How Colours Affect Your Mood [Infographic]

Sam Butterworth http://www.regalfloorpaint.co.uk 4m 886 #colours

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Colours And Your Mood

If you are considering redecorating your house, workplace or any other property you are probably thinking about which colours would work best. You might have an idea that a nice bright colour would bring some life to a room, or a clean white would add light to a space. But do you really know how the colours you choose could affect your mood?

Colour psychology is the study of just this: how colours can and do affect your mood. This can relate to things like the packaging of products in shops to clothing and, as in this infographic, the interior colours of a property.

So, what do different colours mean and which should you choose to get the most out of your rooms, and yourself?

The following guidance is based on the research of colour psychologists and guidance from the American Psychological Association.

Blue – Cool and soothing, aiding sleep and calmness. This makes it a good choice for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Dark blue – Promotes intellectual thought, making it a great choice for an office or study.

Green – Natural and rejuvenating, provides tranquility and relaxation. It’s a restful colour for the eyes, so a great choice for bathrooms and bedrooms.

Pink – Joyful and Romantic, cheerful, feminine, nurturing. Often used for girls’ bedrooms but a toned down lilac could work for boys as well, accessorised with less feminine tones.

Purple – Dramatic and royal, evokes luxury. Works well in bedrooms and living rooms, as it’s close to the relaxing feelings blue gives, without the risk of the room feeling cold and sad.

Yellow – Bright and welcoming, communicates happiness but can cause frustration. Great for small areas but thought to upset young children and cause people to lose their temper.

Orange – Stimulates appetite, increases energy and vitalization. Great for energy but not a calm colour.

Red – Stimulates energy, desire and passion. Raises excitement. Another stimulating colour that works well in dining rooms and areas of fun and activity.

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How Colours Affect Your Mood

Make a house a home with colour psychology

Attic – White

Associations: Purity and openness, illusion of a larger space, cleanliness.
Pros: Suitable for all rooms, great as the main colour as it presents peace, simplicity, and spaciousness.
Cons: If not used with other accent colours can look empty and cold.
Usage tips: Use other colours to give it more personality.
Floor: Natural wood colours are good for creating space and making it look more open.

Adult’s Bedroom – Blue

Associations: Cool and soothing, aiding sleep and calmness.
Pros: Works well in bedrooms and bathrooms, as it calms and relaxes.
Cons: Some cold blues can evoke sadness.
Usage tips: If it is used as teh main colour, balance it out with warmer hues for the furnishings and fabrics.
Floor: Make sure it complements the wall colours and furnishings.

Office – Dark Blue

Associations: Promotes intellectual thought.
Pros: Calming, aiding concentration.
Cons: If you go too dark it can make a room feel smaller.
Usage tips: A brighter floor will add a lighter feel to the space.

Bathroom – Green

Associations: Natural and rejuvenating, provides tranquility and relaxation.
Pros: The most restful colour for the eyes, communicates relaxation and togetherness.
Cons: Very natural colour, so may not be suitable if you want the room to stand out.
Usage tips: Test pale greens in different lighting, as it can sometimes appear a shade of yellow.

Kids’ Bedroom – Pink

Associations: Joyful and Romantic, cheerful, feminine, nurturing.
Pros: Is good in bedrooms, conveying peace and rest.
Cons: The colour can be thought of as too girly or sickly sweet.
Usage tips: If catering for girls and boys a muted lilac is more gender neutral.

Hallway – Yellow

Associations: Bright and welcoming, communicates happiness but can cause frustration.
Pros: Good in halls and entries, it can welcome people in.
Cons: It’s not good for main schemes, as it provokes people to lose their temper and upsets babies.
Usage tips: Use in small spaces.
Floor: Light colours will give a dark room a brighter fell.

Living Room – Purple

Associations: Dramatic and royal, evokes luxury.
Pros: Works well in bedrooms and living rooms, as it’s close to relaxing feelings blue gives, without the risk of the room feeling cold and sad.
Cons: Quite a strong colour, be careful not to overuse.
Usage tips: Works best as a secondary tone, to a lighter pale colour.

Dining Room – Red

Associations: Stimulates energy, desire, and passion. Raises excitement.
Pros: Works well in an entryway, giving a bold first impression. Or in a dining room to raise appetite.
Cons: Too stimulating for the bedroom during daytime.
Usage tips: Can work in a bedroom, but only after dark or in dim lighting.
Floor: Neutral colours allow the furniture to stand out.

Kitchen – Orange

Associations: Stimulates appetite, increases energy and vitalization.
Pros: Great colour for kitchens or exercise rooms, being a very energetic and enthusiastic colour.
Cons: Not the colour of calm.
Usage tips: Best to avoid when painting a bedroom or any other area where you want to relax.
Floor: In bright space, dark, or even black can create a dramatic edge.

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