The science of colour psychology is simply a way of exploring the effect of hues, tones and shades on feelings, moods and behaviours. The field believes that, depending on how you match and apply a colour scheme, you can positively influence wellbeing at home or at work, encouraging a relaxed atmosphere or boosting productivity. Learning the principles of colour psychology can help you tone your decorative interiors to create a place that offsets life’s stresses and strengthens your resolve to live mindfully or meet deadlines. This article outlines some of the basics, and gives ideas for applying colour psychology in your own home.
The Basics of Color Psychology
Understanding the Core Principles
Colour psychology is based on the principle that colours invoke certain psychological responses in us, depending on their individual experience, their cultural backgrounds, and the context of use. For example, blue has often been linked to feelings of calm and serenity, but it has been associated with sadness in some contexts. Red can energise and arouse, but, if used excessively, it can evoke feelings of aggression or anxiety. These are precisely the details we must keep in mind to successfully apply it to our home decor.
The Science Behind Color Perception
While quite a few factors influence our perception of colours (eg, biological ones, which are part of a physical and highly mechanistic understanding of how colours are perceived at the level of the retina in our eyes, eg, converting the light frequencies into signals sent to the brain, which in turn makes a whole series of interpretations, assigning to light wavelengths the words ‘blue’ or ‘yellow’; or psychological ones, particularly given the prevalence of conditioned reflexes in humans that trigger certain emotional responses when we are presented with what are considered to be the same colours – ie, there are significant personal emotional differences in individuals when they are shown cards with two different shades of ‘red’ – or even socially ones, because almost everything there seems to be a different interpretation in different cultures which vastly complicates the entire domain of colour psychology).
Creating a Calm and Relaxing Space
Choosing Soothing Colors for Relaxation
When the goal is rest, serenity and all things calming, colours such as soft blues, greens and lavenders are the way to go, especially for the bedroom and other more private spaces. Soft blues, in particular, slow down your heart rate and reduce your stress levels; these colours, combined with others in this palette, will create a restful space for you and your home. To do this effectively, one strategy is to choose a feature wall and paint it all one hue – ideally a wall where you will be spending most of your time. Not sure where to start? Create a mood board of inspiring room images, and you are sure to begin to notice places where there are splashes of this colour – then, use it for some accessory items.
Balancing Light and Dark Tones
Select soft, calm colours to decorate this kind of room, but mix light and dark to avoid creating a cold, dreary feel. A wall that’s painted a light blue, for example, can be complemented by touches of darker blue and effective accessories. Natural materials such as wooden furniture or even fresh greenery can also help relax the environment by drawing in the outside world. Lighting is also a consideration: soft, warm lighting can add to the reassuring effect of calming colours by evoking a snug, welcoming feel.
Energizing Spaces with Vibrant Colors
Incorporating Bold Colors for Energy
Activities and energy-requiring areas of the home, such as the kitchen or home office, can benefit from the use of bright or vibrant colours. Yellow, orange and red stimulate the mind, helping to boost energy levels – ideal features for places where creativity or concentration are most important. Used sparingly (for example, on an accent wall, or in decorative elements such as rugs, fabrics or artworks) bright colours can offer the desired effect without overpowering a space.
Combining Colors for Dynamic Effects
If you want a more dynamic and energising space, you can use high-impact colours next to a neutral tone. By combining the two, you can temper the intensity of the dynamic palette but still make the space energy-charged. For instance, a white kitchen is livened up by adding appliances or dishes in red or yellow and/or by bringing in artwork with those colours. A neutral home office, based on drab furniture, can also be improved by adding bright cushions, rugs or artwork in red, yellow or other bright and lively colours. Colour can help energise those suffering from SAD by coding different areas for different functions In short, colour can help us live an active and vibrant life.
Creating a Joyful and Welcoming Environment
Using Warm Colors for Happiness
Warm hues yellows, oranges, pinks – are more often associated with happiness and joy. Using these colours gives a space a welcoming and uplifting feel, shifting the atmosphere to one of ease and comfort. Yellow is the happiest of the warm colours. Scientific studies have found an association between yellow and positivity and cheer. Painting the walls or using other items such as textiles and decorations that incorporate yellow can instantly make a place feel uplifting.
Designing with Intention
But warm shades should still be thoughtfully combined so that, when used, they don’t become overwrought or intolerably rambunctious. Again, it depends on the amount of light that falls on the walls – a room with generous light lets you get away with more vivaciousness. Conversely, a dark interior might be better served by softly interpreted warm colours. Warm shade harmonies mean incorporating warm colours with neutral tones as well. And even the thoughtful placement of warm colours in the mix, as in, sole use of a vivid hue on one wall, and softer versions of the tone on two adjacent walls, can move the needle on the pleasant scale a bit more to the right.
Promoting Focus and Clarity
Selecting Colors for Concentration
Cool colours like blue and green can assist focus and clear thought in areas where sustained attention is essential – such as a home office or study nook. Blue is an excellent colour for this purpose. When applied to an office space, blue is the colour said to calm the waters of the mind and reduce stress. The physical device itself – computer, printer, phone, etc – conveys stress and can detract from relaxed concentration. Green is a colour historically connected to the natural world, and its most beneficial application is its ability to promote balance and renewal.
Creating a Balanced Environment
Cool colours that can aid focus can only work well in a balanced setting – when combined with neutral tones such as white, grey or beige, and when the total colour scheme is naturally augmented with natural materials, like plants or wooden furniture. Good orderliness and the absence of clutter can also calm us down and facilitate our attention.
Using Color to Personalize Your Home
Reflecting Personal Style through Color
Colour has the power to express an individual’s personal style and tastes. People can have strong associations with different colours, so it is important to decorate with your favourite colours. You might love bright and bold colours, or you might prefer muted and soft tones, but having your favourite colours represented can make the space feel custom and personalized. This can be achieved through paint on the walls, furniture, textiles or accessories.
Adapting Trends to Personal Preferences
The danger in a strong design trend is that it can influence you to bring it into your home and then leave it there even after the trend has passed. Even though many new design trends are very tempting and appealing, you should not forget about the fact that you are the ultimate owner of your interior and you are the one who will live in it. Your home is your sanctuary and should be created according to your own personal tastes and style. If an on-trend colour does not match with your personality, then consider bringing it in smaller than recommended quantities or in a way that will be combined with one of your favourite hues. That way, you can stay on trend without ending up with a look you don’t like. Picking out colours that you like and considers the impact they have on your mood and your wellbeing can be hugely helpful in this decision-making process.
Conclusion
Colour psychology is a robust lens for designing your home in ways that are not only visually pleasing but also healthy for your emotional and psychological wellbeing. You can help turn your home into a haven – a place that encourages you to relax, be energised, feel happy, remain focused or simply flip a switch from ‘alpha’ to ‘beta’ by understanding colour psychology, and then applying it purposefully and thoughtfully in your furnishings and decorating. Whether you are redecorating one room or your entire house, you can harness the power of colour to elevate the quality of your life by infusing it with just the right colours in the right places, in the right proportion. Let colour help you create a beautiful home that truly reflects your personality and meets your needs.