Mood

Why Paint Color Affects Mood 

We all have our favorite colors, but have you ever noticed how certain colors make you feel a certain way? That’s the premise of color psychology – the idea that colors evoke emotional, mental and even behavioral responses, and, therefore, can impact our mood.

Some aspects of color psychology are subjective. Perhaps the color yellow makes you feel nostalgic because it reminds you of your grandmother, for example. But there are other aspects of color psychology that have more general effects – and some research points to evidence that certain colors elicit the same mood in most people.

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Color psychology is an interesting topic for us in the painting industry because it means that the choice of colors can impact how a room makes you feel. For example, certain color choices can be used to create a lively and energetic mood (in the kitchen or living room, for example) and others can be used to create a calming and relaxing feel (in the bedroom or bathroom, for example).

If you’d like to use color to create specific emotions and moods in the rooms of your house, you’ll be interested in these tips we’ve created based on evidence from color physchology..

COOL VS. WARM COLORS

Before we get to specific colors, let’s start out in general terms – the differences in mood and emotion from cool versus warm colors. On a simple color wheel, you will find six basic colors – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. When you divide the wheel in half, you divide it into cool and warm colors.

Warm colors include:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow

Cool colors include:

• Green
• Blue
• Violet

Warm colors have an association with sunlight and heat. Therefore, they create a warm, lively, energetic and inviting space. On the other hand, cool colors remind us of nature, water and sky. Therefore, they bring out a calming, relaxing and peaceful feel.

We’ll move onto the details regarding specific colors next, but the general idea of using color psychology to make painting choices is to:

1. Determine the primary function of the room.

What will the room be used for? What activities will take place in that room? Who will be using the room and how do you want them to feel?

1. Pair colors that convey a mood that matches that function.

In this way, you can guide people into thinking, feeling and behaving in a way that matches the intended purpose of the room.

Now that you understand how color psychology is used to make paint color choices, let’s look at the psychological effects of eight colors and what rooms they work best in.

WARM COLORS

Red

Red is the most intense color, bursting with energy. Studies have found that it can increase adrenaline, raise blood pressure and speed up your heart & breathing rate. It’s a great choice if you want to stir up excitement and lively conversation in a particular room. It is also chosen for dining rooms because it can increase metabolism and, therefore, appetite.

Red works best in:

• Dining rooms
• Living rooms
• Other rooms where people gather

Yellow

Yellow is associated with the sunshine, therefore, it stimulates warmth and happiness – when done right. Soft yellows work best to convey a cheery, uplifting and fun tone. However, bright yellows or an overwhelming amount of yellow in a room can cause frustration and anger. For example, studies found that babies cry more and people are more likely to lose their temper in yellow rooms. The solution – pay attention to the shade you use, the amount you use, and consider it in combination with other colors rather than dominating the color scheme.

Yellow works best in:

• Kitchens
• Dining rooms
• Bathrooms

Orange

Orange combines some of the traits of red and yellow. Like red, orange is an energetic, enthusiastic and exciting color. Like yellow, orange is a warm, friendly and welcoming color. This makes it a good choice for some of the same rooms listed above, and some people also like it as an exercise room color because of its ability to help you get moving.

Orange works best in:

• Kitchens
• Dining rooms
• Exercise/workout rooms

COOL COLORS

Blue

Blue reminds us of natural elements – the calming light blue sky and the tranquil blue waters of lakes and streams. Its calming effects are said to slow down respiration and heart rate as well as lower blood pressure. The relaxing effects of blue are particularly felt with lighter shades; darker shades of blue can trigger feelings of sadness.

Blue works best in:

• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Offices

Green

The abundance of green found in nature makes this color evoke feelings of growth, renewal and rebirth. Green is a mix of blue and yellow – so it combines the cheerfulness of yellow with the calming effects of blue. It creates a mood of relaxation and tranquility and is believed to help relieve stress.

Green works best in:

• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Living or family rooms
• Any room where you want to promote comfort and calming

Violet (Purple)

A combination of red and blue, purple can take on different forms depending on the shade that you use. In lighter shades, it works similarly to blue – evoking feelings of relaxation and rest. In darker shades, it takes on some of red’s energetic notes, creating a dramatic and sophisticated feel that is associated with luxury and royalty.

Purple works best in:

• Bedrooms (lavender)
• Dining rooms (darker shades)
• Any room you want to stimulate creativity
• Any room you want to make appear more luxurious

Neutrals

So far we have discussed the main cool and warm colors on the color wheel, but neutral colors can also impact mood and emotion. Here’s a look at the two main neutrals – black and white.

Black

Black absorbs all light, so it represents the absence of color. This gives it a feeling of mystery and secrecy. You can use it in your paint colors to create a dramatic look or to add elegance. It is best used in small doses, though, because too much can convey a dark and melancholy mood.

Black is best used for:

• Accents, not the main color
• Highlighting other colors and bringing them to life
• Giving depth to a room

White

In contrast to black, white reflects light and is therefore the presence of all colors. It represents purity, innocence, and wholeness. White can give your space an open and airy feel, even giving the illusion that there is more space in a room than is actually there.

White is best used for:

• Creating a modern or contemporary feel (especially the kitchen)
• Creating the appearance of more space
• Accenting other color choices

Color psychology gives us insight into how certain colors impact mental, emotional and behavioral responses. It can, therefore, be used to guide paint color choices so the colors you use in a particular room help it achieve a particular mood, goal or function.

Use this guide to help choose paint colors for your next interior painting project and you’ll find that your choices have a direct impact on how people feel and experience your home.

Are you homeowner living in the Saint Louis area that is thinking about painting the interior or exterior of your home? If so, contact Christy and Sons Quality Painting to discuss your next project!

 We all have our favorite colors, but have you ever noticed how certain colors make you feel a certain way? That’s the premise of color psychology – the idea that colors evoke emotional, mental and even behavioral responses, and, therefore, can impact our mood.

Some aspects of color psychology are subjective. Perhaps the color yellow makes you feel nostalgic because it reminds you of your grandmother, for example. But there are other aspects of color psychology that have more general effects – and some research points to evidence that certain colors elicit the same mood in most people.

.

Color psychology is an interesting topic for us in the painting industry because it means that the choice of colors can impact how a room makes you feel. For example, certain color choices can be used to create a lively and energetic mood (in the kitchen or living room, for example) and others can be used to create a calming and relaxing feel (in the bedroom or bathroom, for example).

If you’d like to use color to create specific emotions and moods in the rooms of your house, you’ll be interested in these tips we’ve created based on evidence from color physchology..

COOL VS. WARM COLORS

Before we get to specific colors, let’s start out in general terms – the differences in mood and emotion from cool versus warm colors. On a simple color wheel, you will find six basic colors – red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. When you divide the wheel in half, you divide it into cool and warm colors.

Warm colors include:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow

Cool colors include:

• Green
• Blue
• Violet

Warm colors have an association with sunlight and heat. Therefore, they create a warm, lively, energetic and inviting space. On the other hand, cool colors remind us of nature, water and sky. Therefore, they bring out a calming, relaxing and peaceful feel.

We’ll move onto the details regarding specific colors next, but the general idea of using color psychology to make painting choices is to:

1. Determine the primary function of the room.

What will the room be used for? What activities will take place in that room? Who will be using the room and how do you want them to feel?

1. Pair colors that convey a mood that matches that function.

In this way, you can guide people into thinking, feeling and behaving in a way that matches the intended purpose of the room.

Now that you understand how color psychology is used to make paint color choices, let’s look at the psychological effects of eight colors and what rooms they work best in.

WARM COLORS

Red

Red is the most intense color, bursting with energy. Studies have found that it can increase adrenaline, raise blood pressure and speed up your heart & breathing rate. It’s a great choice if you want to stir up excitement and lively conversation in a particular room. It is also chosen for dining rooms because it can increase metabolism and, therefore, appetite.

Red works best in:

• Dining rooms
• Living rooms
• Other rooms where people gather

Yellow

Yellow is associated with the sunshine, therefore, it stimulates warmth and happiness – when done right. Soft yellows work best to convey a cheery, uplifting and fun tone. However, bright yellows or an overwhelming amount of yellow in a room can cause frustration and anger. For example, studies found that babies cry more and people are more likely to lose their temper in yellow rooms. The solution – pay attention to the shade you use, the amount you use, and consider it in combination with other colors rather than dominating the color scheme.

Yellow works best in:

• Kitchens
• Dining rooms
• Bathrooms

Orange

Orange combines some of the traits of red and yellow. Like red, orange is an energetic, enthusiastic and exciting color. Like yellow, orange is a warm, friendly and welcoming color. This makes it a good choice for some of the same rooms listed above, and some people also like it as an exercise room color because of its ability to help you get moving.

Orange works best in:

• Kitchens
• Dining rooms
• Exercise/workout rooms

COOL COLORS

Blue

Blue reminds us of natural elements – the calming light blue sky and the tranquil blue waters of lakes and streams. Its calming effects are said to slow down respiration and heart rate as well as lower blood pressure. The relaxing effects of blue are particularly felt with lighter shades; darker shades of blue can trigger feelings of sadness.

Blue works best in:

• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Offices

Green

The abundance of green found in nature makes this color evoke feelings of growth, renewal and rebirth. Green is a mix of blue and yellow – so it combines the cheerfulness of yellow with the calming effects of blue. It creates a mood of relaxation and tranquility and is believed to help relieve stress.

Green works best in:

• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Living or family rooms
• Any room where you want to promote comfort and calming

Violet (Purple)

A combination of red and blue, purple can take on different forms depending on the shade that you use. In lighter shades, it works similarly to blue – evoking feelings of relaxation and rest. In darker shades, it takes on some of red’s energetic notes, creating a dramatic and sophisticated feel that is associated with luxury and royalty.

Purple works best in:

• Bedrooms (lavender)
• Dining rooms (darker shades)
• Any room you want to stimulate creativity
• Any room you want to make appear more luxurious

Neutrals

So far we have discussed the main cool and warm colors on the color wheel, but neutral colors can also impact mood and emotion. Here’s a look at the two main neutrals – black and white.

Black

Black absorbs all light, so it represents the absence of color. This gives it a feeling of mystery and secrecy. You can use it in your paint colors to create a dramatic look or to add elegance. It is best used in small doses, though, because too much can convey a dark and melancholy mood.

Black is best used for:

• Accents, not the main color
• Highlighting other colors and bringing them to life
• Giving depth to a room

White

In contrast to black, white reflects light and is therefore the presence of all colors. It represents purity, innocence, and wholeness. White can give your space an open and airy feel, even giving the illusion that there is more space in a room than is actually there.

White is best used for:

• Creating a modern or contemporary feel (especially the kitchen)
• Creating the appearance of more space
• Accenting other color choices

Color psychology gives us insight into how certain colors impact mental, emotional and behavioral responses. It can, therefore, be used to guide paint color choices so the colors you use in a particular room help it achieve a particular mood, goal or function.

Use this guide to help choose paint colors for your next interior painting project and you’ll find that your choices have a direct impact on how people feel and experience your home.

Are you homeowner living in the Saint Louis area that is thinking about painting the interior or exterior of your home? If so, contact Christy and Sons Quality Painting to discuss your next project!