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Imagine stepping into a bedroom that instantly makes you feel calm and relaxed; or a home office that makes you feel inspired. Colours can have a profound effect on our psychology, influencing our moods, behaviours, and perceptions of the space around us. In fact, if you’ve been considering a home renovation, you’d be surprised at how much a simple change of colour may change your mind! And harnessing the power of these colours in our decor can help create a more harmonious and emotionally engaging environment at home!
Psychology of Colour 101
Before implementing the psychology of colour in our home decor, we must first understand the basics behind it. Each colour tends to have its own distinct emotional spectrum associated with it. Here are a few of the most common:
Blue is most often associated with calmness and tranquillity. It offers a soothing sense of security, making it an excellent choice for bedrooms where we want to promote relaxation.
Yellow is a vibrant colour associated with vibrant feelings, like happiness and positivity. Creating a warm environment, it is an excellent choice for kitchens and entertaining spaces.
Green is the colour of nature and growth, encouraging an atmosphere of balance and harmony. It is a lovely choice for living rooms and nurseries!
Red is a passionate and stimulating colour and has been shown to raise energy levels and promote lively conversation. This makes it well-suited for dining rooms and other rooms in your home where you want to encourage interaction.
Purple has a long-standing association with luxury and creativity, which makes it great for home offices or rooms where you want to add a touch of sophistication.
Orange combines the energy of red with the warmth of yellow, creating excitement and enthusiasm. These can be particularly useful emotions for home gyms or playrooms!
Neutrals—like white, grey, and beige—invoke feelings of openness and flexibility. They are like a blank canvas to the mind, which is why so many real estate professionals will recommend them if you want to make a good first impression when selling your home.
Setting the Mood with Colour
When choosing your home decor, it is essential to keep in mind the atmosphere you want to create in each space. For rooms where you want to feel calm and relaxed, like bedrooms and reading nooks, choose soft blues, greens, and muted neutrals. For spaces meant for creativity and productivity, like home offices and craft rooms, add a splash of vibrant red, orange, or yellow. Warm tones, like earthy browns and golden yellows, are great for living rooms where you want things to feel cozy and intimate.
Cautions to Keep in Mind
While the prospect of creating emotional influence with colour can be exciting, it is important to keep harmony in mind. True, incorporating a variety of colours into your home decor can create a visually dynamic environment. But it can also be overstimulating if not balanced well.
Before donning your painting clothes and a brush, experiment with colour combinations to find ones that complement each other. Refrain from using too much of any intense colours, and aim for a conservative approach. For every one or two dominant colours (like the 2023 Pantone Colour of the Year, Viva Magenta), complement them with softer, neutral tones.
It is also important to note that while the psychology of colour does offer general insights into how different hues can influence emotions, there is a level of subjectivity to it. Personal experiences, memories, and cultural backgrounds can also shape how we perceive and react to colours. There is no hard and fast rule to colour psychology, only observation.
Using the psychology of colour in home decor can be a powerful tool in elevating your living spaces from just rooms to emotionally engaging sanctuaries. By understanding the emotional impact of colours and how they work together, you can create an environment that resonates with your personality and supports your desired moods. Remember: the beauty of colour lies not only in aesthetics but in the emotional connections they forge within us—making our homes truly special places where memories are created and cherished.
