If you’re trying to design a room to be quiet and serene, perhaps for a waiting room in an office block, for a restaurant, for a home study or bedroom or even for a museum or display, then there are lots of things you can do to help create a quiet and gentle aura. One method is to use a CD with some calming music on it playing in the background. This can be something like a New Age meditation album, or maybe just some chilled out jazz, or classical music (Mozart is thought to be particularly relaxing and there are many compilations designed to collect the most soothing classical tracks). Next make sure you use dull and ‘quiet’ tones when painting the room. No loud whites or reds, but warm colours such as blues and yellows to help prevent the room from being too bright. At the same time the lights should be fairly dim, maybe even using candles to create a flickering and gently dancing lights which can be quite restful and hypnotic.