Home Improvement: Colors and Emotions
Author: steve Published Under: Home
When choosing a color your your home, one of the most effective ways is to look at a color wheel and choose colors that share a relationship, such as complimentary colors or analogous colors. As such, choosing the right color will ultimately have a great deal to do with the personal preference of the individual. Fortunately, painting a room is not like pouring concrete, so fixing a poorly chosen color scheme can be done in a weekend and does not cost a great deal of money.
While personal preference is important when choosing colors, the effect colors can have on our emotions is also an important consideration, which can subconsciously influence our color choice. This is something that many studies have been preformed on and is actually something that is intrinsic to marketing and advertising, with more thought usually going into choosing the correct color of a product than the color of someone's living room.
A Quick Word About Colors
Even though there are quite literally thousands upon thousands of different colors to choose from, they can all be created by a combination of red, yellow, and blue, which are the primary colors. In addition, adding gray, white, and black can also add a whole new level to each color.
Primary Colors and Emotion
- Red: Red is considered to be an energetic and inspiring color, which has been shown to raise our heart rate and even body temperature, so it is no surprise you see so many red sports cars. Generally, you would want to use red more for public rooms and since it is not as calm, it is typically avoided in bedrooms.
- Yellow: Yellow tend to be considered similar to red, as it is energetic and very interesting. However, it is a little more warmer and cheerful. Generally, work areas are well suited for yellowish colors, however when used on a large surface area, it is better to use a lighter version of the color.
Blue: Blue can be a very calming color and create the illusion of more space. It is often a good choice for bed rooms and create a very clean calm feeling.
Secondary Colors and Emotions
Secondary colors are made by mixing an equal part of any two primary colors. Often, the effects these colors have on our emotions are similar to the primary colors.
- Green: Green is a combination of yellow and blue. Since green is closely tied to nature, it can help create feelings of calmness and a more organic natural feeling. Green is often used in bedrooms or where a more fresh like feeling is needed.
- Purple: Purple is a combination of Blue and Red. Correctly using purple can be quite difficult, so it often ends up being used as more of a supplement or compliment to another color. It can create a feeling of passion and intensity.
- Orange: Orange, which is a combination of yellow and red, shares similarities with yellow in that it creates a fresh, clean, and warm feeling.
Black and White: While black and white are arguably not real colors, they can still be used in the home to create a very regal and elegant look. Of course, most people are moving away from the white walls look.