Pink is said to be the most romantic colour but is also believed to reduce energy.

TO make your home or apartment stylish and attractive, it’s important to choose the right colour scheme and match it with other home decorations, says U Maung Maung Zay Lin, managing director from Zeal Men Decoration.

“Colours have an effect on people’s nervous system so when we decorate the home or office we have to choose a colour based on the usage of the space and what kind of effect we want to create,” he said.

“For example, for an office to be neat and tidy we should choose grey and white colours, while for something like a busy shop you want a blend of colours.”

Colours affect our mind by conveying different meanings and creating emotions, so it’s important to know the meaning of colours before you paint your house.

Green
Currently the most popular decorating colour, green symbolises nature. It is arguably the easiest colour on the eye and is supposed to improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing colour. People feel more relaxed in green rooms.

Blue
The colour of the sky and the ocean, blue is another popular colour. Peaceful and tranquil, blue causes the body to produce calming chemicals, so it is often used in bedrooms. People are said to be more productive in blue rooms and, believe it or not, studies show weightlifters are able to handle heavier weights in blue gyms.

White
White symbolises innocence and purity and also reflects light. It is often considered a summer colour. White is popular in decorating and fashion because it is light, neutral, and seems to go with everything.

Pink
The most romantic colour, pink is something of a tranquiliser. Sporting clubs sometimes paint the locker rooms used by opposing teams bright pink in the belief their opponents will lose energy.

Red
The most emotionally intense colour, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also often called the colour of love. In decorating, red is usually used as an accent. Decorators say that red furniture needs to be perfect because it is sure to attract attention.

Yellow
Cheerful, sunny yellow is certainly an attention-getter. But while it is generally considered an optimistic colour, people are prone to losing their temper more often in yellow rooms, and babies will cry more. However, yellow is reputed to enhance concentration.

Purple
The colour of royalty, purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic. However, because it is rare in nature, purple can appear artificial.

Grey
Grey is the symbol for security, maturity and dependability. It lends a feeling of responsibility and conservative practicality. People who favour grey can be the lonely type or narrow-minded.

Brown
Solid, reliable brown is the colour of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown resembles wood or leather. Brown can also be a sad and wistful colour.

Beige
Beige is a neutral colour with some of the warmth of brown and the crisp, coolness of white. Used effectively it can be a relaxing colour for a room. On its own beige is a calm, neutral background.