Paint color in your home is more important than just making sure it matches your furnishings. Certain colors tend to elicit certain emotions, moods, and even physical feelings.
Because of this impact, choosing the right colors for your interior design scheme is about much more than just figuring out which samples you think look pretty together.
Colors are divided into two groups: warm and cool. Warm colors consist of reds, yellows, and oranges and are known to stimulate and excite. Cool colors consist of blues, greens, and purples and are known to have a relaxing and calming effect. In general, warm colors work best in rooms with a lot of activity—like the kitchen and living room—while cool colors are more appreciated in bedrooms and bathrooms to help you relax.
- Red is known to raise the heart rate, increase blood pressure, and speed up breathing. Red also stimulates the appetite, so it can be a good choice for a formal dining room or a kitchen remodel.
- Yellow speeds the metabolism, enhances concentration, and inspires optimism and happiness. If overused, though, it can become too stimulating and make you feel tense.
- Blue is great at calming, relaxing, and inspiring tranquility. The downside of blue is that it can come off as cold or depressing.
- Green is similar to blue but more versatile. It can be both cheerful and relaxing.
- White is bright, fresh, and neutral so it goes with everything. Too much white, however, can become stark and sterile.
- Brown is earthy, warm, and calming. Because it’s neutral, brown pairs well with most other colors.