Picking the Perfect Paint Color and How It Can Influence Your Mood

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When it comes to choosing colors to bring into your home, it can seem like there are endless options to choose from. Maybe the interior design isn't exactly your forte, so deciding on that perfect shade of blue or the color to paint your bedroom or kitchen can seem like an impossible challenge. The first step is to pick a theme or style that you want to implement in your space, and don’t feel intimidated or flustered. There are a number of great resources like Pinterest or Instagram, to scroll through and find inspiration. Then, once you determine the direction you want to take each room in, it’s time to revisit those paint swatches and pick the perfect interior paint color.

Color not only sets the mood in a room, but it plays a huge role in affecting our emotions in that space as well. This is known as color psychology, and it is another helpful tip to determine the perfect shade to bring into a space. Below, we have a list of colors with insights that delve into how each shade affects emotions, and which ones will work best in each room of your home.

Red

Shades of red are often known as the most eye-catching hues on the color spectrum, evoking a sense of power, passion, and even alarm. Red is often used in warning signals because looking at something red will cause the viewer’s heart rate to rise. This can make it a difficult color to bring into a space, especially one meant for relaxation, but it also has many positive attributes. Lighter tones such as coral can make a space feel fresh and modern when paired with other bold colors like teal, crisp white, or lime green. Darker shades of red like maroon are better suited for a dining room, because of their ability to bring rich elegance to a space. Reds also create warmth and comfort, making them perfect for the dining area, where you spend quality time with loved ones or entertaining guests.

Blue

Do you find yourself needing a retreat at the end of a long day, and head right to the bedroom, or the DIY spa for a nice relaxing bath? If so, blue is the color for you, with its tranquil, calming effects. Lighter shades are great for a bedroom, to create a luxurious, relaxing retreat, and compliments white bedroom furnishings, with silver accents. Add a small chandelier to up the elegance even more, and tie your bedroom together with plush blue and white floral bedding to create the perfect place to unwind from the day's stresses.

Using a darker blue like dusk or denim in your home is a bold way to add tranquillity to a bathroom or “at-home spa.” Recreating the soothing colors of the ocean, darker hues help to calm the mind while also inspiring creativity. Paint your bathroom a darker blue with contrasting white subway tile, chrome accents, and a dark oak vanity for a modern escape to enjoy a long relaxing bath.

Green

The versatility of green makes it an easy choice for any space in your home that needs a refresh or a sense of vibrancy brought back to it. Green works perfectly in most rooms of your home but is most effective in a home office or creative space because of its ability to enhance mental clarity.

Bring the lush, relaxing feeling of nature into your living space by using darker earth tones in accent walls or through fresh plants and greenery. House plants look beautiful, serve as decoration, and also have the added benefit of purifying the air in your space.

Green can also be used to create a vintage feel in your home when paired with brushed gold accents. Create a nostalgic mid-century modern feel in your home office with gold or bronze desk accessories, leafy, low-maintenance flora such as a snake plant, a dark leather chair, and cherry or oak furnishings. Or, create a meditation space to practice mindful habits to further the mental clarity that green promotes. Create a vibrant, calming atmosphere with fresh green leafy plants, plenty of natural light, and green earth-toned yoga equipment.

Brown

Brown is similar to blue and green in that they are all naturally sourced color. Brown can be challenging to get right in a space, even though it is a commonly used neutrally. Brown doesn’t necessarily need to be a paint choice, as it can lead to creating a dull, empty, and lonesome atmosphere, but is better used in stained furnishings. A dark stained wooden dining room table or an elegant brightly-stained bedroom set can create a sense of unity in a room and can be matched with any pop of color, or even other neutrals. Or, add reclaimed wood beams to your ceiling for a rustic and cosy farmhouse aesthetic. Brown can work as a paint color, but be sure to stick to the lighter shades, like a mushroom.

Black

If your style leans towards neutral color palettes, but you still love a bold interior style, black is the perfect hue to introduce into your space. Shades of black like silver and concrete are commonly used in interior design and home decor pieces, but if you want to make a room stand out, use pure black as an accent color.

Black doesn’t have to be overwhelming and can be used sparingly, but it will help to create an elegant, modern atmosphere. Small rooms should avoid the use of black tone though, because this color tends to make a room seem smaller, and can evoke a sense of fear or mystery if too overwhelming. Be sure to balance black in a room with bright colors such as yellow or white to counteract the dark quality, or bring in hints of silver accents.

Use concrete flooring in your kitchen or dining area, or opt for a sleek concrete countertop in a kitchen or bathroom for an urban, industrial feel, or pair it with fresh plants, wood furnishings, and white accents for a farmhouse decor style. Shades of black are very versatile, so don’t discount it as an option for your space.

Purple

Purple, often associated with royalty and high price tags, is the most overtly luxurious color on the spectrum. It is often used in classical and formal designs, but it can also be a great option for a creative space due to its ability to provoke ambition and creativity. Purple has not traditionally been used in home decor, and because of its scarcity, it can be very eye-catching, especially darker shades like eggplant or plum.

Use a violet shade on an accent wall, or find an intricate wallpaper that incorporates shades of purple in its pattern, and balance the space with silver accents and pure whites. Lighter shades work great in bedrooms and living spaces, and since they are known to symbolize vitality, a lively feeling can be completed by bringing in fresh greenery.

Yellow

If you like bright, fun colors, shades of yellow are the perfect hues to introduce into your home. Yellow creates high energy, optimism, and a sense of cheerfulness, making it the perfect color to bring into a kitchen or living room. To prevent yellow from becoming overwhelming or hectic, it is best used in furnishings and accessories and pairs perfectly with neutral-toned walls. Bring a mustard shade into your space with a simplistic accent chair, rug or curtains to create a mid-century modern theme in your living room. Yellow is often associated with the sun, so it also works well in spaces where there may be limited natural light, like a finished basement space.