Designer Talks: How Synesthesia Shapes the YesColours Palette

In this exclusive Designer Talk filmed at Decorex, our Lead Colour Consultant Emily Harnasz hosts a Q&A with YesColours Co-Founder Emma Bestley and Lauren Davis. Together, they explore the emotional impact of colour, the power of synesthesia in design, and how to create spaces that feel as good as they look.

A Little About Us

At YesColours, we believe colour isn’t just visual — it’s emotional, sensory, and deeply personal. That’s why our paint palettes are created not just to complement interiors, but to support the people who live and work in them, and how they want to feel in that space.

A key part of this approach comes from our Co-Founder and Creative Partner, Emma Bestley, who experiences a rare neurological condition called grapheme–colour synesthesia. It’s a trait that allows her to perceive letters, numbers, and even days of the week as colours — a unique way of seeing the world that’s become central to the way we design.

What Is Synesthesia – and Why Does It Matter in Design?

Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sense triggers an automatic, involuntary response in another. For Emma, this means that something as simple as hearing a day of the week evokes a specific colour — Monday is bright red, the number seven is cobalt blue, and February is lush grass green.

While this may sound abstract, it gives Emma an extraordinary ability to connect colour with emotion. And in the world of interiors and paint, that emotional sensitivity is incredibly powerful.

From Intuition to Innovation: How Our Palette Is Built

The YesColours colour palette isn’t built around trends. It’s built around feeling.

Emma’s synesthesia, combined with her experience in art, advertising, and design, helps guide a creative process that’s both intuitive and evidence-based. Her perception of colour goes beyond aesthetics — it's tied to mood, emotion, and memory.

Each colour we develop is tested not just for how it looks in a space, but how it makes people feel. That’s why you’ll find our paint colours described using emotional language — energising, restorative, calming — because that’s how our palette is meant to function. Hence why our paints are also ordered by feeling.

The Science of Colour and Wellbeing

Modern research in neuroscience, psychology, and environmental design supports what Emma experiences instinctively: colour profoundly influences how we feel and function. Knowing this, we develop our colours based on applied colour science meaning every shade is developed with emotional intention, designed to enhance wellbeing through sensory connection and atmosphere.

Blue tones are known to reduce stress and boost focus — ideal for home offices and creative studios.

Green is associated with calm and clarity — inspired by nature, and perfect for living areas and bedrooms.

Warm neutrals and earthy tones can increase feelings of safety, comfort, and human connection.

Bolder colours, like our bestselling Electric Blue or Dirty Red, can spark creativity, joy, and energy when used with intention.

Our mission at YesColours is to transform this science and intuition into palettes that support emotional wellbeing — at home, at work, and in public spaces.

A Tool for Designers and Homeowners Alike

Whether you’re an interior designer, architect, property developer, or someone refreshing your home, our palette was created with you in mind.

Each colour is thoughtfully crafted to:

• Support mental health and mood regulation
  
• Encourage confidence in bold colour choices
  
• Create spaces that promote focus, relaxation, or joy
  
• Provide designers with a palette that balances beauty and function
  

We’re proud to work with trade partners, design professionals, and creative homeowners alike to bring emotionally intelligent colour into everyday spaces.

A Colour System Designed to Feel

At its core, YesColours is more than just paint. It’s a response to how colour makes us feel, behave, and connect — guided by a creative process that’s as personal as it is purposeful.

Emma’s synesthesia offers a rare insight into the world of sensory design, and we’ve built a brand around that sensitivity. It helps us create palettes that don’t just look beautiful — they feel meaningful.

Need Help Choosing the Right Colour?

If you’re looking for support in choosing paint colours that align with the energy and function of your space, our team is here to help.

Book a free colour consultation with our Lead Colour Consultant, Emily Harnasz, and let us help you design with emotion, intention, and clarity.