Home is where our heart is. Home is that place we go to get away from the world. Our home should be peaceful and pleasant, free from distraction and discord. But this is often far from the truth. Our homes are sometimes chaotic and cluttered, and can be the source of stress and frustration.
It isn't possible to eliminate the human element involved in stress and aggravation. But there are other ways to subdue the beasts, so to speak. By using colors you can drive the overall tone at your house. As people step inside they immediately sense the tone, even if they don't consciously realize it. A good example is, if a home is darkened and people walk in, they will tend to quiet down until they know the cause for the room being dark. This example is on the extreme side, but I hope you see what I'm getting at. It is easy to set a mood in your home that people will notice and respond to, at least in a small way.
Color plays a big part in the overall mood of the home. Maybe you don't want to redo the entire room, or maybe there's no money in the budget for that right now. That's fine. A few well placed accent items can set the mood we are hoping for. It is a fact that certain colors will evoke a specific response in humans. This explains why some hospitals will paint their walls green, for example.
Everyone knows that the color "green" includes a wide range of actual colors. This is the same for "blue" or "red," etc... Therefore it is critical to understand how the shades and tones of colors can affect people. The starting question is: what is the mood I am trying to set in my home? You don't want to throw too many colors into the mix, since this will look jumbled and chaotic. Instead, pick out a couple of main colors and one or two accent colors.
Colors are a lot like sentences. They can either be passive, active or neutral. Light colors set a generally light mood while dark colors leave the impression of warmth and sophistication. As we apply these general guidelines to our chosen colors, we start to understand that the choice of an active color in a lighter shade will bring down the energy level a bit. If, rather, we choose that color in a darker shade we will increase the energy level.
Red is a color that is full of energy. Red stimulates people by raising their blood pressure and breathing rates. Not too many people choose an intense shade of red in their bedrooms because it does not lend itself to relaxing and sleeping. If wanting to bring energy to a living area but not wanting to repaint everything red, just add a few accents like pillows, pillar candle arrangements, or even picture frames. Those red accents will stand out and people will notice them.
Crimson is similar to red. But crimson seems to trigger rage in many people. I can safely bet that this is not the mood we want to have in our homes. Those who find themselves in crimson colored rooms will realize that their blood pressure is going up and that they are becoming irritable. Even if the mood in the room started out as jovial it will quickly deteriorate.
Yellow is a great color. It communicates sunny days and warmth and happiness. It is an energizing color but not on the same level as red. It is a great color in kitchens or bathrooms. In fact, it will work pretty much anywhere you wish to set a happy tone. There is a caveat with yellow, however. As an overall room color that is not broken up by other colors, it tends to make people lose their tempers, and it makes babies cry. So in a room with a lot of wall space you are better off just using it as an accent color.
Blue is a very relaxing color. People who look at blue will find their breathing slowing and their bodies calming down. But some light shades or pastel blues can give off a cold feeling. So if you don't want to evoke a chilly mood, these light or pastel blues might be best as just an accent color.
Light purples such as lilac and lavender work great as either room or accent colors because they don't express any of the chilliness of light blue. These light purple colors express a restful feeling and they are very pleasing to the eye. Darker purples come across as sophisticated and luxurious, and they bring out creativity in people. When used as an accent color they tend to add depth to a room.
As we hinted at previously, green is the most restful color for our eyes. It combines yellow and blue and works in almost any room of the house. Sage and medium greens are the most common. If the overall room is another color, some green accents will help bring that soothing feeling.
Orange is not typically someone's first choice when looking for an overall room color. But it is wildly popular as an accent color. Orange is full of life and it energizes people. In rooms where the decor is muted, orange accents such as candles or pillows will draw attention and energize the room.
It isn't possible to eliminate the human element involved in stress and aggravation. But there are other ways to subdue the beasts, so to speak. By using colors you can drive the overall tone at your house. As people step inside they immediately sense the tone, even if they don't consciously realize it. A good example is, if a home is darkened and people walk in, they will tend to quiet down until they know the cause for the room being dark. This example is on the extreme side, but I hope you see what I'm getting at. It is easy to set a mood in your home that people will notice and respond to, at least in a small way.
Color plays a big part in the overall mood of the home. Maybe you don't want to redo the entire room, or maybe there's no money in the budget for that right now. That's fine. A few well placed accent items can set the mood we are hoping for. It is a fact that certain colors will evoke a specific response in humans. This explains why some hospitals will paint their walls green, for example.
Everyone knows that the color "green" includes a wide range of actual colors. This is the same for "blue" or "red," etc... Therefore it is critical to understand how the shades and tones of colors can affect people. The starting question is: what is the mood I am trying to set in my home? You don't want to throw too many colors into the mix, since this will look jumbled and chaotic. Instead, pick out a couple of main colors and one or two accent colors.
Colors are a lot like sentences. They can either be passive, active or neutral. Light colors set a generally light mood while dark colors leave the impression of warmth and sophistication. As we apply these general guidelines to our chosen colors, we start to understand that the choice of an active color in a lighter shade will bring down the energy level a bit. If, rather, we choose that color in a darker shade we will increase the energy level.
Red is a color that is full of energy. Red stimulates people by raising their blood pressure and breathing rates. Not too many people choose an intense shade of red in their bedrooms because it does not lend itself to relaxing and sleeping. If wanting to bring energy to a living area but not wanting to repaint everything red, just add a few accents like pillows, pillar candle arrangements, or even picture frames. Those red accents will stand out and people will notice them.
Crimson is similar to red. But crimson seems to trigger rage in many people. I can safely bet that this is not the mood we want to have in our homes. Those who find themselves in crimson colored rooms will realize that their blood pressure is going up and that they are becoming irritable. Even if the mood in the room started out as jovial it will quickly deteriorate.
Yellow is a great color. It communicates sunny days and warmth and happiness. It is an energizing color but not on the same level as red. It is a great color in kitchens or bathrooms. In fact, it will work pretty much anywhere you wish to set a happy tone. There is a caveat with yellow, however. As an overall room color that is not broken up by other colors, it tends to make people lose their tempers, and it makes babies cry. So in a room with a lot of wall space you are better off just using it as an accent color.
Blue is a very relaxing color. People who look at blue will find their breathing slowing and their bodies calming down. But some light shades or pastel blues can give off a cold feeling. So if you don't want to evoke a chilly mood, these light or pastel blues might be best as just an accent color.
Light purples such as lilac and lavender work great as either room or accent colors because they don't express any of the chilliness of light blue. These light purple colors express a restful feeling and they are very pleasing to the eye. Darker purples come across as sophisticated and luxurious, and they bring out creativity in people. When used as an accent color they tend to add depth to a room.
As we hinted at previously, green is the most restful color for our eyes. It combines yellow and blue and works in almost any room of the house. Sage and medium greens are the most common. If the overall room is another color, some green accents will help bring that soothing feeling.
Orange is not typically someone's first choice when looking for an overall room color. But it is wildly popular as an accent color. Orange is full of life and it energizes people. In rooms where the decor is muted, orange accents such as candles or pillows will draw attention and energize the room.
About the Author:
Norita Sieffert travels the world looking for clever tips and helpful hints on many subjects. She has gleaned knowledge on many topics, including color and mood. To read more interesting facts, visit her articles page. To browse her outstanding selection of pillar candles visit her online home decor store.
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