Feel the need to escape this winter? Create your own getaway by surrounding yourself with soothing colours, and the feeling may pass. That’s the message of leading architectural paint brand PARA Paints.

“Colour is a powerful tool to create mood in a room, and the notion of colour therapy takes this one step further. Discover how you can use colour to actually feel better in a room,” says Melanie Rice, Colour Advisor for PARA Paints and member of the international colour forecaster Color Marketing Group. Colour therapy is a technique that makes use of various shades and tones to naturally balance people’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energies while stimulating the body’s healing process.

Colour and Mood

Statistics show that more than 600,000 Canadians may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). “Experts say the weather outside has a direct impact on our mood and behaviours, yet certain colours can counteract feelings of sadness, particularly in people who are easily affected by climate,” says Rice. Colour has often been connected with the art of healing. In the past, cures have included the use of coloured gems, wraps of coloured cloths on injured areas, and medicines made of dyes from animals and plants.

Suggestions

To effectively beat the winter “blahs,” Rice recommends these colours to help brush off Old Man Winter:

• Blues. Top blue colour therapy picks include PARA Paints’ Inner Peace (P1619-4) and Moonlit (P1565-1), selected for their soothing attributes and connection with water. Associated with such feelings as serenity, harmony and peace, soft blues create a calming environment.
• Reds. If you connect with red, then use its warmth and energy to recharge your batteries. Splash these colours on accessories or an accent wall and even the dullest room will come alive, and so will you. Feel-good earthy reds – such as PARA Paints From the Heart (P343-8) and Red Pepper (P364-3) – are ideal for an intimate conversation area or a romantic bedroom.
• Greens. Like nature, the colour green – particularly muted green – is known for its regenerating and calming qualities. Hues like PARA Paints’ Walk on the Beach (P824-1) and Annapolis Valley Tint 2 (P2084-1) help deliver instant harmony and inner clarity.
• Yellows. A universal shade of happiness, mellow yellows – such as PARA Paints’ Golden Sand (P710-1) and Devonshire Cream (P723-4) – are known to promote memory, clear thinking and good judgment. They also infuse a healthy dose of optimism.
• Neutrals. A recent survey of PARA Paints dealers across Canada identifies neutrals as the most requested paint tones by customers. Beyond bringing warmth to a room, neutral hues – such as sandy taupes and creamy whites – can be uplifting, offering a stress release from life’s daily pressures. Many high end spas often feature off-whites and pale earth tones for this reason. PARA’s neutral colour therapy choices for 2007 are White Sand (P1825-4), Gentle Hush (P1977-1) and Natural Grandeur (P2703-1). “To fully benefit from the effects of colour therapy, try a combination of colours, either within one room or applied separately in different rooms,” Rice suggests. “Create your own personal oasis according to your tastes and needs. With the right mix of colours on your walls, you may just wonder where the winter went.”

This article was provided by Para Paints. For more information and tips on choosing paint colours, visit www.para.com , drop by your local PARA Paints dealer, or call 1 800 461 PARA.