The colors within a room affect us each and every day. Believe it or not, colors influence our moods and thoughts, so when it comes to decorating, it’s important to choose wisely. Finding the right color combination can be intimidating for beginners, but it doesn’t have to be. If you remember to avoid trends (they come and go), and inform yourself with some basic information about color and its effects, you should do just fine. Here we’ll take a look at colors and how they can influence your mood.
Warm & Cool Colors
Colors can basically be broken down into two broad categories: warm and cool. Warm colors occupy one side of the color wheel and consist of colors such as reds, red-oranges, yellows, and yellow-greens. The colors with warm undertones can make a room feel cozy and intimate. Cool colors, which occupy the other half of the color wheel, have cool undertones. These colors include purples, blues and blue-greens, all of which bring about a calming effect. Even neutrals, or non-colors, such as white, gray and black, fall under these two categories.
The Effects of Color
Colors behave in three basic ways: active, passive and neutral. Light colors tend to be more casual, making rooms seem larger and brighter, while dark colors bring a sophisticated warmth, and more intimate appearance. Here’s a quick glimpse at what effects certain colors can have on a room:
- Red makes a powerful statement with the energy it brings to a room. It is so stimulating of a color that it works best in a living or dining area, rather than in a bedroom. With that said, the color crimson can actually make people feel hostile, irritable, and sometimes angry. To avoid this, lean toward other shades of red.
- Yellow evokes happiness and can be a wonderfully uplifting color. With that said, yellow is best when used as a secondary color, rather than the primary color in a scheme.
- Blue has a calming effect, which can make even the most stressed person feel serene and relaxed. Pastel blue can look unpleasantly cool in natural light and dark blue can evoke sadness, so shoot for something in between, especially if you are making it the primary color in your scheme. Warm hues for furnishings and fabrics are a nice compliment to blue walls.
- Purple, especially in darker hues, bring in drama and sophistication. When it comes to its lighter side, it can be calming, without feeling chilly.
- Green is considered the color most restful for the eye. Perhaps it’s because it’s the prime color of nature. Because of its warmth and its calming effect, green is probably the most versatile color for any room in the house.
- Orange is an exciting and highly energetic color. Have an art studio or an exercise room? This would be a great color to use.
- Neutrals are very flexible and serve as a nice palette for those who like to mix things up often. You can add color to the neutral palette to liven things up and subtract that color again to cool it back down. If you love to change the look for the seasons, then neutrals could be the best option for you.
What Mood Do You Want to Create?
This is probably the most important question to answer before finalizing a color scheme. If you are unsure, take time to flip through magazines, decorating books, websites, and blogs for ideas. If you need to see something in person, visit a fabric store. Fabric patterns, textures and colors can be a wonderful guide.
If you are starting the room from scratch, be sure to pick your fabric, carpeting, tile and furniture before you pick your paint, since their color ranges are more limited. Also, when you do finalize your colors, try to incorporate no more than three colors within the space. This will keep the room looking cohesive. Also, don’t forget about the ceiling. Painting it a color other than white, can really tie a room together.
Color is Personal
Color choice is a very personal matter, so in the end, you have to go with what suits you and your style best. Again, stay away from trends and stick with something that will work well for a long time.
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