The Impact of Color on Mood: Choosing Colors for a Happy Home

Everything around us, perceived through our senses, subtly influences us, whether we're consciously aware of it or not. In the realm of interior design, numerous factors impact our experience, including lighting, temperature, texture, and, notably, color. Color theory has always fascinated me, dating back to my high school days, and the profound impact of color on our mood never ceases to captivate me.

Colors have the power to affect our emotions in ways we might not even realize. Walking into a room, you might not immediately notice how it affects your mood, but you might find yourself feeling happier, more subdued, or uplifted simply by the colors and style of the space. Considering the impact of colors on mood is crucial. In my design questionnaire for my discovery calls, I always ask about color preferences and aversions because knowing which colors you love and which you want to avoid can give immediate insight into how you'll feel in a given space.

While personal preference, cultural influences, and societal norms all play a role in how colors impact us individually, there are some fundamental principles of color psychology worth exploring. Please remember that these are just super basic descriptions of the colors below. There’s much more extensive data, and ideals that go into color and the psychology of color.:

Warm Colors:

Reds - “Associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.Enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure.It attracts attention more than any other color, at times signifying danger.Red remains one of the most evocative colors on the visible spectrum.”

Yellows - “Associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.Produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy.Bright, pure yellow is an attention-getter, which is the reason taxicabs are painted this color.When overused, yellow may have a disturbing effect.Yellow indicates honor and loyalty. Later the meaning of yellow was connected with cowardice.Yellow, the brightest color of the spectrum, is commonly used in images depicting fresh ideas, creative projects, or new business initiatives.Studies have linked yellow with increased activity of the left side of the brain, which is considered the powerhouse of rational thinking.”

Oranges - “Combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow.Associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics.Represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.As we have seen in the previous section, yellow denotes optimism and cheerfulness, while red can suggest intense feelings of love and even dominance. Orange sits in the middle of those extremities: it promotes rejuvenation, communication, and positivism. This color also enhances extraversion, allowing people to let go of their inhibitions and express themselves more freely.”

Pinks - “This is a color that represents a gentle type of love.Pink stands for tenderness, vulnerability, and youth.It is a calming, non-threatening color. It is linked to innocence, hope, and optimism.The pink color also represents positive aspects of traditional femininity like nurture and kindness.One of the gentlest and yet most contradictory colors out there, pink is a color that varies greatly depending on its context.”

Cool Colors:

Blues - “Unique and authentic.Enthusiastic, sympathetic, and personal; they seek meaning and significance in life.Warm, communicative, and compassionate; they care about what they do.Idealistic, spiritual, and sincere; they value unity and integrity in their relationships.Peaceful, flexible, and imaginative; they are natural romantics and nurturers.A great deal of research has indicated that this impact on the body is indeed inverse to red’s, resulting in lower heart rates and even slower metabolisms.”

Purples - “Combines the stability of blue and the energy of red.Associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition.Conveys wealth and extravagance.Associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.The blue tones bring in a sense of relaxation and stability, which alongside the energy of red synthesizes to create a feeling of wisdom and good sense.”

Greens - “Color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility.Considered beneficial to the mind and body.Slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect.Strongly associated with tranquility and calmness.Used to symbolize piety and sincerity.Considered the key color that represents purity, health, and freshness, green has been traditionally associated with brands that encourage growth, vitality, and productivity.”

Neutral Colors:

White - “Associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity.Considered to be the color of perfection.Signifies safety, purity, and cleanliness.Usually has a positive connotation.Can represent a successful beginning.Depicts faith and purity.It is a great color for those who want to declutter their minds and spaces, hence why it is often associated with cleanliness and order.It makes us think of new beginnings, perfection, but also of elegance and serenity.”

Black - “Associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery.A mysterious color associated with fear and the unknown (black holes).Usually has a negative connotation (blacklist, black humor, ‘black death’).Denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color.The symbol of grief.”

Browns - “Associated with the traits of dependability, reliability, and resilience.Brown-lovers are most often reserved and not looking to attract attention to oneself.While light brown represents honesty and stability, dark brown is considered mature, predictable, and dull.Traditionally associated with seriousness, stability, and wisdom, brown is mostly worn by people who impose respect and appreciation through their status.”

These colors can be incorporated through paint, decor, and furnishings. A yellow couch might bring a sense of joy every time you see it, or perhaps a deep green wall evokes a feeling of calm. Whether in a painting, an area rug, or through other elements, understanding how colors work together can profoundly impact a space, either positively or negatively. A basic understanding of color psychology is a valuable tool in creating harmonious environments.

Have you ever noticed your mood shifting based on the colors in a room? Understanding this interplay can lead to more intentional and impactful design choices.

Source for color details:

https://www.colorpsychology.org/