Colour semantics in residential interior architecture on different interior types

Abstract

Colour meaning is a challenging decision in interior architecture during the design process; however, specific meanings within different interior types have not yet been investigated. This study explored colour meaning in the context of residential interior types (eg, bedroom) under controlled conditions using 42 Munsell colours varying in hues, value, and chroma levels, with 14 adjectives (eg, comfortable, pleasant). The results demonstrate that some colours convey the same meanings (eg, vulgar) regardless of type of room; however, others (eg, beautiful) tend to require more complicated and sophisticated colour applications in different residential interiors. The study findings proved that colour meaning in RITs can be affected by all colour attributes. All colours that are named orange and red are selected for both negative and positive meanings. Colours that are named purple are selected less and only for negative connotations. The findings present an overall colour meaning guide for these residential interior types, which will be beneficial for decision makers (interior architects, designers, users) and colour researchers.

Pairing colours in residential architecture for different interior types

“…The single colour study proved that purple is not selected as much as other colours and when it is associated with a meaning in an RIT, it is associated with negative meanings more, which might be related to this phenomenon, purple is about fun and entertainment, thus should not be in a calming (or even in unquiet) house. In contrast with previous interior architecture studies, which demonstrated that green, as a single colour, is related to "home" and "calming," 7 "happiness" (for living rooms) 16 and "beautiful" and "pleasant" (for several RITs), 22 the present study's results do not reveal a lot of green colours for positive adjectives as part of paired wall colours (see Table 3 and Appendix B). These previous studies' results are based on single colours, which might be interpreted as there being a difference between single colour and paired colour associations.…”

“…21,22 The single colour study claimed that the same colour is associated with discreet for all RITs and discreet is perceived as a positive meaning since residential interiors need to be calming and relaxing, which conflict with being loud. 22 The previous study 22 demonstrated that cold hues are related to cold and warm hues are related to warm adjectives. In contrast with this study, the present study findings show that some RITs have cold hue pairs for warm adjectives such as bathroom and toilet (see Appendix B) and vice versa (entrance, corridor, and workroom).…”

“…Moreover, offering innovative interior experience to users relies on more researchbased process, thus interior architects and designers are embracing research methods more and are looking for more reliable sources throughout their design process. 22 More reliable sources in spatial design process are in demand and decision makers credit research studies in the field more than ever before. Slatter and Whitfield 20 stated that users judge appropriateness of colour according to an interior's function through exploring living rooms and bedrooms.…”

“…By asking participants to recall their knowledge and memories, the study aims to obtain colour semantics. This study tries to provide a colour chart for paired colours on RITs' walls and pertain the predecessor study 22 by connoting interiorspecific meanings with different attributes of colour. It was hypothesized that;…”

“…• Some RITs would have the same colour, which they were associated with in the single colour study 22 when asked for their colour pairs. However, some RITs may reveal different colour charts regardless of their single colour associations.…”