Use a strong colour on the lower part of the walls, from picture rail down, and a lighter colour above and over the ceiling. This will make the room appear more enclosed.
	A dark colour on ceiling and walls down to dado height, with a lighter colour on the lower part of the walls to match the floor, changes a room's proportions.
	Floor and ceiling in a similar colour, with the walls painted a lighter colour will seem to widen the room.
	Lower a ceiling visually by painting the ceiling and the walls above the picture rail in a deep tone. Paint the walls, from the picture rail down, a light colour.
	To give the feeling of airiness and space, paint the walls to match the floor and use pale, cool colours.
	A warm, deep colour on short end walls with a lighter colour on the adjoining longer walls will make a long, narrow room appear more evenly proportioned.

Rule of thumb; two thirds one colour, one third another.

Colour personality - Proportions, contrast and effects with colour

Colour is a way people express their creativity. Choice of particular colours says a lot about the way we feel and want to feel. Colours have traditional values and associations, and people's attitudes to colour are very much influenced by these values and associations. So what do certain colours signify?

Red is a traditional symbol of love, romance, courage, danger, passion and rage. It gives an impression of richness and luxury and is an adventurous and ambitious colour.

Orange is a social and exuberant colour and represents ripeness, warmth and happiness. If used extensively, orange can be a very forceful colour.

Yellow is the brightest of all colours and has the greatest illuminating power. It is warm and cheerful and stimulates activity and communication, circulation and appetite. It can also, however, indicate a tendency to be frivolous and superficial.

Green indicates a well-balanced personality and is conservative, traditional and conventional. It inspires feelings of restfulness, freshness and informality.

Violet is the colour of royalty and is associated with noble traits such as love, truth and justice. It is dramatic, sophisticated and sensual and indicates an imaginative and lateral-thinking personality. It can also indicate a lack of realism and feeling of self-importance. It also has the ability to lower blood pressure and respiratory rates.

Blue is a colour of peace, tranquillity and wisdom and can generate a sense of well-being. Blue gives the impression of space and coolness and represents serenity, loyalty and truth.

Black represents an absence of light and colour, but can be a deep and restful contrast. It is sophisticated, elegant, dramatic and formal and gives a feeling of solid strength. It can be powerful, aloof and intimidating.

White symbolises light, triumph, innocence and joy and it gives the effect of enlarging a space. White can indicate an individualistic and idealistic personality and it creates an atmosphere of coolness.

For more information on colour groups visit Carolyn's colour corner