Colors and their apparent effect
Time and again, people have always asked the question “what color should i paint my living space?” The answer to this is as varied as the color choices that are available in the market. Sometimes, however, it all boils down to two questions: how do you feel about your living space or how do you want to feel about your living space. Psychologists have determined that colors have a subtle yet significant effect on human behavior, particularly moods. This, clearly, should be a consideration in picking out paint colors to be used in the living space.
Psychologists have narrowed down the effects of colors on the human psyche into two groups, known as the cool colors and the warm colors.
Cool colors are those colors often associated with the color blue, hence all the hues related to the blue portion of the spectrum. These colors are associated with feelings of calmness, melancholy, sadness, and sometimes indifference. Prominent colors in the cool color group are blue, green, and purple.
Warm colors, on the other hand, elicit a stronger and broader spectrum of emotions, such as warmth, comfort, hostility, and even anger. The warms colors are usually red, orange, and yellow.
The effect of colors on the moods of people is something that can be traced to ancient times. Known as the esoteric art of chromotherapy, and practiced by the ancient cultures in China and Egypt, it was used as an alternative treatment to certain disorders. Certain colors would be sued to stimulate a reaction in the body that would promote healing, or help the body adjust.
Of the known colors being used in chromotherapy, several colors are still being used in color-related treatments today, including blue, used for it’s supposed soothing effect to combat pain, yellow, believed to stimulate nerves in the body, as well as purifying it, indigo, said to help resolve problems of the skin, orange, believed to be connected to raising energy levels of the body and treating problems with the lungs, and red, associated with blood, is used primarily to stimulate circulation, as well as the mind and body.
While the premise of colors affecting a person’s mood and behavior appears to be ludicrous, it has been observed that in subtle ways, colors almost always affect people. This why certain establishments stick to one particular color or a distinctive combination of colors. Other than being linked to their corporate colors, these colors have been psychologically analyzed to affect the behavior of consumers towards their brand or their industry and service. Many may not realize it, but a good deal of how they look and treat a particular brand or service is also largely governed by the dominant colors associated with it.
Having said all of these, the answer to the color of choice remains the same: how do you feel about your living space or how how do you want to feel about your living space. A suggestion would be to try out the colors that most appeal to you in your actual living space. Paint a portion and see how it makes you feel. To maximize this trial, get as much paint colors as you can. Pick a brand that offers many paint color matches to allow a broader selection to choose from. Once you have the paint colors you need, see how each color affects you when you are exposed to it everyday, and from this, you will know what color is best for your living space.
Tags: paint, paint color match, paint color sample
