How Color Can Impact Your Mood in Your Home
Imagine walking into a home and feeling a sense of calmness rush over you. Picture entering your kitchen or living room, and noticing an energy boost or even a change in your mood. It’s not unusual to feel a little happier coming home from a long day of work — however, it might be more than just the comfort of your own home making you feel this way.
It’s not a coincidence that restaurateurs typically decide on red walls or accents for their space, as the color is known for increasing appetite. Libraries or study rooms tend to have walls painted green to promote a peaceful space where people can focus. Color is often overlooked when it comes to residential interior design — white walls have become the trend in most homes. White is a great choice for a base; however, incorporating color into your space has the potential to not only transform your home, but also your mood and wellbeing. Keep on reading to find out the impact of each color, and how to best utilize it in your home.
Red
It’s best to use this color in areas where you want people to feel a sense of power, hunger and passion. Red has been shown to increase heart rate and raise blood pressure, making it a poor color choice for bedrooms. Often, red can be found in dining rooms and kitchens — as it increases appetite and promotes attentiveness. Unless the aim of your home is to feed (literally) power hungry individuals, keep red to a minimum.
Pink
See the world through rose-tinted glasses. Pink is a versatile color that, in the western world, is associated with femininity — but in other cultures, it can be masculine. It can leave you feeling optimistic and confident. Pink is passionate like red, however, it’s a more tender passion that’s comforting, calming, and kind. It’s a good choice for kids bedrooms, or bathrooms and closets.
Blue
Everyone loves blue — and it’s for a good reason. Blue is known to encourage creativity, enthusiasm, and communication. On the other hand, it can also help people relax, unwind, and calm down in times of stress. Since it’s so versatile, you can’t go wrong with where you use blue throughout your home. Paint your bedroom walls blue, incorporate blue art or decorative pieces in the living room, or even use it in the kitchen.
Orange
Known to be an active and energetic color, orange can and should be used throughout your home to promote optimism, courage, and vitality. Use it as an accent color in bedrooms, or choose orange chairs for a home office since it’s great for boosting self-confidence, sociability, and creativity.
Yellow
Warm and inviting, use it in your living room to make guests feel welcomed and keep your family member’s happy. Snag that bright, yellow couch or those decorative pillows. Buy yourself some sunflowers. Splurge on a new rug to make your home feel vibrant. Yellow increases awareness and energy, so it can also be a great color for livening up hallways throughout the house.
Green
A multi-faceted color promoting calmness, while also making you feel refreshed and alive. If you’re wanting your home to feel harmonious and balanced, try using green throughout the living room or study. The shade of green can change the feeling of your home, so be precise about the vision you want. Brighter greens tend to be more active and refreshing, while darker, olive, and forest greens can encourage relaxation.
Purple
Both feminine and masculine, purple is a good choice for rooms shared by both genders, or somewhere that you want to be gender-neutral. Exuding royalty, wealth, and luxury, purple can transform your space into something more sophisticated and posh. Use purple in bedrooms, lounges, or your dining room.
White
It suggests purity and simplicity and is the most common choice for a base color in your home. White is great because it’s bright and has the ability to expand your space — making it look larger than it is and an excellent choice for small rooms. However, white walls paired with white decor and furniture might make your place look sterile and uninviting — and not to mention it’s not an ideal environment for kids. Stick to white as a base color and add pops of color throughout the home to create a space that embodies sophistication, as well as spunk.
Black
Use it sparingly throughout your home, as too much black can be overpowering, darkening, and depress your mood. If used as an accent color or to contrast the light colors in your home, black can add a sense of sophistication, contrast, and boldness. Paired with white, it can make your space feel modern and exude confidence. Sprinkle black touches throughout your kitchen or bedroom to create sleekness, or use it in your office.