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Paint Colors And Mood
Creating Mood with Color
and Paint
BY SARA ELLIOTT
Color affects mood.
Everyone is susceptible to the
influence of color, but often unconsciously.
When you design your home's interior,
you can use this subtle psychology of color to your advantage. Your choices
don't have to be loud or garish either.
Even subtle shifts in shade can make
a big difference.
Human
beings interpret color on different levels of consciousness. There's a visceral
component and a cultural one, too.
If
you grew up in the Western hemisphere, your perceptions of color will be
slightly different from those of someone who grew up in China or Japan.
Let's
explore the psychological properties of a few popular Western design colors.
Calming to Neutral Colors
If
you're searching for colors and paint that will promote a contemplative mood,
consider the options below.
· Blue - Blue is serene, calming and cool. When you use
it exclusively in your décor, it can appear unfriendly, but when you have
subtle blue shades on your walls and orange or yellow for a pop of color in
textiles or wall art, the effect is welcoming but restful.
Blue is also considered a good color for a study or
den because its soothing effects may help you concentrate. If you're studying
for that big exam, go blue.
· Purple - Along with lavender, violet and other like
shades, purple is an interesting cross between blue and red. Unfortunately, it
can reflect the negative elements of both. The shade you choose is important.
Because purple is dynamic and can be an aggressive
design choice, stay with lighter shades and prefer bluer purples over those
that tend toward the red end of the spectrum.
A popular color for dreamy bedrooms, purple is an
acquired taste and one that can easily come across as staged and artificial.
If you're passionate about a purple bedroom, choose
light lavender with purple and cream accent pieces. We love the look, but only
in moderation.
· Brown - A classic that's always a hit with men, brown is a bold color that almost never looks
garish. Because it's a natural color in many woods and stones, brown is easy to
work with, especially in rustic design.
Since it's so prominent in nature, brown is also restful
and contemplative. To create a wholesome but interesting look, use browns with
plaids and checks.
Oranges, yellows and blues are great accent colors to
use with brown, too. In a den, family room or office, warm brown curtains or
carpeting will help you get cozy and decompress from a busy day.
DID YOU KNOW?
Want to learn more about color?
Investigate the color wheel. It'll give you a better understanding of how
colors work together:
Vivid Colors
If
you want to inject some energy into the atmosphere, these colors are worthy of
consideration.
· Red - Warm and energetic, red can be an overpowering
color in design when it's used too prominently. Red is dynamic and exciting on
a single focus wall or in art or accent pieces.
If you love modern design, have a lust for life, enjoy
lively conversation and a passionate atmosphere, rely on red, but tone it down
with a cooler color like blue or green.
· Yellow - Considered happy and upbeat, yellow can be a
design challenge. A little of it can energize a room, while too much can make
the space seem harsh and grating.
Yellow can inspire strong responses either for or
against the hue. It's also hard to tune out.
If you're using yellow, treat it like red and employ
it as an accent with cooler colors, or in the palest sorbet shades. Babies may
cry more around yellow, so avoid using it too conspicuously in a nursery
or playroom.
· Green - Humans have an affinity for green because it's
so common in nature. It's a popular color in interior design, too, so much that
some designers consider it a new neutral.
Naturally calming, green works well in rooms where
people go to relax and unwind. Green is luscious in a family room, media room,
kitchen or den.
· Orange - Warm, flamboyant and often associated with a
retro look, orange is that kinetic cross between red and yellow that you'll
either embrace or loathe. It isn't restful, subtle or neutral, but it is
energetic.
Avoid leading with orange in your décor. Use it as an
accent in a sun lover's oasis like a lanai, sunroom, screened deck or
southern-facing family room.
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