Have you ever noticed how a room can make you feel one way or another when you enter? Color can make a room feel more relaxed, cheerful, intimate, or exciting. While part of your impression may come from other aspects of the room’s design, color is a primary contributor to how you perceive your space.
Our senses have a unique ability to bring emotion to the forefront of our minds through a scent, a touch, or visually with the colors around us. The question is, how can you use color theory and the use of certain paint colors to your advantage?
We believe that one of our tools to achieve homeowner happiness from a painting project is utilizing our knowledge of the psychology behind color. By utilizing the tenets of color theory, you can create a space that is unique to you and the mood you want in your home.
If you’re looking for an energizing and warm color, try incorporating orange hues. Think of subtle orange tones such as salmon, pale peach, or apricot. Because orange tones are a blend of red and yellow, the best of both colors is utilized. Like red it generates energy and enthusiasm but is also bright and inviting like yellow. This makes it a great color to use in an entryway to create a bold focal point or to bring a feeling of comfort to a room you typically entertain in like a dining room.
As you decide on just the right shade consider that a brighter orange may cause a negative emotion such as anger or frustration, whereas a softer shade will bring warmth and excitement into your space. Soft orange pairs well with warm white and beige tones which will make your room feel brighter, perfect for when you do not have as much natural light and need to brighten a space.
Purple is a fun color we like to recommend if you are seeking a bold paint color alternative for your home. When using softer tones like lavender, it creates a calm peaceful setting that is perfect for a bedroom or craft room. Darker shades of purple are great because they bring energy, elegance, and luxury to a room, which makes it a fun color to use in a dining room or even a bathroom.
Purple is a color that can easily be paired with other colors such as greens, grays, or even yellows. It is a very versatile color and can easily be incorporated into the current color palette of your home.
Green is a great option for those who enjoy the outdoors and want to bring their love of nature into their home. It is a soothing color to use in a bedroom specifically because it creates a cheerful and tranquil atmosphere, perfect to relax in at the end of a long day. To maintain a harmonious feel in the space, be sure to use neutral colors to compliment the peaceful tone the color green creates.
The upside to using green in your home is that you can use either dark or light shades to create this soothing environment you are seeking. Darker greens mixed with rich browns is a great paint color combination for an office as together they convey feelings of warmth and strength, building a space that is both relaxing and stimulating. Or you can use softer shades of green with taupe for a bright yet soothing guest room or bathroom.
There is something to be said for the simplicity of pure white walls in your home. On the other hand, some color specialists believe that white walls can cause feelings of anxiety. If that is true for you, we suggest warmer toned-neutral colors for your walls.
The upside of using white is that you have a blank canvas to work with as you decide on furniture and accents for your space. With this “blank canvas” of white walls, you’ll be able to bring in colorful accessories, furniture, and artwork and not have to worry about disrupting color harmony in the room. With white or other neutral wall colors, you’ll have a space that you can easily change on a whim based on the mood you wish to create.
If you’re having a difficult time deciding on what mood you are trying to create in your home, give us a call! We’re happy to go through all your options and help you select colors that compliment your furnishings and the space you want to design.
No matter what colors you want in your home, Flying Colors Painting has the expertise to make your dream home a reality, satisfaction guaranteed. Contact us today to schedule your estimate.