Psychology of Colors: The Living Room
by Joey Lewitin
Description: Tips for choosing colors for your living room.
The living room is the setting which will blend the people in your life
into the occasions of your home. It is the hardest room to decorate
because it has to be versatile, comfortable, and entertaining. Guests,
relatives, friends; this room will be the showcase of your home for all of
them. This makes the decoration of the living room especially
important. The colors and designs you choose will have subtle effects on the
psychology of the occupants in the setting, resulting in slight changes to
the interactions held there. In a social center such as this, you do
not want that influence to be a negative one. A way to help control this
is to understand the psychological effects of color on the people in a
room.
Color is what surrounds us, it makes up our environment. Everywhere we
look there is color, and this affects our minds. Certain colors have
positive effects. Yellow is a happy color, while grey is considered
dismal. These effects change as the shading changes, and of course other
factors can alter them as well. Too much yellow is actually an eye
irritant. Color and its effects have been studied by psychologists for many
years and they have found many generalities that affect most Americans in
a similar manner. However, it is important to note that these ideas are
not universal, and you should always follow your own taste when
designing a room.
Before you begin you should decide what you want to evoke. Are you
looking to make this a quiet peaceful room or a place for wild parties?
Would you like the room to feel elated or are you looking for a place of
serenity. Once you know what you want, you can simply paint by the
numbers, being careful to always pick the shade that evokes the desired
effect most in you.
The most popular color in America is blue. This color produces a sense
of calm, and is often associated with the ocean. The color blue can
make a room look larger, and it stimulates elated emotional responses.
Lighter blue is more popular and will make a room seem more open then
darker navies.
The next most popular color in America is Green. This is the color of
nature, and is almost always associated with growth. Using green is
slightly more invigorating then blue, but still produces a sense of mental
calm. Green is the easiest color on the eye, and is actually good for
eyesight. Avoid sickly greens and use nature as your guide to mix and
match colors into a green themed room.
Earth tones give a room a close grounded feeling, and can promote a
sense of intimacy. They are rustic natural colors that seam simple and
warm. Soft tans and browns are the colors of family, and will give your
living room that feeling of home. Besides, they don’t show dirt. Greens
can be matched in with browns, to create a feeling of nature and the
outdoors in.
Colors to avoid in large doses are reds and yellows. Too much yellow
can cause eye irritation and uncomfortable feelings. Red, while highly
invigorating, is also a very aggressive color. Use of too much red could
easily lead to fighting. To avoid conflict, use reds and yellows only
as accessories, and only when they match the room’s main color.
It is almost impossible to get angry in a pink room. In light tones and
small doses this color gentles people’s personalities. However if you
paint the whole room a wild pink you may find yourself irritated by the
brightness. Instead use pink in an understated manner. Throw in pink
accessories, or a few pink decorations. If you want to theme a room pink,
then choose a light color that will match earth tones. However you
should be cautious; the more pink that gets used the more people tend to
get lazy and unmotivated.
Make a decision about what kind of setting you want to invoke, and then
decide on the colors that will help get you there. Make sure the colors
you use will match one another. Maintain balance between different
extremes, and refer to yourself often. Only you know if the harmony of the
room is helping to bring balance into your home. You are your own best
resource.
Joey Lewitin is an author, artist, and designer of home décor
accessories made from imported stone. Original designs from him and other
artisans can be seen at
Pebblez.com – Quality Décor in Stone.
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