Colour is all around us and affects us almost every day. We all respond to colours in different ways, depending on our experiences in life, what our personal preferences are, plus a million other reasons. People have favourite colours, or colours they seem to like more than others at a specific moment in time, and there are a lot of different factors that can play into this.
There appears to be more to it than the purely aesthetic. Scientific evidence suggests that colour can actually affect our mood, and how we respond. People seem to respond in different ways to colours. For example, bright colours like red and yellow can be stimulating to our mind and make us feel active.
Some companies can take advantage of this and use colour to lure in customers. Remember the red and yellow we just spoke of? Well, when we see the red and yellow logo, our brain gets excited and relates the colours to happiness, then telling us the food is yummy so we should go and buy some happy meal.
So moving onto colour in our homes and on our interior walls. If colour in our homes plays such a big role in how we feel, it makes a lot more sense that people put so much effort into choosing colours for their home. There are a few key areas in how colour will alter our feelings when coming home and that is the colour itself, which we’ll get into a little later. To begin with we’ll talk about warm and cool colours and how they play a role in our mood.
Warm vs. Cool
When looking at a colour, it’s easy to tell if it’s a warm or cool colour – we seem to have it hardwired into our brain because of what we know of the outside world. Red, yellow and orange are some colours that we think of when thinking of warmth. It can also bring to mind images of fire, the sun, and energy. Whereas colours like green, purple and blue are all cool colours which remind us of nature, water and relaxation.
We seem to pick our interior colours based on the temperature. Houses in warmer climates usually pick cooler colours, whereas in colder areas people go for warmer tones. This is a balancing of temperature. Who would want to come home to a freezing home during winter? Warmer tones help bring the feeling of warmth, and will make us feel like the house is warmer.
You may have noticed though some of these colours are a mix of warm and cool colours. For example, green is a cool colour, but it’s a mix of blue and yellow, which has both degrees of warm and cool. So there is more to it than feeling warm or cold with a colour.
Colours
Red
Red is an energetic colour that can give the feeling of fire and excitement. This colour is a strong and impressive colour that can be used in an entranceway, to give a bold impression. It also has romantic connotations and perfect as a feature wall in a bedroom, to add fire and a spark into your personal love life. There are many different red variations out there, from a dark burgundy to a bright cherry, each giving their own unique mood.
Yellow
Yellow is another energetic colour that doesn’t have the adrenalin-inducing feeling of red. It is instead a bit more of a mellow warm colour, it reminds us of sunny days, beaches and happiness. Yellow is perfect for a living room area where the whole family can enjoy each other. Yellow is a perfect colour for an undertone as well, such as an off white or beige, still giving that same happy feeling.
Blue
When you think of clear skies, and water you’ll think of blue, conjuring up feelings of relaxation and tranquillity. It’s the opposite of red and can make us even feel sleepy. Blue is perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms if you want a place of peace and relaxation. Perfect for the overthinkers who need to cool down and take their mind off things.
Green
Trees, grass, and plants are usually images that come to mind when we think of green. This gives us a sense of nature and peace, reminding us to think of ourselves, to renew and grow, yet gives us a feeling of being social. Much like the colour green, the emotions are a mix of both yellow and blue. Kitchens can be perfect for green as it is an activity that we either do inside ourselves, promoting reflection or as a fun social activity to do with another person.
Orange
For those that want a social room, of fun, joy and excitement, orange is perfect. Much like green, it has emotions connected to the two base primary colours connected to it. Orange is perfect in the lounge room or eating room in accent areas, feature walls or even as a hue.
Purple/Violet
Feel decadent and rich with this colour as it creates a sense of wealth, power, and even creativity. Depending on the colour of purple, it has the enthusiastic characteristics of red and the relaxing ones of blue. Perfect for a study room, library, or even bedroom for those who like adventure and alone time.
Chose colours, based on how you want to feel
So colour will affect your mood to some degree. When deciding on the colours of your interior walls, consider picking colours that appeal to you and that will make you feel a certain way. Get in contact with some contract painters for a painting quote and advice on what best colours suit your home. If you are looking for professional painters in secret harbour, make sure you check out Elite Painting for all your painting needs.
