The Meaning of Colors

Colors and their possible effects in the home

The Meaning of Colors
Choosing colors can be intimidating especially when you’re selecting colors for a room. The choice might be driven by aesthetics, trends, or to reflect personality. Worth remembering, however, is how colors can affect moods.

How do different colors affect us? The jury is out on this one, but here are some of the pointers we’ve found in our research:

White
White is associated with the air, snow and heaven. It can evoke a sense of innocence and cleanliness, and is a good choice for the bedroom ceiling and pillows.

Neutral Beige
This color can remind us of the desert. It is a color of arbitration and it allows other colors to shine. Beige can be suitable for the living room.

Brown
Brown is the color of earth. It can give us a sense of contentment and security. Brown can be used on furniture in the living room.

Black
Black is a mysterious color associated with the dark. It can provoke fear but it can also elicit a sense of formality. Black can be used in small doses to accent some parts of the room.

Green
Green is the color of life. It reminds us of nature and trees. This color brings positive energy and a sense of rejuvenation and growth. It can relieve stress and help people relax. The color green can be suitable for almost any room.

Blue
Different shades of blue can impart different meanings.
Blue in general calls to mind the ocean and the sky. It has a calming effect when used as a main color, and is particularly suitable for bedrooms and bathrooms. Other suggestions:
Light blue can bring us a sense of peace and tranquility, perhaps for the ceiling or drapes.
Aqua blue can help us relax. It can be a suitable color for objects like vases.
Deep blue can induce decisiveness, and is a good choice for items in work areas (desk lamps, for example).

Purple
Purple is a color of power and royalty. It can evoke a mix of sorrow and passion. This color is suitable for decorations such as a fresh bouquet. Lighter version of purple can bring a same restful effect as blue.

Pink
Pink symbolizes femininity and youth. It brings a charming and playful mood.

Red
Red is the color of blood and passion, and evokes powerful emotions. It can also activate our self-confidence. Red can be suitable for the living room and dining room to stimulate conversation, but is likely too stimulating for bedrooms. Can lead to a strong first impression if it is used in the entry way.

Orange
The color of flame. Its vibrant hue can be uplifting and it can stimulate confidence. It can also induce excitement and enthusiasm. It can be a suitable color for an exercise room.

Yellow
Yellow is associated with sunshine. It can increase our focus and clarify our thoughts. Yellow can also stimulate happiness and conversation. Yellow can be suitable in the kitchen, and dining room. However, it is not suitable as a main color because it can be demanding and fatiguing.

Gold
Gold is associated with wealth. It can highlight achievements and bring a sense of luxury and desire. It can be suitable for decorations in the bedroom.

Colors can be passive, active or neutral. Neutral colors can be flexible and can liven things up. Light colors can make rooms seem larger and brighter. Dark colors can give a room a more intimate appearance.

While this general guide can be a good basis for choosing a color for your rooms, there are still a lot of resources around the web that could help you get an idea how a particular room would look and feel. Ultimately, it is up to you to choose and experiment with the colors that will enhance your way of life.