From scientist to artists, many have theorized about color, and the way it interacts with its surroundings. Questions have been asked like:

• What is color made of?
• How do colors affect each other?
• How do colors affect people emotionally and physiologically?

People have studied how colors can be combined, mixed and manipulated to create something new. They have been tested, maneuvered and rearranged to see which colors together make aesthetically pleasing color schemes.

One of the most important observers of color was a French chemist, M. E. Chevruel (1786-1889). His book “The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Colors” is still widely regarded as one of the best books written on color.

Present color theories have found their beginnings in Chevruel’s book. A major color theory widely used by interior designers is the Munsell Theory. This theory relates to the hue, value, and intensity (chroma) of a color.

With these theories, we can determine how colors affect a person. When trying to create a particular atmosphere, room colors and moods are important to take into consideration. Which colors make us happy and more productive?

Room Colors and Moods: What You Need to Know

Believe it or not color does have psychological value. This means that it has the ability to influence our emotions. Color affects us in many different ways depending on gender, age, ethnic background, and climate.

Color trends come and go, so when painting the interior of your home, choose a color that fits your preferences. Decide what type of atmosphere you want in your home, and in each room.

When choosing colors it is important that each room compliments each other. You want your rooms to blend together. A stark contrast will be jarring to you and your guests, room colors and moods have a larger impact than you may expect.

What Mood do You Want to Create?

If you aren’t sure what kind of mood you want to create, look for a little inspiration! You can find inspiration in many places, from Pinterest to the park down the road.

Keep in mind, things like fabric on your furniture and your carpet come in a more limited selection than paint does. Choose these things first, and then choose your paint color.

If you want to create an atmosphere that is relaxing and airy, choose a lighter color. A lighter hue will make your room appear larger. If you want to create an intimate atmosphere, choose a darker hue.

Try to keep each room to about 3 to 4 colors. Any more than that and your room will appear cluttered.

The Effect of Room Colors

While our perceptions of color are subjective, there are some universal meanings. Colors are typically placed into two categories: warm and cool.

Colors known as warm colors include red, orange, and yellow. Warm colors can evoke emotions such as feelings of comfort and warmth. Warm colors can also evoke feelings of anger.

Colors known as cool colors include blue, purple, and green. These colors have a calming effect, but can also evoke feelings of sadness or indifference.

Orange

Orange is known as an energetic color. It has been known to evoke emotions such as enthusiasm, joy, and excitement.

While we wouldn’t suggest this color for your bedroom, it is a great choice for an exercise room or kitchen.

Blue

Blue is a great choice as it’s known for its calming and relaxing effect. There is no doubt blue works great for any room, just be careful to choose the right shade.

Darker blues tend to evoke feelings of sadness. You can still use a darker shade of blue, just be sure to balance it out with lighter colors elsewhere. By choosing lighter color fabrics, furniture, and art, you can make a darker shade work well.

We recommend taking into consideration the amount of natural light you have as well. If you don’t have a lot of natural light, go with a lighter shade of blue.

Red

Red is known for its ability to raise the energy in a room. It is a stimulating color, so it’s a great choice for dining rooms and living rooms. By placing this color strategically, you can help to encourage conversation.

We recommend going with lighter hues of red, as they are known to evoke feelings of joy, comfort, and love. Should you choose a dark hue (like crimson), it may invoke feelings such as anger.

Green

Green is known as a color that encourages feelings like stability, relaxation, and tranquility. It has long been known as a symbol of fertility. Its abundance in nature may be why green is known to relieve stress and anxiety.

Green is a combination of both blue and yellow. By using green you get the cheeriness of yellow and the calming effect of blue.

Yellow

Yellow is on the warm side of the color spectrum, which means it envokes feelings such as joy and happiness. Said to capture the color of the sun, it can be used to brighten a room.

Yellow has the ability to energize and encourage, so it’s perfect for rooms like the kitchen or a dining room.

Too much yellow has been shown to cause people to lose their temper, and cause babies to cry more. We suggest using it as an accent color, rather than the main color.

Purple

Purple has long been associated with royalty. It can be seen as rich and sophisticated. Purple has been known to encourage creativity.

Purple is a great color for creating a relaxing environment, without the risk of the room feeling chilly.

Neutrals

Neutrals are colors such as white, gray, black, and brown. These colors are known for their flexibility and are essential to any interior designer.

Black is a great choice as an accent color, to add depth to your color scheme. We don’t suggest using this as the main color, as it can evoke sadness or despair. Using white or gray will help you create a crisp, relaxing environment.

Choosing Your Colors

There are many color schemes to choose from. Each color has positive benefits if placed in the right locations. When trying to create a particular atmosphere, room colors and moods are important to take into consideration.

Get started on painting your interior today!