Designing for the Senses: Colour, Wellbeing, and the Emotional Home

22 September 2026

On 16th September, we hosted a panel talk at Focus/26, exploring the impact of colour on emotional wellbeing. The conversation brought together maker and designer Jesse du Preez, Professor Stephen Westland, and Harlequin designer Flora Daly, and was hosted by Noni Ware, Editor at House & Garden. Here, we round up some of the key takeaways from the discussion.

Harlequin designer Flora Daly holding up an embroidered fabric with elephant and animal motifs during the Focus/26 panel

How do we respond to colour?

While colour exerts minimal influence on physiological markers such as heart rate, its power over emotional perception and spatial experience is profound. Professor Stephen Westland highlighted that this interplay between hue and human emotion is increasingly studied through virtual reality, offering new precision in mapping how curated environments alter mood.

Strategic applications demonstrate this psychological weight. The implementation of blue lighting across selected Japanese railway stations coincided with measurable drops in distress incidents, prompting similar installations at Heathrow to encourage calm and deter antisocial behaviour.

This dynamic invites a broader consideration for luxury residential design: how can deliberate palette choices enhance daily life? Surrounding oneself with hues and objects that elicit a genuine personal resonance, rather than adhering to transient trends, elevates the residence into a restorative, uplifting sanctuary.

A guest filling in a sample request card beside open Harlequin fabric books at the Focus/26 panel talk

Colour in context

Colour carries no singular, static meaning. Red, for instance, evokes passion, yet its semiotic impact shifts entirely depending on application; a silk gown, luxury packaging, or an emergency fixture each communicate distinct messages.

Our emotional response to palette is dictated by context, cultural lineage, and personal memory. In high-end interiors, context determines whether a shade feels energising, intimate, or grounding.

Three Focus/26 visitors leafing through a Harlequin pattern book in front of a wall of fabric hangers

Building confidence with colour

We've never had greater access to colour, yet many people still feel apprehensive about using it in their homes. With colour playing such an important role in how a space makes us feel, building confidence with it can be a simple way to create interiors that support our sense of wellbeing and bring us joy. For those unsure where to begin, Jesse suggested starting with a transitional space such as a hallway.

Because it's a space you pass through rather than spend prolonged periods of time in, a hallway offers the perfect opportunity to experiment. It allows you to be a little braver, discover which colours positively affect your mood and gradually become more confident introducing them throughout the rest of your home.

The Focus/26 panel talk in progress, with the host and panellists seated in front of Harlequin fabric and wallpaper displays

Colour beyond the home

The relationship between colour and wellbeing extends beyond the home and into the commercial spaces we experience every day. Jesse highlighted how thoughtful choices around colour, texture and materials can help create environments that feel welcoming, comfortable and emotionally engaging, while still being sympathetic to their surroundings.

Discussing a current coastal project, Jesse explained how they are using colour and texture to create a sense of connection to the landscape. In the bathroom, tadelakt was chosen for its beautifully tactile finish, reminiscent of the grit and texture of sand. Vibrant blues, oranges and greens introduce energy and personality, creating an eclectic, earth-inspired palette that connects the interior to its coastal setting.

It's a reminder that designing for wellbeing isn't simply about choosing colours traditionally considered calming. It's about considering how colour, texture and our surroundings work together to shape how a space makes us feel.

Guests talking and laughing among Harlequin fabric and wallpaper displays after the Focus/26 panel

Start with what you love

When it comes to creating a home that supports your own sense of wellbeing, there's no single palette that works for everyone. Noni suggested starting with something you already love, whether that's a piece of art or even a well-worn item of clothing you're instinctively drawn to.

Use this as your reference point, identifying the colours, textures and patterns that resonate with you, then allow your scheme to grow from there. By surrounding yourself with colours and objects that bring you joy, rather than simply following trends, you can create a home that feels personal, authentic and ultimately makes you feel good.