Psychology of Color and Home Decor

Good morning everyone! Today, I would like to discuss the importance of picking the right color for that one room in your house. You know “that room” that is dated and you've been talking about sprucing it up since forever. Yeah, that one.

Does color really matter?

Nothing can change the personality and feel of a room quite like the color of the walls that is unless you do some major renovating. The color you choose to paint a room can have several effects on the outcome of your decorating endeavors. On the positive side, the color can make the room more inviting, calming, or open. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, the color you choose can make the room look smaller, darker, or dated. Choosing the right color can be a toughy- believe me I've been trying to come up with the perfect color scheme for my future living room for a few years now.

Luckily, I have time to decide what will work for me and my family and what colors are just off limits. For example, I'm into bright colors that really open up a room. My husband on the other hand likes darker colors, and absolutely hates the color yellow (which I'm quite fond of in small doses)! So, when we actually have a space that we can paint without fear of a land lord's disapproval there will be a lot of compromise But, there are some colors that we absolutely agree with each other on 100%, and that's always a great thing.

Personally, I am a lover of the neutral colors especially gray. That is actually what I want to paint my future living room, and then I'll add hints of colors to really catch the eye. Neutral colors are great when you are in a situation like the one my husband and I are in because they don't really go out of style and they are simple but functional.

Neutral Colors

If you're not into neutral colors that is okay too! Just remember that colors can be a very powerful tool in home decorating. Certain colors are more suitable for different rooms in your house. For example, blue is a great color to use in your bedroom because of the calming properties the color possesses. My mom's bedroom is this beautiful sage green that is absolutely gorgeous! Since green is a mix of blue and yellow it definitely has a lot of the calming aspects of blue.

How Colors Affect Us

• Yellow: Cheery and warm. Can hurt your eyes. Has been proven to make a baby cry.

• Green: Tranquil and serene. Is seen as being more natural than other colors.

• Blue: Calming and serene. Has been proven to lessen appetite.

• Purple: Creative and thought provoking. Is seen as being related to royalty and very luxurious. 

• Red: Passionate and intense. Has been proven to stimulate appetite.

• Orange: Excites and warms. Is seen as being youthful and generates happiness. 

• Black: Sophistication and mystery. Has been linked with death or evil.

• White: Hope, light, and purity. Gives the feeling of cleanliness and simplicity.

• Gray: Authority and maturity. Is stable and strengthens character.  

Are you affected by the psychology of color or do you just pick whatever colors you like? I love reading all of your lovely replies so feel free to leave any comments, questions, or personal stories in the comment section below!

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