We're big fans of love here at Temple & Webster. We love our homes, we love our families, and we love our friends regardless of their race, gender, or how many Pet Shop Boys albums they may own. So to celebrate this weekend's 36th Annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the T&W Creative team have gone totally gay for colour. The task was simple - fight over a colour from the rainbow, write about why you love or loathe it, and line up like a schmuck for modern family photo. To all you colour lovers out there, we hope you enjoy. Happy Mardi Gras everyone!


(Image via Bludot.)

Chris Deal - Creative Director
No matter what the hippie love-in egalitarian colour wheel may tell you, red ain't just another colour on the spectrum - red is the king of the colour jungle. Red is wild. Red is angry. Red is up all night, starting revolutions, and seducing your husbands. In other words, red is unquestioningly bold. There was no audition process for red when the traffic light was invented. Red says "Oi! Hold it right there. I don't care how important you THINK you are - you're going to sit there until I tell my mate green to let you go". Red is a colour marinated in power and energy, and thus one that in my opinion should be used strategically in decorating and design.


(Image via Pinterest.)

Denise Braki - Chief Photographer
Most people may not associate the colour orange with calmness, but for me, its exactly that. Its a vivid reminder of the day winding down to a spectacular sunset doesn't go unnoticed, with the sky lighting up with all the shades of this beautiful colour. There is a gorgeous warmth in orange, with most mediterranean homes commonly using terracotta/orange tiles on their roof and quite often painting their houses in this colour.


(Image via Pinterest.)

Tom Zust - Junior Designer
As I'm sure we all recall, Chris Martin from Coldplay sang "it was all yellow". For some reason. And while I'm sure those lyrics mean something poignant and relevant, it's probably not the best interior decorating advice. Yellow is bold, vibrant and mockingly happy. It's best used in small doses and accents - no one likes things that are relentlessly peppy all the time because that's just annoying.


(Image from House and Hold.)

Cat Kerr - Lead Designer
Green is the colour of rejuvenation. Executed well, it makes for a harmonious backdrop in interiors; partly because we see it so frequently in nature, but mostly because there's just something so tranquil about the colour. Whether you use hues of mint or emerald in your decor, or literally bring plants inside, green will make a space feel alive. Try mixing it with accents of copper (my favourite finish at the moment) for a touch of contrast.


(Image from Anamoelle Interiores.)

Adam Powell - Senior Stylist
With over 80% of Australians living on or around the coast, it's no wonder we are attracted to the color blue. It's an easy and calming color to work back into your home. In my eyes though, the brighter the better.


(Image via Style by Emily Henderson)

Jessica Bellef - Head of Styling
Indigo has been the star of many shelter mags recently. Dramatic inky blues have been liberally splashed on the walls, shibori fabrics thrown on sofas and the odd navy cow hide laid on the floor, often resulting in an intensely layered blue explosion that is part rock star and part gypsy. I don't mind this punchy use of midnight blue, but my preferred application is in a few select hero items in this gutsy shade - like an indigo throw and cushion on top of a patterned blue rug - and then using neutrals or nudes for the rest of the space. Sophisticated warmth added to an indigo palette will create a comfortable space that isn't too cool for school.


(Image from SF Girl By Bay.)

Emmaly Stewart - Junior Stylist
I'll be honest, I don't really like violet. I like pink but unfortunately it wasn't in the rainbow. That said, I'm learning to love the lilac, and for me it's all about how you use it with other colours and tones. Too much violet, or the wrong shade is just overbearing. It's a bit like Vegemite - you'd never eat it straight from the jar, but with bread and butter it just works. Take this room for example: it uses texture and violet to create a sense of warmth. The combination of purple, metallics and chartreuse for me are a total winner. But I still like pink.