In the last post, we introduced the concept of color psychology. Now let’s look at how designers recommend using it to make each room in your home feel the way you want it to. You’ll find a room-by-room guide to colors below, but remember: these are suggestions, not rules. The color police will not come knocking if you ignore all these ideas and choose a completely different color just because you love it.

LIVING ROOM

Image: ProTek Painting Services  

A bold color choice can get old fast in a room where you spend a lot of time. That’s probably why most designers suggest using neutrals as a base for living rooms. Neutral doesn’t have to mean boring, though. Just look at the image above! But starting with a neutral background gives you the flexibility to tweak your décor to suit the season or your mood without having to change everything.

Two colors rise to the top of the neutral pile for living rooms. Browns give a feeling of dependability and comfort. Grays feel balanced, calm and sophisticated. Both are good backgrounds for prints or colorful furniture, art, etc. that will keep your room interesting and relaxing.

DINING ROOM

Image: Chris Tombrella

Before choosing a color for your dining room, it might be best to consider who uses it most often. If it’s a family affair, and your family includes children, you may want to consider calming colors (blues, greens or grays) to help cut down on mealtime squabbles. If your dining room is reserved for guests, consider a friendly, cheerful color (orange or yellow) or one that feels warm and sophisticated (red or burgundy).

KITCHEN

Image: Artfasad

There’s a reason white continues to be the top choice for kitchens. White is associated with cleanliness, purity and space—all important for the place where food is prepared. Pairing white with stainless steel appliances adds even more umph to a clean, modern vibe. Those two colors alone might feel a little cold, though. Consider adding another color to the mix, like red or coral (stimulating), green (the color of herbs and veggies), or warm neutrals (wood tones, taupes or soft grays).

BEDROOM

Image: Benjamin Moore

When you want to rest and relax, blues and greys are soothing while earth tones are grounding. For example, the walls in the room above are in Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year, Silhouette. They describe it as “a distinctive color that weaves luxurious burnt umber with delicate notes of charcoal…” (That’s a designer-speak description of an “earth tone.”) For a more luxurious option, consider purple, a color long associated with royalty, sophistication and elegance. Or think pink for a room that inspires love, nurturing and tenderness.

BATHROOM

Image: Pinterest

See how the white tub pops against the green walls? Together, those colors convey nature, growth and healing (green) alongside cleanliness and purity (white). If you don’t want to go that green, add a houseplant for some actual nature on a smaller scale. To avoid green altogether, consider yellow. A color that inspires optimism and happiness seems like a fantastic way to start your day, don’t you think?

HOME OFFICE

Image: Kemaleddin Novruzlu

There are many color options for a home office, depending on what you do and how you do it. Is your job stressful? Blue offers feelings of wisdom, peace and competence. Are you starting a new role? Orange inspires confidence and success. Creatives might prefer yellow, with its promise of optimism, creativity and clarity. Bottom line: choose a color that makes your workspace your happy place.

Whether you decide to give one of these colors a try or follow your heart to a different color, we’re ready to help you change your home’s mood with a fresh coat of paint. Contact us to get started.