Do you ever wonder why you feel immediately relaxed when you enter a spa, yet when you enter a gym, you feel alert and energized? The answer can be found in the colors selected to decorate the space.
“Interior designers use color psychology to evoke an emotional response,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “Homeowners can use this strategy to connect colors with emotions and memories to create one-of-a-kind spaces.”
Color psychology starts by exploring warm and cool hues and then using these different tones to manipulate mood throughout your home. It’s easy to do with the tips below.
Warm color families
Red, orange and yellow are considered warm colors since they are associated with images of heat, like fire or sunshine. Warm families of color are bold and powerful when incorporated into home design.
Yellows
Because yellow reflects light, it’s an excellent choice for foyers and dark hallways. Its cheery nature has the ability to create an uplifting mood in homes. Rich yellows are great accent colors because they catch the eye. A great color to consider is Wadden’s favorite: Butterscotch SW 6377.
“This color isn’t for the faint of heart,” she says. “The color features an acidy, deep mustard feel but is a great accent color paired with neutrals. I find its pop can really spark up a room.”
Reds
Reds evoke feelings of passion, energy and intimacy, so it’s an excellent color for workout rooms and master bedrooms. Red also inspires the appetite, so is a logical choice for dining rooms or kitchens.
Michael Plank, director of color marketing and design services for Sherwin-Williams, enjoys Chinese Red SW0057.
“Chinese Red is one of my perennial favorites to play off dark stains with its saturated and sophisticated nature,” he says. “Rich in hue as it is in Chinese culture; the harbinger of joy and fortune.”
Oranges
Orange has a friendly attitude that awakens and welcomes. Never understated, orange works well in family rooms and is a playful choice for children’s bedrooms or bonus rooms. Orange tones can also integrate into other colors, such as Coral Reef SW6606.
“Ever since I was little I had a love affair with orange,” says Wadden. “I painted my daughter’s room Coral Reef. I love the rich complexity of the color.”
Cool color families
Blue, green and violet are considered cool colors because the inherent tones of each shade. Reminiscent of water and the outdoors, cool colors stimulate feelings of peace and tranquility, and are great options for bedrooms, bathrooms and patio spaces.
Blues
Blue is soothing and elicits feelings of relaxation, which is perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms. Alternatively, blues should be kept out of the kitchen because it’s a color that’s associated with appetite suppression.
“I love cool greenish blues,” says Plank. “Blue Sky 0063 is from our historic palette and is a calming hue that works in virtually every room.”
Greens
Green tones provide a feeling of familiarity because they are found throughout nature. Light greens are ideal for living rooms and offices; dark greens are wonderfully rich as accent colors.
Vivid greens add unexpected pop, notes Sherwin-Williams Senior designer Karrie Hodge, who likes Marea Baja SW 9185.
“I really like dark colors and this color reminds me of the deep turquoise part of the ocean,” she says. “This would make a great front door color on a white or gray colored house. This color would pair well with some natural stone or brick or wood.”
Violets
Purple tones are immediately attractive to children, making them a great paint option in playrooms or bonus rooms. Additionally, violet is also a stunning accent color in bathrooms.
When it comes to the violet family of colors, Hodge likes the versatility of Veri Berri SW 9069.
“Its a rich berry tone that is playful,” she says. “This would make a really dramatic accent wall color in any room; I could even see this as a really fresh front door color.”
For more color inspiration and to learn more about warm and cool colors, visit www.sherwin-williams.com.
