WRITTEN BY WANDA CURTIS
Colors are all around us— exciting reds, happy yellows, calming blues — making the world a more beautiful place to live. When it comes to your home, the colors you pick to paint your walls and decorate your space are not only important for aesthetic reasons, but they also have measurable effects on both your body and mind.
Color psychology refers to the study of how colors affect mental and physical behaviors. Certain colors evoke calm (think soft blues and greens), while others suggest excitement and energy (like bright red and orange). The hue, lighting, room size, and coordinating colors all play a role as well.
One of the most studied colors is blue. Research shows certain shades of blue can reduce anxiety, decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and help you sleep better.
While the effects of color aren’t necessarily universal — your personal experiences, cultural influences, and the context in which a color is used can all shape how we respond — certain colors are commonly associated with particular moods and atmospheres. Here’s a look at how different colors may influence the mood and ambience of a room, according to Mental Health America.
Red is an intense and stimulating color. Bright hues are known to stimulate the appetite. It’s best used in kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, or entertainment rooms.
Orange is another stimulating color. It’s known to affect appetite and energy, making it great for exercise or playrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, and living rooms.
Yellow triggers feelings of happiness. Try yellow in kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, or bathrooms.
Pink is associated with love and kindness. It can reduce feelings of anger. It’s best used in offices, bedrooms, and nurseries.
Green is associated with nature and promotes calm. Try shades of green in bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and screened porches.
Blue also promotes calm, perfect for bedrooms or living rooms.
Purple promotes relaxation and imagination. It’s best used in bedrooms, offices, or living rooms.
Brown provokes a feeling of safety and relaxation. It can be used in any room.
Gray is associated with comfort and calmness, making it a good neutral choice with a touch of sophistication. Depending on the hue, it pairs well with most other colors.
White is another neutral color option. It can make small spaces seem bigger and can make you feel refreshed.
Black in small doses can be a bold and luxurious accent color for living spaces.
If you’re not ready to commit to repainting a whole room, experts at Mental Health America suggest using wall art, pillows, blankets, rugs, and other décor to incorporate color into a living space. They also recommend using metallic colors, like silver and gold, to promote excitement and creativity.
And remember, ultimately it’s your space. Certain colors can help set an overall tone for a room, but the best choice depends on the mood you want to create for the space and how it makes you feel in your home.