When buying a new home, one of the greatest pleasures you will have is decorating your new home. Whether a condominium, house, or any kind of property you spend a lot of time in, colour can influence your mood, attitude, and even appetite! Ever wonder why you get hungry the moment you walk into certain spaces? That is done by psychological design through colours, smells, and room flow. In this article though, we’re focusing on colour psychology. 

Colour Psychology

When you start to choose colours for your spaces, you need to first decide what type of mood or energy you want to create in that space. Do you need a space to be motivated – like an office or work space, or do you need a space to be calm and restful, like your bedroom? Every colour has an effect on your life, even if you’re not conscious of it! 

Pink

Delicate and airy, pink is a fun and playful colour, perfect for a children’s bedroom. It’s seen a delicate and feminine colour, and will make you feel youthful and playful, even as an adult! If you thought because pink is a member of the red family that you would not be able to use it for a bedroom, you’d be wrong! Pink is a very tranquil colour, perfect for bringing calmness into your life. 

Red

Red is a passionate colour! It’s known to raise heart rate and blood pressure, so it’s not best for a bedroom. The exception to this is if you’re using low lighting in the room, which can give a sense of luxury and opulence. In this scenario, opt for a deep crimson and textural details, like velvet and natural wood finishing. However, red is also known for increasing your appetite! Use red in your dining or entertaining rooms to encourage your guests to eat up and enjoy, but avoid it in the kitchen to stop yourself from pre-meal snacking. 

Orange

Have you ever been to a gym that uses orange as their colour scheme? That’s because orange is an energetic colour choice! It can also pump up any already existing anxieties and high energies, so best not to be used in a bedroom or anywhere you may need to relax. That being said, kitchens and offices can be really productive when you paint them orange, but exercise caution when choosing a shade. The more muted the palate of oranges, the less vibrating they do – think of the leaves on a warm fall day and how they make you feel! 

Green

Green is a colour that invokes tranquility and calm. It’s considered the most restful colour on the eyes, and combines the refreshing feel of blue, with the cheerfulness of yellow. People whose favourite colour is green are said to believe in balance and stability. It’s a prevalent colour throughout nature and is said to bring a peaceful feel to any room of your house. It also represents fertility, so if you’re trying for a family it’s a great colour for your bedroom. 

Blue

Depending on the shade of blue, the colour can trigger calmness and productivity. There is a reason all of the biggest productivity blocking sites also use blue as their main colours! However, it can also make a room cold, and uninviting, especially if that room doesn’t get a lot of natural light. For welcoming spaces, stick to a warm shade of pale blue, or warm up the space with your furnishings and accessories. Darker shades of blue work best for offices, where lighter blues work well for bedrooms, dens, and living rooms.

Brown

Brown represents security, and is a rich and luxurious colour, and represents simplicity and security. Designers often use brown and wood tones to warm up a room, and depending on the shade, can look far more expensive than it actually was to procure. Browns are warm, autumnal, and can make you feel like a hug (think of coffee and chocolate shades, autumn leaves, and cooking colours). Tan shades and neutrals are generally the original paint colours in most homes. A warm tan shade will make almost every room seem much larger.

White

White is a staple basic when it comes to deciding colours for your home. No one ever really expects there to be just that many shades of white! A cooler toned white reflects elegance, simplicity, and formality, where as warmer shades of white will feel cozier and provide a nice neutral backdrop for bringing in pops of colour wherever you need! White (and light colours in general) will make a room feel larger and more airy.

Black

Black is an elegant and powerful colour. It’s probably not best to paint a whole room in black, as it may be depressing and confining, but accenting with black gives a neutral palate that brings a feeling of sophistication and drama. People who like black are said to be ambitious and mysterious. Consider black for rooms you will entertain in, such as a dining room or a den.

Grey – Grey is a perfect neutral that will match almost any colour, so if you’re the type of person who likes to change up their home decor often, grey is an excellent choice for you. Grey represents security, stillness and calm. Try a neutral grey on all four walls, with a white ceiling to create a lofty and open space, with metallic accents for a luxurious feel.

Whatever colours you decide on, make sure they’re reflective of your personality and lifestyle! Since this is your new home, you want to feel comfortable, happy, and content every time you enter your space.