Have you ever noticed that the atmosphere of the rooms in your house has an effect on your mood, energy level or feelings? One of the most important variables in a room that will determine its overall effect is its colors. Let’s take a look at what colors have what affects:
RED
Red is a powerful color that can draw attention and has even been found to stimulate brain activity and increase heart rate. Feng Shui says that front doors that are painted red are lucky. Red, while the color of passion and desire (red roses, fire, blood, lipstick), can also signal danger or warning (think stop signs or red lights) and is also associated with feelings of anger. Traditional movie theaters used red curtains, seats, and carpets to capture a sense of drama. Red is a color that should be avoided as the main color of a room. However, red is a fantastic color to use as an accent. A red accessory on the mantelpiece or a vase of red flowers on the granite countertops can draw the eye to the nicer things in the house.
BLUE
Blue is known for calming and relaxing, which makes it a great color for bedrooms. Blue is the color of the sea and the sky. Spending time in a blue room is a great way to de-stress. Blue is also associated with cleanliness and freshness, making it a good color for bathrooms. Be careful with dark blues as they can be perceived as cold, hostile or depressing.
YELLOW
Yellow is a happy color (Smiley Faces). Yellow is a great color to brighten up a dark room like a basement that tends to be depressing. Yellow also works great in rooms with lots of natural light, especially with lots of greens like plants on a terrace with potted plants or French doors leading to an outside garden.
Yellow is a great color that I recommend for kitchens, hallways, living rooms, playrooms and offices, but avoid bedrooms as it can be too energetic and intense.
GREEN
Green is the color of life and balance. Green stimulates peace and tranquility and is located in the center of the color spectrum. Green rooms will seem alive (plants). Green works in harmony with water, making it a great color for bathrooms. Green works well for bedrooms, which is where you set your balance for the day when you wake up and reset it when you go to sleep. Green works well for studying environments.
WHITE
Whit is associated with purity, order, cleanliness. White is the brightest color and bounces back a ton of light. White is the “Modern” color, you will find that most contemporary architectural style homes are white. White can also increase the perception of space, so it can make rooms appear more spacious. Be careful with too much white or it could make a room look clinical. Hospitals use white to create a feeling of sterility.
ORANGE:
Orange evokes emotion, enthusiasm and is an energetic color (orange juice, sunrise). While not a good idea for bedrooms, this color is great for an exercise room, dining room, or any other space where you entertain and entertain. Orange is considered the color of creativity.
PURPLE:
Purple is a spiritual and royal color. Many psychics wear purple in their reading rooms. Purple encourages introspection and is a great color for bedrooms and bathrooms.
BLACK:
Black absorbs light. Black provides a striking backdrop for accent colors and creates depth. Black can be perceived as bold, mysterious and independent. Black also represents death, and it is very dark, use it with care.
BROWN:
The color of the earth, Brown can create a feeling of grounding, familiarity, and comfort. Leather sofas and hardwood floors are two common sources of brown in homes. I always think of Ski Lodges when I think of brown, they have so many natural woods and browns in their design that they feel very homely. Brown is a masculine color, think of jeans.
GRAY:
Wise, neutral, flexible. Gray is a great color to use if you want to make a room look more mature or bring it closer to a neutral tone. Everything goes with gray.