When decorating your home, think about the type of mood you want to create for family members and guests. Colors have profound psychological effects and most people tend to respond to them in similar ways, although different shades may evoke different emotional responses. In general, lighter colors can make a room feel brighter and larger, while darker colors are warm and make a room feel more intimate.
Colors and the Feelings They Produce
Blue evokes feelings of security, stability and order. Warm shades of blue can be soothing and can make people feel comfortable, but darker shades can elicit feelings of sadness.
Green is a refreshing color that has a calming effect, which makes it a good choice for an area where people socialize, such as a living room or family room. Green also pairs well with many other colors, giving you a wide range of design options.
Red is visually and mentally stimulating. It’s a good color for main living areas where you want to encourage people to socialize, but it may be hard to sleep in a red bedroom.
Orange is a vibrant and energetic color that evokes feelings of happiness. It can be an excellent choice for areas where people gather to socialize, but the energy associated with orange may not make it the right color for a bedroom.
Yellow is a cheerful color that can make a room look inviting. People may associate yellow with spring or fall, depending on the shade. Although yellow can make a room feel welcoming, it can elicit negative emotions when used in large amounts.
Brown can make a living room, dining room or bedroom feel cozy. Since brown is a mixture of all three primary colors, it works well with nearly any other color.
Beige can produce a calming effect. It can be used as a primary color, or as an accent color in furnishings, and can be paired with a variety of other colors.
White can make a room feel fresh, light and clean. Since it’s a neutral color, white can be combined with nearly any other color to produce a desired emotional effect.
Other Design Tips
Don’t try to incorporate too many colors into a single room’s design. That could make it feel cluttered and emotionally overwhelming.
Your color options for flooring and furniture will be more limited than your options for paint colors. If you choose the furniture and flooring first, that will make it easier to select a paint color.
Don’t forget about the ceiling. If the ceiling is a lighter color than the walls, the ceiling will seem higher. If the ceiling is darker than the walls, the ceiling will seem lower and the room will feel cozier.
Look at home decorating magazines, websites and blogs for ideas and pay attention when you visit the homes of family members and friends. You never know when you might see something that inspires you.
