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How Color Affects the Mood and the Ambience of a Room
Colors create different moods. They can make a room seem cooler or warmer, larger (more spacious) or smaller (cozier), brighter or duller (more subdued).
Hot Colors refer to red in full saturation. Hot colors project outward. They attract attention. They are strong and aggressive.
Warm Colors contain yellow and red. Yellow takes some heat out of hot red. Warm colors are comforting, spontaneous, and welcoming. They make objects project toward us, appear larger.
Cold Colors refer to fully saturated blue. At its brightest, it is dominating and strong. Yet, blue, green, and blue-green increase one’s sense of calm.
Cool Colors are those that mix some yellow into blue. Yellow-green, green, and blue-green—as seen in nature’s forests, sky, and waters – refresh, soothe, and calm us. We feel renewed. Consequently, they often work well in living rooms and master bedrooms. Cool colors make objects recede into the background.
Earth Colors are those made from Earth. They include brown, ochre, and sienna.
Light Colors are the semi-transparent pastels, nearly transparent because they have so little hue (little intensity) in them. Light colors suggest space or airiness and rest.
Pale Colors have more hue than Light colors, but still more white than hue. Ivory, light blue, and pink suggest gentleness and calmness. These subtle colors work well in formal rooms.
Dark Colors are any hues containing some black. They close up space, towards coziness. They suggest autumn and winter.
Bright Colors are saturated (intense) hues, omitting and white, gray or black. These colors attract attention. They feel cheerful and exhilarating. Too much of saturated colors, however, may provoke upsetting intensity and be hard to live with for long. When we lighten or darken them or soften them with another color, they give the message without imposing themselves. Lively colors work better in casual, family gathering places than in bedrooms, where a relaxing mood in sought.
The Emotional Messages of Color
Let the Customer pick the message and mood she desires. Then, work with the colors that evoke these moods. Fortunately for us, all colors have positive messages. There are no “bad” colors per se. Only when we mis-match or over-use a color does it become emotionally distressing.
Red – Stimulates appetite, thought, and energy, raises blood pressure, and creates a sense of heat. Associated with passion and activity. Men enjoy warmer reds (with orange), while women prefer cooler reds (with blue).
Orange – Suggests exuberance, joviality, vigor, and boldness. Excites the senses and stimulates appetite. Always a hot color.
Yellow – stimulates concentration, memory and enlightenment, which accounts for legal notepads reminder notes. Speeds the metabolism. Promotes joy as in a “sunny disposition”. Still, It is the least used hue for decorating.
Green – Produces a sense of relaxation, comfort, and quiet. Calms nerves and promotes health. It is the color of abundance. It is the easiest color to focus on.
Blue – is non-threatening. It is the color of trust, longevity, and dependability. Helps lower blood pressure. Its variations are the most popular colors.
Purple (violet) – Associated with royalty. Lowers blood pressure, suppresses appetite, heals, calms overactive glands and lessens insomnia. Intense purple is a difficult color to live with over long periods.
Brown - associated with warmth, solidity, reliability, and the comforts of home.
Gray – Bland, but can be sophisticated with silver’s positive connotations.
Black – once associated with death, now it suggests more of dignity, power, aloofness, intimidation and mystery.
White – suggest purity and innocence; conjures images of youth and cleanliness.
Exercise: For insight on your color preferences, think about the color you associate with the listed activities. Ask yourself what color you would like to wear or be surrounded by as you do it. (Note: The best way to do this exercise is to print it out.)
Color Choice
1. Going to bed _______________
2. Eating breakfast _______________
3. Lounging in you bathrobe _______________
4. Soaking in the tub _______________
5. Driving your car _______________
6. Picking flowers _______________
7. Walking in a forest _______________
8. Trying a scarf or tie _______________
9. Harvesting your garden _______________
10. Eating at your favorite restaurant _______________
11. Going to a fancy party _______________
12. Sitting with a refreshing drink _______________
13. Mowing the lawn _______________
14. Reading in front of a fire _______________
15. Dressing for work _______________
16. Swimming in the ocean _______________
17. Biking with friends _______________
18. Working out in the gym _______________
19. Dining with good friends _______________
20. Jogging after work _______________
21. Daydreaming at work _______________
22. Daydreaming at home _______________
23. Talking on the phone with a friend _______________
24. Attending a wedding _______________
25. Attending an outdoor barbeque _______________
26. Critiquing a favorite paining _______________
27. Celebrating getting a new job _______________
28. Kayaking down a river _______________
29. Watching TV in your favorite chair _______________
30. Placing a wreath on the front door _______________
Scoring
Now designate each of your color choices according to three basic categories of color association – warm, cool, and neutral colors. First, find you colors in the following category lists:
Warm Colors Cool Colors Neutral Colors
Red Blue Black
Yellow Green Brown
Orange Purple White
Pink Gray
Beige
Taupe
Next, assign the color on your list to one of the above categories. Count how many you listed in each category.
Your Tally: Warm___________ Cool___________ Neutral___________
What are your choices?
Mostly warm? You come alive with energizing colors. Use these in the active rooms of your home: entryways, hallways, dinning rooms, rooms for entertaining, and playrooms. Also enliven neutral rooms with warm accent color.
Mostly cool? You respond to soothing colors. Use them in rooms for rest and relaxation such as the bedroom, living room, home office, spa, or sun porch.
Mostly neutral? You like to play it safe. Neutral colors are perfect for rooms that connect to other rooms, or rooms where you spend a great deal of time, such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Tie with two or all categories: Evenly distribute your color “temperatures” throughout your home in hues that are compatible to the room’s purpose. Bridge warm and cool colors with neutrals.
Think of the colors that convey your mood.
Examples of emotions are:
Powerful Rich Romantic Vital
Earthly Friendly Trendy Calm
Fresh Traditional Refreshing Energetic
Subdued Moving Soft Professional