Choosing decor can be overwhelming for the average homeowner. While home designers go to school to understand the nuances of color psychology and the newest decorating trends, just a little bit of knowledge can go a long way when it comes to decorating your home, and understanding the psychology of color can be an ideal place to start. These tips will help you choose your decor based on how each color can make you feel within your space, giving you the tools to curate the moods that you want within each room of your home.
Understand Color Moods
There’s been a lot of scientific interest and theorizing on color and psychological functioning. Whether through natural influence or cultural factors, color certainly has an impact on our mood and can influence the way that you feel within a space.
Choose Colors Based on Activities Within the Space
When thinking about the interior design of your home, be sure to consider each area of the house and how it will be used. For example, choose colors that energize for any play or exercise spaces and calming colors for resting areas.
Example Color Options
Calming and grounding colors are great for resting areas like bedrooms; choose a shade of blue or green for relaxation, stress reduction and a feeling of renewal. For kitchens, dining rooms or entryways, consider selecting a cheerful and energizing color like yellow. Don’t feel like you need to neglect your favorite design aesthetics to do so. For example, soft minimalist yellows feel inviting, while bold yellow accents add a pop of energy.
Other Color Pairings:
- Reds and Oranges: These bold and energizing colors are ideal for playrooms, kids’ rooms and gym spaces.
- Purple: This meditative color is the perfect backdrop or accent in your yoga room or personal library. Purple conveys a sense of relaxation but offers slightly more energy than blue, which can make purple an ideal choice for guest bedrooms that are multipurpose.
- Browns and Greens: Earthy and natural tones–particularly greens–evoke a sense of growth and stability. This makes greens and browns another excellent option for study areas or home office spaces.
Using your decor to evoke a specific mood or convey meaning to your brain about how the space should be used may be a great tool for falling asleep faster in your bedroom or getting in the zone in your workout room.
