Without realizing it, we’re affected by the colors that surround us throughout the day. While the walls of your home may be plastered with the same neutral tone while it’s on the market, part of making it your new home is customizing it to your own preferences. A coat of paint on the walls around you can make a big difference.
Before you head out to the hardware store, however, you should carefully consider your color choices. The right color can create warmth or ignite your appetite. Using basic color psychology, you can realize how experiencing certain colors can change your mood. Here are a few color suggestions for your living space.
Stimulating Conversation
In certain areas of your home, you’ll likely want to encourage conversation. This can include a living room where you regularly welcome guests or the dining room where you enjoy family dinners. For rooms where conversations will often take place, consider bright colors like red and blue. You don’t have to bathe your entire kitchen in vibrant red. Instead consider using vibrant colors as accents throughout the room.
Relaxing
Shades of purple are ideal for rooms where you plan to relax and unwind, such as bedrooms and master baths. These colors can also ignite the imagination, making them ideal for daydreaming or brainstorming ideas for your next home-remodeling project. Consider a rich purple or lavender for these rooms for an instant calming effect after a long, hard day.
Hunger
Since the color red is thought to stimulate hunger, it’s probably best to avoid using it in rooms where you’ll be enjoying late-night TV. However, when used in the kitchen, it can be a great tool to make sure your kids eat dinner rather than playing with their food. It might not be the best color for your dining room walls, but it could be implemented into your placemats or your table’s centerpiece.
Productivity
If you have a home office, productivity is likely your main goal. The color blue has been connected with an increase in productivity. In addition to increasing productivity, blue also has a calming effect, which can help you set aside distractions and focus on the task at hand.
Colors to Avoid
While many people associate yellow with sunshine and long summer days, color psychologists have found it can increase anxiety. Some studies have even found that babies cry more in yellow rooms and some people even go so far as to say the color can exacerbate psychological problems. If you want to use yellow in your decorating scheme, consider using it sparingly and try to avoid it altogether in nurseries and bedrooms. For best results, utilize the relaxing shades mention above in nurseries and children’s rooms.
Whether you’re putting a fresh coat of paint on your walls or upgrading your furnishings, a little color psychology can make your home a more welcoming place. When you carefully choose the right color for each room, you make subtle changes that will have a subliminal impact on everyone who spends time in that room.
