thought, perhaps encouraging self-sufficiency – for this reason, they may need spicing up with warm, magnetic colours. Marine blues open up space, making them an ideal choice for a very small room such as a cloakroom or shower room.

Each one of us is unique. Finding and using the right colours for you can enhance your spiritual growth, boost your self-esteem, help you to overcome fears and mental obstacles and unleash your creativity, and much more. For more on colour take a closer look at Colour for Life by Charles Phillips.

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