Why the Psychology of Color Matters in Your Home & Office

When I was in high school, I got to really decorate my own room for the first time ever. I went from white walls and a half-way styled 70's smiley face theme to a full blown bright and colorful Hawaiian theme with a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean thrown in there for fun. The memory of that space still makes me smile today! It was colorful, there were warm wood tones, I had a fake tree, I had calming blue walls. It was perfect for high school Marcie, and I loved it! 

Color plays a huge role in how you, your family and your clients feel when they enter your space. Color psychology is largely a subconscious factor in design though. As a designer who's enthusiastic about color, I love bringing in that psychology to really aid the feeling you're looking for. Whether it's relaxation, excitement, focus or joy, it can all be done with the science of color! 

Primary Bedroom in All White

BEFORE

Primary Bedroom in Full Color

AFTER

Step #1: Understanding the Usual Associations of Each Unique Color 

Blue is widely acknowledged as the most popular favorite color around the world and that's because it has a universally calming effect upon the mind. It speaks of trust and intelligence and most people are really drawn to that. Green is a stimulating color of learning and creativity, so you see that a lot in schools and other places of study. Bright red makes you hungry so that's why many restaurants will have strong red tones throughout their spaces. 

While there are universal reactions, each person's experience is different and what's true for you isn't always true for me. I'm currently working on a coastal loft and bathroom and we're using softer tones to evoke the feeling of beach at their favorite beach, so their best memories come to the surface when they're in the space. So, while they think of the beach another person may think of a mountain lake. Some people love soft pastels of spring because the colors remind them of fresh flowers after a long winter, but for me, I think of how poorly I look in pastels because it's not well suited to my color tones.  

Color is really a powerful factor and can invoke different memories or feelings for people. 

Step #2: Assessing the Wide Array of Color Variations Available to You 

Within each color there are a range of hues, tints and shades available. Consider red. If you think of bright red, you may think of love and passion. While a pale red is a soft soothing tone in any space. Then you take a dark hue to more of a burgundy and you think opulent, luxury, high-end products.  How light or dark a color is also making an impact upon space. 

To help create a color palette for each of my clients I have a couple of questions on my Client Design Questionnaire that ask about their favorite and least favorite colors. I then have a series of other questions that help shape the overall design aesthetic including color. There's a lot of factors that can come into play, but by asking the right questions and observing our environment and intended use of the space, we get a clear idea of what's right and what's wrong. 

Step #3: Presenting a Pretty, Personalized Whole-Home Color Palette 

If your home has an open concept floor plan, then I recommend we use one color in all the spaces you can see from the far corners of the room when doors are closed. Once you transition to a space behind a closed door such as a bathroom, bedroom, media room or office, then we can transition colors. I like each space to have its own personality but still fit within the overall color palette of the home. So, we'll use that as the guiding factor when selecting colors per room. 

I start with my Client Design Questionnaire as mentioned above to get us started on selecting this whole home color palette and then we dive even deeper. I also ask them to look in their closet and see what colors they have the most of, which top, or dress is their favorite and why. I may ask a client to show me a favorite item around their home and why they love it. We also take into consideration any focal points in a room, if it's a window we want to design around what you see out the window and draw that natural beauty indoors. Maybe the room has a very specific purpose and wants to feel a certain way, this will also dictate which direction we go. We use the same colors in varying amounts in almost every room of the house and workspace, so it feels cohesive. 

I know color can be intimidating, I've seen it a hundred times. Neutral is safe, but it can also lack personality. During the process of selecting a design aesthetic and color palette I educate my clients on how color psychology affects them and how it can elevate the design of their home and workspace. I take them to a safe place where they take a bold step with color, and they fall in love. 

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Cheers, 

Marcie