Psychology of Color

Have you been stuck at home more than usual? Of course we all have and while this situation has been vital to our communities health there are impacts and consequences we are still understanding.

One of these has been a potential change in mood as we are unable to go to the gym, socialize with friend, and carry out our normal routines.

What are things you've done to lift your spirits? Ever thought about changing the color on your walls to help with this? Color is a powerful design tool that can make the rooms in your home feel more calm, cheerful, comfortable or dramatic.

Color makes a tiny room feel larger, or a spacious one feel more intimate, without the time and expense of actually moving walls.

You can make a den feel cozy by painting the walls with a warm color, or make a narrow space feel wider by using different colors on opposing walls. The paint colors you choose, as well as the color of the furniture and accessories, all create a mood.

Color is all around us and even in our vocabulary… for example, we may say we feel “blue”. It's part of our being, but for many years color has been excluded from our homes. If I asked you what your favorite color is, I doubt the answer would be gray or beige, so why do we fill our homes with these two colors? It comes down to finding the colors you respond to and that make you feel good.

Deciding on colors for your home can feel like an overwhelming chore, but many paint companies offer online tools and paint collections that help you create a cohesive color palette. One to try out is the ColorSnap Visualizer from Sherwin Williams. Don't be afraid to experiment and use color. With some planning, you can find the colors that will make your home an expression of your style and transform your mood.

Red isn't for the faint of heart. Considered the color of romance and passion, stimulating red is a design tool that heightens the senses. Is Red to bold… what about Pink? A bright, vivid tone like fuchsia suggests energy and glamour. A soft and restrained pink, like blush, or a beige with pink undertones creates a soothing feeling.

If your home needs a jolt of energy, Orange might be what you need. Orange conjures images of citrus fruit or a summer sunset, and represents happiness and innovation. Yellow adds optimism to your home, prompting feelings of happiness in all who enter. Yellow activates memory, stimulates the nervous system, promotes communication and sparks creativity.

Green represents growth and renewal. You associate the color with grassy fields, luscious leaves and other gifts of nature, so it lends a calming feel to a room. Green comes in many shades, so you can create various moods and use its versatility to pair it with a range of other colors. Blue evokes feelings of calm and freshness, and represents strength and dependability. Think of the sky and ocean. The beauty of blue is the elemental color's amazing versatility.

Color can even have an affect on the way other critters react. Have you heard the theory that bees, wasp, and other insects won’t build nest on porch ceilings painted sky blue? If you’d like to test out this theory, try the Sherwin Williams color 9063 Porch Ceiling.

Article by Sarah Ross

Sarah is the owner of FreshCoat Painters, providing professional painting and disinfecting services in the Austin and Hill Country area.

830.468.5320 | ross@freshcoatpainters.com www.freshcoatpainters.com