How Color Choice Affects Our Mood

I love color. I love painting a room and seeing the absolute transformation that can come from paint alone. Or the drama one brightly colored accent chair can bring to a room.

That being said, color can be tricky. When designing a room and choosing colors, it’s important to keep in mind the feeling you’re trying to achieve in the space, as color has a deep psychological impact on us.

If you’re trying to create a calming, serene master bedroom, orange might not be your color. However, if you’re looking to invigorate your home office and drive energy and innovation, orange could be perfect!

Paying attention to the colors you choose and how they make you feel will help immensely in creating a space you love.

Below are some of the ways color can affect our mood.

Note: If you are set on a color, but feel it might not be in line with the feeling you’re going for, often times changing the shade or tone can help find a feeling more in alignment with what you’re going for.

Red

The color of power, passion and aggression, also associated with anger and control. It is known to trigger the appetite (ever notice how many fast food chains use red in their branding?). Too much red in a home can make people feel anxious, so use sparingly.

Unless there’s a special case, I almost always avoid red in bedrooms, as it is typically an anxiety color.

Orange

Orange is a very energetic color and is often associated with sports, competition and innovation. While it may be a great color for an office where you want to inspire creativity, it’s best to avoid (or use in small amounts) if you want to create a calming space.

Yellow

Associated with happiness, creativity and relaxation. It is often featured in kitchens and children’s rooms where you are trying to create a bright, happy environment.

Green

Green tends to be soothing and calming. It is associated with balance and harmony, as well as growth and renewal and it can create a serene feeling if used properly. Very saturated or bright greens can quickly overwhelm a room.

I love using shades of green throughout my home to bring in a calming, restful vibe. Particularly in bedrooms and nurseries.

Blue

Blue is a very common color and for good reason! It is typically very fresh and calming, associated with serenity. However (and this is where you should pay attention to shade/tone), blue is also associated with sadness and may be best avoided to ward off depression.

Tip: If you are someone who loves the beach and feels peace and serenity when visiting, you may find that you like to recreate that feeling at home using beachy blue tones in your calm spaces.

Purple

Purple represents wealth and luxury! You can see this repeated throughout history by royalty and the upper class. It can evoke feelings or opulence and can make a beautiful statement. When using purple, use it sparingly, as too much of it can make people feel irritable and sad.

Grey

When used appropriately, grey can create neutrality and balance. Many greys are actually shades of blue, green, yellow or purple, so it’s important to pay attention to the other colors you are surrounding it wih. Too much grey can make a room feel cold and unwelcoming.

Black

Black is an interesting one, as it can evoke many different feelings! Pay attention to how it makes you feel when bringing in black to your design. It is often linked with death and unhappiness. On the other hand, it is also the color of sophistication, intellectualism and sexuality. When used sparingly, it can create harmony and balance. Typically, it is best used as an accent.