Psychological Effects of Paint Colors

Choosing a paint color is an important part of interior design. It can bring a room together, making the design feel complete. However, choosing the wrong color can also put a damper on your mood. It's true and well known that colors have a psychological effect on us, but many forget this fact when choosing paint colors. This guide will help you determine what colors are ideal for your home based on their psychological effects.

How Paint Color Affects Your Mood

Cooler colors, such as blues, purples and greens, can invoke feelings of calm, peace and happiness. These colors are ideal when choosing to paint a room in which you'll want to relax in, such as a living room, a bedroom or a bathroom.

Of course, you don't have to choose bright, vibrant shades of these colors. Even a hint of blue or green in the paint can have the ideal effect.

On the other end of the spectrum, warmer colors (think oranges, yellows and reds,) can have the exact opposite effect. These colors can provoke feelings of energy or anger, depending on what context they're used in as well as what feelings the person may already be experiencing. For example, if you've have a bad day at work, coming home to a red living room might only worsen your anger without you even realizing it.

This is exactly why choosing the right colors is so important. While choosing a bright, vibrant color for your office (think a sunny, cheery yellow) might help motivate you throughout your work day, that same yellow in your bedroom might keep you up at night. Just as a cool, calming blue in your bedroom might make your productivity flounder if it's used in your home office.

Psychological Effects of Specific Colors

Red is often associated with multiple emotions on both ends of the spectrum including love, anger, danger, violence or passion. In some countries, red is a hostile color that should be avoided, while for some, it represents luck (China) or purity (India.) If you want to use red in your home, consider using it in the kitchen or bedroom, but avoid using it in a living room as it can be overwhelming and have ill effects on the mind.

Orange is an energy color and often provokes memories of things like fall. Unlike red, orange can be used in many rooms because it produces an energetic feeling. Consider using red in a kitchen, living room or home office but avoid using it in a bedroom, as it could keep you up at night.

Yellow is often associated with warmth, summertime and happiness. When using orange, refer to the same rules as orange. It can be used in nearly any room in the home, but avoid using in the bedroom for the above-mentioned reasons.

Green is a natural color which can be soothing, renewing and calming. Thanks to these aspects, green is a close second when it comes to favorite colors. Green can be used in bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms, but avoid using it in a home office or other workspace, as it may deter you from completing tasks.

Last, but not least, blue world-renowned for being a safe, calming color. It can create tranquility, stability, calm and happiness when used in rooms like the bedroom, living room or bathroom. Much like green, it shouldn't be used in a workspace, as it can prevent you from getting work done.

Of course, there are plenty of other colors and not every has the same reaction to every color. When choosing a color for your paint job, be sure to choose one that reflects not only the space, but what mood you wish to portray as well.

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Additional Information:

Bloomsburg University: Colors and Moods

Care2: The Psychology Behind Paint Color