Home Painting Tips: Color Psychology
With the summer season in full swing, it is a great time to spruce up your home with a fresh coat of paint on the walls. It can be difficult to find the perfect color that matches your interior taste, and no matter how many you test and mull over, you just can’t seem to pick the perfect shade. Well, we have some tips to get you painting in no time, and one helpful way to choose paint colors is to look into the colors themselves and the effects they have on our emotions, also known as color psychology. Below, we will break down different rooms in your home, and the color schemes that best fit those spaces, keeping color psychology in mind.
Living Room (Green, Yellow)
Living rooms are where you spend relaxing time with loved ones or throw energetic gatherings with your closest friends. Vibrant greens or cheery yellows compliment both occasions, depending on the shades you choose to bring into your space. Bright bold yellows evoke happiness, optimism, and mimic the tones of warm sunshine. Lighter hues, like tans, are a more neutral option that pair with any bold accent color of your choice. Paint the walls tan, or place bold accent pillows and throws on a vintage-inspired tan colored sofa, to accommodate both family and guests.
Vibrant greens are the perfect hue to bring in natural tones while creating an elegant, calm, and fresh atmosphere. Darker shades are most commonly associated with nature, and have a serene calming effect on the mind, making it a great accent wall color when paired with lighter neutrals like white. Dark green leafy plants are an easy way to add touches of green while having the added benefit of purifying the air in your home. If you want to go bolder and make more of a statement, use hints of mint green and other lighter shades for a more vibrant space. Pair it with other pastels like coral or teal for a modern aesthetic.
Dining Room (Purple, Red)
The colors you bring into a dining room can not only affect your mood but your appetite as well! Blue has the ability to lower appetite levels, so try and stray from using it in the dining area. Instead, create a regal and elegant space with purples, or a joyous, energetic atmosphere with tones of red.
Darker shades of purple are known throughout history to symbolize royalty, and any shade pairs beautifully with natural toned or stained dining room furnishings. Accessorize with plum table settings, or bring in fresh purple-hued flowers, like lilacs or lavender, to create a fresh centerpiece for the table. Curtains, rugs, and table clothes are other easy ways to tie purple into a space. Get creative and paint a dark toned accent wall, and accent the space with brushed golds for an added touch of luxury.
Red is known for evoking power and passion, but is also the symbol for friendship and joy, making it the perfect color for an entertaining dining space. Tie it into your space with similar accessories as mentioned previously, like curtains, rugs, and table settings, but maybe introduce a patterned wallpaper with red tones woven through it for a nostalgic aesthetic. Red pendant lighting is also a great way to introduce any shade of this bold color into your dining space. Depending on the shape, red toned pendant lights can help to evoke multiple trending design styles like the modern farmhouse or urban modern style.
Bathroom (Black)
The bathroom is a great opportunity to get creative with color schemes and design, with almost any color working well within the space. One color that stands out, mostly due to its dark, bold qualities, is black. Black tones come in a variety of hues that range from neutrals to daring, mysterious dark tones. Dark black accent walls balanced with brights whites and chrome accents is an easy and classic design style. Or, let the daring qualities of black inspire a unique tiled patterned floor, or mosaic sink and vanity. Use pops of color in shower curtains or towels to soften the harsh dark tones.
Lighter shades of black work as great neutrals that compliment any accent color. Concrete can help create an urban design, while silver appliances and accessories add to the industrial atmosphere. Tie in silver wired industrial style lighting fixtures and Edison bulbs for added vintage industrial aesthetic.
Bedroom (Blue)
The bedroom should be a calming, serene retreat that you can escape to at the end of the day for a good night’s sleep. Blues tranquil qualities and ability to positively affect sleep make it the perfect color to incorporate into your bedroom space. Lighter shades are often used to help evoke a classic elegance and pair beautifully with lighter stained bedroom furnishings, or white furnishings accented with silver. Light blue bedding and curtains are a great way to accessorize a space with blue accents, and often compliment gray walls or other subdued neutrals.
Darker shades of blue create a cozy retreat, and pair well with other earth tones like greens, or darkly stained furnishings, accented by brushed golds, rose gold, or copper accents. Be daring and paint your walls a denim shade, or bring in darker hues through decor pieces and bedding accessories (i.e. sheets, comforters, accent pillows).
Blue also inspires creativity but can be overwhelming to the eye if pure blue is overused within a space. Use more natural shades for a calming, tranquil, bedroom getaway.