Color is deeply and closely connected to mood. Colors effect how we think, act and feel. We all have experienced how light colors leave us more optimistic, upbeat and cheerful while dark colors- Well, they are like Darth Vader- Dark. Darker tones move us towards being more reflective, introverted and private.
Color surrounds us and we should consider how best to use its mood enhancing properties at home. Homeowners have certain expectations from the different rooms in our home. The bedroom, a place for intimacy, a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of our lives differs dramatically from the living room where we entertain friends and interact as a family. The same for the busiest room, our kitchens, are a hub for our lives. It only makes sense to use color and color schemes to accentuate and highlight areas for specific use.
Brush with Color is a local painting company located in the Portsmouth Area. As craftsman painters we assist home and business owners choose color schemes that are comfortable, pleasureful and productive. Call us at (603) 770-5072 for a free color / painting consultation to learn how to use utilize color in your home, business or workplace setting.
Let’s look at some basic color theory with an eye on how to use color as a single dominant color on your home’s walls. Popular today are warm & cool colors which often go nicely together. Warm colors located on one side of the color wheel all have warm undertones for example: red, red-orange, yellow and yellow-greens. These color radiate warmth and coziness. They feel intimate and tend to reduce the size and feel of a room. If you have a large living room that is open and disconnected often warm colors bring closeness back to the space. Yet, for a small bedroom they make it feel extremely small. Warm colors are good for private offices and studies where you may want to decrease the external stimulus and collect your thoughts but less useful for collaborate spaces.
Offsetting warm colors are cool tones which have airy and breezy undertones such as blues, purples and blue-greens. These create calm peaceful effects and you see them frequently in hospitals and in the customer service industry. By making rooms feel cooler and larger they are great colors for kitchens and sun rooms or small bedrooms that can feel cramped and small. Cool colors are airy and light.
Between warm and cool colors are neutral colors such as gray and tans which can often complement warm and cool colors when used correctly. Neutral colors border on the unnoticeable and they allow furnishings, fabrics and wall hangings to take center stage.
The near opposite of neutral colors are the primary colors which are all color pure and simple. These are bold and powerful loaded with associations. Primary colors are often used in powerful communications so they leave us feeling engaged with them. From a design perspective choose primary colors cautiously and sparingly. Primary colors can create very distinct shapes so be sure to mix them with texture and offset warmer tones. Done well, primary colors stand out and call for attention.
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Blues tend to soothe and calm us. It is often used in commerce and financial companies logos. The light blues feel free flowing while the darker blues can feel a little foreboding and sad. Blue complements the suns natural light and is well suited for rooms where there are many windows.
Red is filled with passion from valentine’s day hearts, to blood to stop signs, it creates energy and even fear for these reasons it needs to be well placed and balanced with other colors. Softer reds evoke feelings of attraction and go beautifully with the cooler neutral colors or gold and silver metallic tones..
Lastly, yellow is cheerful, energetic, and upbeat. It reflects light making it a good choice for darker spaces you want to brighten up. The deep yellows leave us feeling subdued yet warm and the brighter shades can lead to feeling tired and fatigued. It is the middle shades of yellow that garner yellow’s fame for energy and being easy on the eyes.
As painting professionals, we are happy to offer our knowledge and experience about color to improve the look and feel of your home, business or workplace.
We think the bottom line on color is if you love it use it! You can always change the color later.
