THE COLORTHINKING FUNCTIONAL APPROACH

Colsam has always believed and invested in the power of colour, which transforms places, enhances objects and encourages social interaction, becoming a source on new experiences and a promoter of well-being.

WHEN
COLOUR ENLIVENS
THE SPACE

Colour radically influences the way we view an environment, as each shade triggers physical, physiological and psychological reactions that impact our nervous system and mood in various ways. For example, a dull and boring setting, or one that is too colourful and dispersive, is tiresome and worsens our mood, while a balanced colour scheme can enhance efficiency and reduce stress, while also protecting eyesight. It is amply proven that colour transcends merely aesthetic concerns and can be decisive in determining our quality of life if used consciously.

THE FUNDAMENTAL
PRINCIPLES
OF COLOUR
DESIGN

Understanding how colour interacts with our senses is essential to selecting the right shades. Below are a few key factors to consider when choosing colours:

1. EXPOSURE AND NATURAL LIGHT
Carefully assess how the environments are exposed to light, by observing how natural light changes during the day and the seasons.

2. COLOUR BALANCE
Avoid monochromatic colours or excessive contracts between shades, brightness and saturation. It is important to strike a balance between shades and different temperatures.

3. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLOUR AND THE ENVIRONMMENT’S FUNCTION
It is important to know the function of the space we are designing. The same combination of colours can generate different effects in environments designed for other uses.

4. BRIGHTNESS AND LIGHT REFLECTANCE
Avoid using excessively dark colours, as they absorb light, as well as too many whites, which reflect light.

5. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN COLOUR AND FEELINGS
Be aware of the fact that the colours in an environment influence the way we perceive space, temperature, taste, odour, noise, weight, size and time.

6. ASSESSING THE CONTEXT
Choose a colour by considering how it relates to all the other shades, including those of objects and furnishings, present in the space being arranged.

SUGGESTIONS
FOR A CORRECT
CHROMATIC MOOD

Colsam, together with Massimo Caiazzo, an IACC colour consultant, has defined a few simple guidelines to aid professionals and amateurs in choosing the most suitable colours for each space: based on its extension, the type of surface to be treated and the alternation of colours with different temperatures:

CEILINGS AND WALLS
Since they are the broadest areas, ceilings and walls must also be the brightest. They are generally painted in the lighter shades.

DETAILS
Architectural details such as pillars, recesses or niches are of average size and should therefore be painted in moderately bright colours.

ACCENTS
Smaller areas such as cornices, mouldings, skirting boards and furnishings can be painted in darker shades to highlight specific elements of the room.