Knowledge of the psychological effects of color can be an effective tool when choosing interior paint or wallpaper for various rooms. Our designer Gayle is here to talk about what some colors could mean for your spaces.
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Color perception is subjective but there are certain colors that have a universal significance. Here, we’ll take a look at the potential psychological impacts of the primary colors—red, blue, yellow and green
Red is a powerful color, it is the physical color. The color red is the first color that grabs someone’s attention.
The positive effects of red include physical courage, strength, warmth and energy, excitement. However, it can trigger defiance and aggression. Spending long periods of time in a red room can trigger a breakdown of peace and harmony.
Blue is the calming color. It has a mental effect rather than the physical effect of the color red. However, keep in mind that it is the lighter shades of blue that create calmness and serenity. The darker shades of blue have the opposite effect. The stronger shades of blue will stimulate clear thoughts, but also evoke feelings of sadness.
Positive descriptives for blue include intelligence, communication, trust, efficiency and calm. Negative descriptives include coldness, aloofness, lack of emotion.
Yellow is the emotional color. Although it is a cheery color, it can create feelings of frustration and anger. People are more likely to lose their tempers in a yellow room and babies seem to cry more in a yellow room.
Positive descriptives for yellow include optimism, confidence, friendliness, creativity and emotional strength. Negative descriptives include irrationality, fear, depression and anxiety.
Green is the color of balance. When used as the main color in a room it has a calming effect and is believed to relieve stress by helping people relax.
Positive descriptives include harmony, balance, restoration, peace. Negative include boredom, stagnation and blandness
Since white and grey are very popular right now, let’s take a look at how those affect our emotions
A white room can appear spacious, but also seem unfriendly and uncompromising. White communicates a clean, hygienic and sterile space. It can communicate a “don’t touch” message.
Positive descriptives for white include hygiene, clarity, purity, simplicity, efficiency. Negative descriptives include sterility, coldness, unfriendliness, elitism.
Pure grey has no psychological properties. Grey’s virtual lack of color can be depressing. When the world turns grey, we tend to withdraw. The tone of grey is very important when mixed with other colors because it can certainly dampen the effect of those colors.
The positive characteristic of grey is that it is psychologically neutral. However, on the negative side, it an create a lack of confidence, dampness, depression, lack of energy.
Of course, all of this is subjective and there’s no right or wrong color for one room or person. In general, however, colors on the cool side of the spectrum like blue, green and even purple provide a sense of serenity and calmness. Colors on the warm side of the spectrum like red, yellow and orange can induce anger or make us feel uncomfortable, or signify passion.
If you’d like to learn more about how to choose the right wall colors for your home, contact a Schloegel expert today!