HEALTH & HAPPINESS - How Color Can Affect Your Mood

HEALTH & HAPPINESS – How Color Can Affect Your Mood

By Myrna Simon, Designer
June 2010

Can you imagine starting every day with a smile? Picture this: Your room is painted a pale peach color. The draperies are a lush peachy color as well, and the bedding is very calming. It’s tranquil and very pleasant. The wallcovering in the bathroom complements the peach color, incorporating a lovely beige and off-white neutral. The artwork in both the bedroom and bathroom also take on accent colors like peach, pale yellow and a hint of aqua. The stained gold colored frames finish the punch to perfection. The colors embrace you. This color scheme is also very comfortable for men. It’s not pink and doesn’t scream feminine.

The coffee has already begun brewing and the aroma in the house is delicious, all this and it’s only 7:00 a.m. You love walking into the kitchen. The walls are yellow-mustard and the upholstery is a French cotton red. Very warm and inviting, and very French Provence. Or, your kitchen is more on the contemporary side, with apricot walls and neutral upholstery. Whatever it is, you love it. A happy person is usually in a good mood. This is very healthy.

Have you ever thought about what colors make you feel good? Perhaps you just went shopping and found the perfect little black dress; or you drive around in a fabulous little red car; and your kitchen is a very happy yellow. What do these colors say about you? Why did you select black, red, and yellow? Of course, colors don’t actually talk; however, they do evoke certain feelings within each of us. Read on to learn some fascinating facts on color and how they can actually affect our mood. Why is that?

You are now planning on doing some painting in your home, and you would like to create a feeling of warmth in the room. You would then select warm colors of reds, oranges and yellows, which are exciting and cheerful, and give the effect of liveliness and activity. By the way, these colors are important to use if your room has a northern exposure or little sun. By using yellow, you can warm up a dark, gloomy room with very little light; yet using yellow in a very sunny room will result in glare.

Cool colors, such as blues, greens and blue-greens communicate a restful, soothing and quiet environment. Although it’s easy to sit back and relax in a cool room, too much cool color can create a somber, almost depressing atmosphere.

You can alter your mood and the entire mood of a room by simply changing the color scheme. A traditional living room with off-white walls and furniture, rugs and draperies in shades of deep blue will come across as formal in appearance. Give the same formal room a warmer, more inviting look by selecting an off-white, yellow and apricot color scheme.

Color and your personality: - color can play a major role in reflecting one’s personality. Warm, earthy colors are rugged and casual. Pastels, like pinks, yellows, blues and lavenders are soft and delicate. Bright yellow and reds are extrovert colors. Yellow is the most cheerful and brightest of colors, and red is highly stimulating and exciting. Nature lovers and people enjoying leadership lean toward green. Shades of blue are the choice of tranquil and serene people. Color is a personal choice and should compliment you.

Let’s talk about the colors you might consider, and which should keep your blood pressure in check. Be mindful also, that the effect of color on one person may not always be the same on another. We each have our own personality. Colors that seem to annoy you can definitely affect your health. Walk through your home and sit in your rooms. You may surprise yourself. All it takes is a coat of paint to perk you up.

For example, have you ever experienced a major, early morning headache after you’ve used the washroom? Could it be that you’re waking up in a red bedroom? Perhaps your bathroom is predominantly green or yellow? These tones will definitely affect the color of your skin. If you are applying your make-up in this room, green and/or yellow will give you a false sense of color and not too complimentary, I might add.

On another note, sage green has become a very acceptable soothing neutral shade. It’s a very comforting color and works well with so many different palates. As I mentioned earlier, peach is most relaxing, to both men and women.

Color has a tendency to be quite emotional. One person may feel so cozy in a room painted in a warm dark blue color scheme; the second person may feel claustrophobic. Can you recall if certain rooms ever made you feel happy? sad? nervous? lazy? energetic?

Selecting colors for your home is so personal that for some couples one of the most major decisions is deciding which color scheme they can both live with. I would urge everyone to be true to themselves about the colors they are selecting. Colors are introduced yearly as “the color of the year.” Do not be caught up in following the trends if the color is not necessarily to your liking. It’s like clothing, one year the hems are up, the next year the hems are down. I would advise you to wear the clothing that feels comfortable and is becoming to you.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little tidbits of information. Let me know if I can be of further assistance as you proceed with updating your homes. Adding color to your home will make you feel good; it will put a smile on your face! Splendid!

Myrna Simon, Designer
Alicia Friedmann Interior Design
myrna@aliciafriedmann.com
562-286-4353