Colors And Mood In Your Home
Did you know that the color of a room can affect your mood? Health professionals who work inside people’s homes have noted physiological effects from certain colors – midwives, for instance, may not allow a laboring woman to go into a red room, as it tends to increase bleeding. Hospitals have that classic “hospital green” in their rooms because it was shown to make people feel calmer. A room’s color can have an impact on your state of mind and mood.
What colors cause what effects in a room?
Blue
There are many shades of blue. It ranges from electric and bright to twilight-like gray-blue. Light, “baby blue” tends to evoke calm and happy moods, perhaps reminding you of childhood. Bright, royal blue or electric blue tends to create an energetic or fun mood. Cool, grayish blue might make you feel calm and ready for sleep. Another interesting thing about blue is that blue-walled rooms tend to take away your appetite, so it’s not necessarily a good choice for a dining room or kitchen.
Purple
Dark purple tends to make a room feel close and small, so it might create a pensive or introspective mood. Bright purple has a tendency to evoke nervous energy, while periwinkle and lavender evoke the opposite – tranquility. Mauve is another color that may suppress the appetite. Children tend to respond positively to violets and purples with happy, playful moods.
Red
Red runs from deep burgundy to light pink. It’s generally grouped as a warm color, although pink can be cool or warm. Red rooms stimulate the appetite, sources say, and they also may increase blood pressure and heart rate. Red is also the color of choice for evoking a sexy or passionate mood. It’s a bold color until you move into soft pinks, which tend to make you feel happy and calm.
Yellow
Yellow is warm and sunny. It tends to be a mood-lifter, bringing a sense of light even to a dark hallway or small bedroom. There’s a line that experts warn you shouldn’t cross, though – bright, intense yellow may induce anxiety. A mellow, “mustard” yellow might be a good choice for a study or library, as it may help you concentrate.
Orange
From rust to pumpkin to pale salmon, orange is something like red but less intense in the moods it creates. Orange may induce feelings of friendliness and a sense of welcome and hospitality. Rooms like family rooms and living rooms might do well with a friendly coat of orange.
Green
Green is one of the most prominent colors in nature, and it tends to produce a calming mood regardless of shade. It might work well in a child’s bedroom to promote a relaxed mood, or in a bathroom.
