THEY reveal personality, alter moods, impress or astonish with a bold display. For some interior designers, colours are the power of nature – and businessmen and householders are increasingly using them with flair to stunning effect in Yangon.

An interior designer from Zealmen Decoration has noticed this development over the past four years. “People used to decorate in pastels, and colour use in about 80 percent of the property industry was very simple. But lately, more people are willing to consult with the decorators or architects, instead of choosing colours themselves,” said Ko Mg Mg Zay Lin.

It’s all about grabbing the customer’s attention. Colour has become a marketing tool.

“Modern use of colour can change people’s tastes. Customers look out for things they can recognize, especially in crowded places like department stores,” Says Ko Mg Mg Zay Lin.

But shade and tint can also say something about the taste of the householder or the culture of the company.

“For instance, some workplaces are painted in the colours of the company logo,” said Ko Mg Mg Zay Lin.

There is less hesitation now about the bold use of colours in wild combinations: red and gold, black and gold, turquoise and red-orange, he said, adding that these matches can help places look more distinctive.

Think how many people in the city want their place to look unusual and contemporary. Ko Mg Mg Zay Lin recalls a client who had an impressive colonial-style building. “But what is strange is that the entire decoration was painted in black and gold. It made for a combination of modernity and the antique.”

The most popular decoration at present involves the use of the most basic direct opposites: black and white. “In the past, people were superstitious and reluctant to use this striking combination in decoration. But today there are many more shops and houses that look stunning in black and white.”

So why do people prefer one colour to another in decoration? For an experienced decorator, said Ko Mg Mg Zay Lin, choosing colour is the most important and final finishing touch in both interior and exterior decoration.

“It’s like a woman choosing the colour of her lipstick to match the makeup she wears. If she wears one that doesn’t match, she won’t look her best even if she’s a goddess. And if the colours you use for walls, ceiling and floor don’t match, you won’t get the best effect.”

This is his advice if you are stuck for ideas when trying to decide what colour scheme to choose for your place. “It is important to take account of decoration designs, location and natural lighting. Slight variations in the use of colour can make buildings appear more expressive, larger or smaller.”

“For public places like hospitals, warm colours are suitable, and makes it easy to see that the walls are kept clean. But pre-schools should be painted with multicolour to help the children feel active.”

Colour not only changes things visually, it is also connected with people’s state of mind and feelings, he said. It can influence the behaviour and mood of the people who use these spaces.

“Sometimes we are influenced by colours. We can feel dull or fresh according to the decoration of the place. The right choice of colours can help you feel lively and derive pleasure.”

Whatever we choose, we can’t deny that they are always around us. So, it isn’t too much to say: colour is the power of nature.