Redecorating a room can often feel overwhelming; after a while the small differences in every tone can leave a person in a state of indecisiveness, but thankfully, understanding colour psychology can help with the process.
What Is Colour Psychology?
Colours can have the power to influence our feelings, moods and a range of other psychological responses, and the study of this is called colour psychology. However, everyone is different. Colours can affect people in different ways depending on factors such as age, ethnicity, gender and even the climate of where they live.
Finally, a colour can trigger a person’s memory and personal experience, such as an association with a favourite blanket from childhood that always offered comfort.
How to Get Started
Our professional decorators at Scott Anson Painters and Decorators Ltd have extensive experience of choosing the right colours for each room in a home.
It is important to consider the ambiance you want to create in a specific space and gather ideas from different sources – such as online home decorating sites and interior design magazines – to determine which colour schemes could work well.
Lighting can change how a colour looks, so it can also be a good idea to view any potential colour under the specific light that is in a room – whether it is natural or artificial – at different times of the day.
Emotional Responses to Colours
Blue can be soothing, relaxing, hygienic and spiritual. However, it can also be melancholic in some tones.
Green can be symbolically associated with luck, regeneration and cleanliness. Overall, it has a calming effect that connects to nature.
Yellow can be energising and uplifting. It’s considered to be welcoming and offers confidence and optimism.
Red can boost energy levels and has the ability to raise a person’s blood pressure and heart rate. Meanwhile, some reds can stimulate passion, while others can create aggression.
Purple in lighter tones can be restful and encourage creativity, while darker tones can trigger a sense of sophistication due to their regal associations.
According to House & Garden, choosing the right colour is both subjective and intuitive. People tend to know what colours they want to be surrounded by, so it can be a good idea to try out lots of tester pots before committing.