What is room color psychology?
Room color psychology refers to the way colors subconsciously influence the way we feel and perceive certain things we see. Red can feel intense and fast, which is why many fast food restaurants use them. Blues, on the other end, make people feel relaxed and chill - which is why many people use them for spas and massage parlors.
Colors can do for a room what scents can - and that's affect your body, mind, and temper. Certain colors garner specific reactions from people, which is why it's important to be mindful about the colors and accents that you do implement in your personal spaces.
So what moods do specific colors convey? What color should you even pick out for your bedroom? Can you just choose a color and start painting your home like a madman? These are questions you're probably thinking of even before you read this article. Thankfully, you might just find the answers here.
What do these colors mean?
Color psychology assumes that colors are able to directly affect one's mood and overall disposition. So what colors go with which particular moods, and where do they go best in?
Starting off strong with the intense red - which can evoke feelings of excitement, passion, and power. Red raises a room's energy level, and has been shown to increase heart rate and blood pressure. Use red for rooms that need energy like the entryway or living room.
Orange can be equally energetic, but at the same time be playful instead of powerful. Orange works well in kids' playrooms or a home gym.
Yellow conveys happiness and warmth, and works well across many rooms of the house like the living room and kitchen. Moreover, yellow stimulates the appetite so this color fares well in a dining space.
Green is restful and natural, and is known to relieve stress. Green is perfect for the bedroom, but also the kitchen and other organic spaces.
Blue is the color of calm, known to lower blood pressure and slow down respiration. Blue is enjoyed best in the bedroom and bathroom, but can also be utilized in a home office.
Purples, specifically the dark shades, exude luxury and sophistication. Violets are particularly beloved in living rooms, but can also work in resting spaces if lighter in hue.
Neutrals like browns, grays, blacks, and whites work across the board - and essentially all mean traditional, classic, and uncomplicated. Blacks work best as accents since they do have a bit of an edge, and whites feel calm yet bright and can be used anywhere in the space.
Of course, nothing beats using your favorite colors in your personal space. More often than not, you feel joy when you see the colors you naturally gravitate toward. So if you want to throw a curveball and use an energetic hue for your relaxation station, who are we to say no? At the end of the day, it's your space and you call the shots. This list is just advise you can consider especially if you don't know where to start.
What color should I paint my bedroom?
Humans generally spend a third of their life asleep, with most of that time on their own beds. (And let's face it - you wish you were spending more time in your bedroom.) So there's no surprise if you're more aware of what goes on in your private quarters and are quick to notice and fret if something's not up to standard, given that you spend so much time there.
Bedrooms are supposed to be sanctuaries - peaceful and a place where you can relax. So if you take into consideration color psychology and how colors can actually affect how you're feeling, you can definitely implement a similar approach when designing and decorating your oasis.
Certain colors are known to be relaxing to the eye, such as greens, blues, and purples. These hues work well for a space like your bedroom where all you want to do is lie down and turn off for the day. Blues are a shoo-in in the bedroom, given their calming quality and universal appeal. Blues are also said to help lower blood pressure and slow down one's heart rate. Purples, on the other hand, get their relaxing ambiance from the blue undertones. Greens are particularly interesting because not only do they help relieve stress, the green shade is actually known to help with fertility.
The technique to determining the right color palette for your bedroom is simple - stick to calming hues that don't feel too cold. Avoid oranges, reds, and other stimulating colors, but also don't go 100% cool with your blues and violets. Opt for lighter shades like lavender or lilac - these work particularly well for rooms that receive little natural light.
Is it time to try something new?
If you're already thinking about it, chances are you're one step out the door and headed to your local hardware store. Maybe your kitchen walls are too dull and you want to try something new, like a zesty yellow to energize the space. Maybe your bathroom is anything but relaxing and you want to change up your tiles with more muted, calmer hues. Maybe you can't really pinpoint what's wrong in your space, and you don't know where to start.
Whatever reason you may have to think about a new paint color or accent pieces, it's worth considering that our brains tend to process visual cues first - which means the right color just might be the antidote to your discomfort. If you're unsure and don't want to commit too anything too permanent, consider painting an accent wall first in your "problem" room and see whether that uplifts your mood for the better. Plus, paint is fairly easy to switch out if you don't like the color or are bored - just make sure you properly sand your walls before painting.