Which effect do colours have in rooms?

Chloe Hines Chloe Hines
Mieszkanie 54 m2. Warszawa Praga , Pracownia Silvergrey Pracownia Silvergrey Living room
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Psychologists and artists alike have studied the psychological effects of colours for some time now.  Both Kandinsky and Freud were especially interested in the relationship between colours, doing a plethora of colour studies which would later define their careers.  Blue was meant to exhibit freedom and thoughtfulness, while yellow promoted happiness and red was thought to provoke thoughts of passion and even rage.

The question is, do colours still have this effect now?  If we place certain colours in particular rooms, will it effect our daily lives and our interactions with our guests?  This can be a rather varied and subjective answer—but we agree that colours can liven up your space and be a thought-provoking endeavor! If you're looking to change up your space, or set a certain mood—look no further than colours, we have some great tips and information posted below!

Green colours

In psychology, green is thought to bring a sense of peace and balance to an atmosphere.  This might be because green is one of the few colours that requires no readjustment of the eyes upon view—becoming a rather restful colour.  It can promote a happy sense of relaxation, refreshment and harmony to your space.  The greatest quality of green is that it can even be found in more natural elements such as plants and flowers—so painting a wall, or adding great green chairs (like the one pictured here) isn't necessary!

Purple details

For centuries, purple has been a spiritual colour, even at times reserved for the most wealthy and powerful. Thought of as the colour that promotes consciousness awareness and contemplative thought, purple is oddly enough the shortest colour in our optimal wavelength.

Depending on the shade of purple you choose, the mood you create can greatly shift.  From deep and powerful to cosmic and strange and as seen here, fun and innovative.

Red feature wall

One of the most powerful colours, and one of the four major colours of psychology and emotional representation, is the colour red. Thought provoking, happy, powerful and motivating—red is guaranteed to transform any space you include it in.

In a large room like this, red has completely changed the view of this room from one of neutrals and wooden elements to something fun, bright and powerful.  If you think red is too bright of a colour for you to work with, then consider using it in decor and accessories, including plants and wildlife!

Blue furniture and decorative elements

Ah, blue. Emitting positive intellectual feelings and also a deep sense of serenity, blue is one great colour to use in interior design. Being such a powerful colour, we understand that it can be intimidating to use it on walls and with larger furnishings, but as seen in this example—blue perks up any space with just a few accessories like pillows and one great, retro-style chair.

Blue velour or velvet is also one of our favorite uses of blue because it creates a dynamic sheen of different shades of blue that would be hard not to match to almost any type of room or decor.

To see how blue can look great even on walls, check out this great bedroom!

Brown pieces

Perhaps one of the strongest neutrals.  Brown represents a natural sense of rustic tradition and the elements of the earth.  Brown is one of the most accessible and versatile colours you can decorate with—whether it be carpeting, furnishings, accessories, or even wall colour. You can choose to colour a whole room with brown, or do what this designer did and use it in small increments with other neutral shades. Either way, it will make your space feel warm and cosy.

Brown is so incredibly versatile, whether it's a traditional rustic space or a mix of rustic with modern design like seen here!

Yellow wall

The award for the brightest colour on our list today—yellow! Yellow is a more difficult colour to work around as often times, homeowners don't know the right accessories or complimentary colours that properly work with yellow.

With this being said, yellow is actually great with neutrals—or in more child-prone areas like nurseries and children's rooms.  Yellow is also a great colour to include in home plants and in exterior areas, like patios, terraces and backyards.

It's brightness makes it a great colour to accessorize with—think about pillows, cushions, graphic prints and even lamps! Look here at how the smallest pop of yellow brightens up this entire living room!

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