Designing Interiors Using Color Psychology (Part II)

The Psychology of color is a complex and greatly opinionated topic. With so many variables and views it’s hard to say what information is correct and what information is just myth. In Part II of this topic I’ve tried to pull together the most common theories of each color and a few ways you might be able to use them. I hope you have fun reading about each of them and they help you create fun spaces within your life. For some added fun after reading about each color try going to this link to take your own color personality test. http://www.viewzone.com/luscher.html


Black
The color black can go two different ways. On one hand black is very elegant, sophisticated, and powerful. On the other hand black can also come off as evil or bring up the feeling of mourning and death. Which way the color is perceived all depends on where it is placed, in what quantity, and what it is paired with.

When using black (or any color for that matter) remember that using too much of the same color in an extremely saturated state will make the psychological effects of the color only that much stronger and the feeling will primarily lean toward the negative effects of the color rather than the positive. Think of the saying “Too much of a good thing”.
Also remember that black is a dark color so the more you use in a space the smaller it’s going to feel. I like to use black as an accent piece that contrast the colors and items I want to draw viewers’ eyes to by creating definition.


White
The color white gives off the feeling of purity and innocence, yet if used too much or in the wrong way it can also give off a cold and sterile feeling (think hospitals). Being the opposite of black, white will usually make a room feel larger and more airy. If you are going to use excessive amounts of white in your space by keeping all of the walls white or by using large amounts of white furniture and furnishings, there is a way to offset the negative effects that this might cause. Try using different tints of white on top of each other. Another way to warm up white is by using different textures. Try putting a white leather sofa on a white shaggy rug, or a soft cashmere blanket on top of soft silk sheets. It also helps to just add a pop of color here and there to the items that you really want to stand out and make a statement in the room.

I like to use white as my highlighter in a space. When using lots of color in a space white trim, doors, and/or ceilings, will always brighten the room and bring out the light and crispness in each color.


Grey
Grey is the middle ground between black and white. It is for this reason that grey can be a tricky color to use. Used alone a grey room can feel bland and boring. Paired with another color, grey can now take on a sophisticated, modern feel.

Grey provides a great neutral base to a space in which to pop another color from. Paired with white and/or black you can get a very chic, modern space. Throw in a splash of another bright color like hot pink, orange, or lime green and you’ve really made a statement.

Keep in mind that although grey is a neutral color, it too can be warm or cool. Warm greys have a slightly beige tint to them and take on the characteristics of warm colors. Warm greys should be paired with other warm colors (red, orange, yellow). Cool greys have a slightly blue tint to them and take on the characteristics of cool colors. Cool greys should be paired with other cool colors (blue, green, purple).


Red
Red is on the warm side of the spectrum. It’s not just warm, it’s hot! Some say red is the most powerful color we have. If red is in a room our eyes are automatically drawn to it. The brighter and more true the red, the more intense the feeling will be.

Red in its subtle tones or used sparingly gives off feelings of love, warmth, and comfort. Red used in its purest, darkest, and most vibrant form gives off feelings of intensity, excitement, power, anger, and passion. Red is also known to increase a person’s heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. If relaxation is what you are going for then Red is not the color to work with. Oddly enough red is also known to enhance our appetite. This is why the food industry is so fond of the color red. Red also makes meat look better so any restaurant or food establishment selling or serving red meat would be smart to choose the color red.


Orange
Orange is a combination of red and yellow. Mix the vibrancy of red with the happiness of yellow and you have orange. Orange is an energetic, cheerful, and warm color. Of all the colors in the spectrum, orange is probably the warmest of them all.

As with all colors the tint and intensity of the color orange makes a big difference in how one will feel in a space. A bright pure orange is great for drawing ones attention, while a burnt orange is a great color to cuddle up with. Try orange in a breakfast nook. It’s a fun color to wake up to and energize you for the day.


Yellow
Yellow is one of the hardest colors to work with. Although it is said to give off feelings of happiness, warmth, and sunshine, it is also hard on the eyes and tends to cause feelings of anger and frustration if used too much. Babies tend to cry more often in a yellow room and adults tent to feel cranky and frustrated. It is for this reason that yellow should be used with caution (funny that yellow means caution) and toned down in most cases. Pale buttery yellows are the most commonly and successfully used colors of yellow.


Because of yellow’s eye grabbing ability, it is also known to help a person’s memory and ability to recall information. If you want someone to remember a particular element or space, make it yellow (think yellow sticky notes and yellow note pads).


Green
Green is commonly known to symbolize nature. Its psychological effects give us the feeling of relaxation, tranquility, and calm. Hospitals once made it a standard to have green scrubs and green décor. It was said to calm the patients and create a soothing environment. Although hospitals have now broadened their horizons and added in a wide spectrum of color, green is still used quite often in spaces that want to give off a feeling of peace and relieve stress.

Green is best used when mixed with several shades of green or other shades of blue, yellow, or brown. Think of yourself in a forest. The forest is not one shade of green. It is millions of shades of green, yellow, and brown, with a blue sky for the backdrop. Mixing several shades of green and its related colors will give a more natural feel to your space, thus giving you a more tranquil and relaxing feeling. Add a pop of color and you’ll have the full effect of complete relaxation. It’s like your flower in a sea of grass.


Blue
Blue is hands down one of the most popular colors in society. If a large group of people were asked their favorite color, a large amount of them would say blue with men being in the majority. Blue gives off feelings of calmness, and serenity, and it is often described as peaceful, tranquil, and secure. Used too much though, blue can give off feelings of loneliness and sadness (think “the blues”). Blue is also thought to be a great color when it comes to productivity. This is why so many schools and corporate offices use the color blue. This could also be due to the fact that blue surroundings make us feel colder and in colder environments we’re more likely to stay wide awake.

Another fun fact is that blue tends to make us feel less hungry (a great tidbit in this age when everyone is on a diet). This is probably due to the fact that there aren’t very many foods in nature that are blue. To ward off hunger try painting your kitchen and dining room blue, or go to the extreme of eating your food off of blue plates. Theory says that you will eat less.


Purple
Purple is the symbol of wealth, royalty, wisdom, and spirituality. The color tends to favor our feminine side, but men have also been fans of the color for many years. Purple is a mix of the color blue and the color red. For this reason it is on the cusp of being a warm color and a cool color. Purple with more blue in it seems to be more calm, serene, and mysterious. Purple with more red in it attracts more attention and can sometimes be perceived as cheap. Purple as a soft tint gives off a dainty girlie aura, although if the tint leans more toward being a grey then the color can seem modern and almost masculine.




Pink
Pink is essentially a light red and is usually associated with love and romance. The color is thought to have a calming effect which is why some prisons paint the inmates cells pink and some sports teams paint the opposing team’s locker room pink (to relax them more that they’d like to be). It is also for the calming effect that babies rooms are usually pink (blue for a boy, which is also a very calm color).

Western societies usually tag pink as a feminine color, but in many European countries pink has been used equally for both men and women. Although many men in America may not want to surround themselves with pink, they cannot deny that they are drawn to pink treats due to the sweet sensations that the color pink gives off.


Brown
Brown is the color of the earth. It is a great neutral to any space and generally gives off a warm feeling. The color also gives off feelings of comfort, security, strength, and reliability. Brown is also said to be the intelligent color (is that where the brunette idea came from).

Using the color brown is all about texture and tone. A rough texture mid-tone brown can make the color look rustic and old world. A clean smooth texture mid-tone brown can make the color look rich and traditional. A gloss finish on a dark-tone brown can look modern.

Be careful when picking out a brown for your space. Brown is actually a mix of almost every color so you need to pay attention to what color is prominent. You wouldn’t want to pick a brown with a yellow or orange base for a red or pink room. You also wouldn’t want to pick a brown with a red base for a yellow room. You are usually safe with a good neutral brown that does not dominate in color but they are hard to find in the design world. For a designer picking out the perfect brown is like picking out the perfect white. There are just so many shades but never the perfect one.