Using Color To Create a Mood
"It was bright and lovely and its cheeriness reminds me of a giant bouquet of daisies in a crystal vase!"
This might be someone's description of a sunny day, or better yet, it could be the words that describe the mood the new yellow paint adds to your living room. In any case, this image creates a mood and when you use color in your home, it brings a particular mood to that room.
Color affects mood
The use of color makes an impact on our energy level, our temperament and can even affect our appetite. So, before you paint every room in your home your favorite color, identify the mood you would like each room to have. Think about the images you are hoping to convey and choose colors that elicit those specific moods accordingly.
Warm colors: red, yelow, orange
Warm colors such as red, orange and yellow bring to mind images of heat like fire and sunshine. Red is often associated with energy, passion and adventure. Orange is more stabilizing than red and carries a warmer, subtler message. Red and orange are both said to stimulate digestion and cause hunger. Yellow creates a cheerful mood, but too much of it can have an adverse affect and should be balanced with a bright white ceiling and baseboards or moldings.
Calming Colors
Cooler colors create a serene and tranquil mood because they are reminiscent of seascapes and rolling pastures. Blue is calming and is said to prevent nightmares and suppress hunger pangs because there are few blue colored foods. Green is the signature color of nature and creates a vibrancy of life. Purple creates a creative mood, but too much can be overpowering.
Balance your color
Neutral colors like white, brown, gray and cream create a mood of stability and practicality. These colors are often used as a complimenting anchor for some of the brighter and bolder colors.
Remember, to balance the color throughout your home. Be careful not to overdo and paint everything standing still. Sometimes, a little goes a long way and an accent color can create a mood without having to overstate it.
