It must be remembered that few dark colours can assert themselves in the absolute shadow of a north light.

Green and blue become black.

Gold, orange, and red alone have sufficient power to hold their own, and make us conscious of them in darkness.
In a hall which has plenty of light, but no sun, red is an effective and natural colour, copper-coloured leather paper, cushions and rugs or carpets of varying shades of red, and transparent curtains of the same tint give an effect of warmth and vitality.

Red is truly a delightful colour to deal with in shadowed interiors, its sensitiveness to light, changing from colour-tinted darkness to palpitating ruby, and even to flame colour, on the slightest invitation of day-or lamp-light, makes it like a living presence.

It is especially valuable at the entrance of the home, where it seems to meet one with almost a human welcome.
If we can succeed in making what would be a cold and unattractive entrance hospitable and cordial by liberal use of warm and strong colour, by reversing the effort we can just as easily modify the effect of glaring, or overpowering, sunlight.
Suppose the entrance-hall of the house to be upon the sunny side of the street, where in addition to the natural effect of full rays of the sun there are also the reflections from innumerable other house-fronts and house-windows.
In this case we must simulate shadow and mystery, and this can be done by the colour-tones of blues and greens.