Interior Design with Color Psychology

There are certain colors that can make us feel calm and relaxed while others make us feel energetic. When we interject these colors into our home decor, we have the opportunity to curate an environment that is perfect for our emotional and mental needs.

It’s important to understand color psychology and even color theory as you make improvements to your home. If you’ve already decided on your preferred colors, read our great guide on color theory and practical guidance about color mixing and the visual effects of color combinations. And if you are interested in creating the best home for you, including what colors influence you best in what spaces, this is the guide for you.

Color Associations Are Not Universal

According to color psychology, color-related emotion is highly dependent on your personal preference and past experiences with that particular color. In short, color associations are not universal. "Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions," the artist Pablo Picasso once remarked. 

So, how do we apply color psychology in interior design? The answer is in how certain colors make you feel. Do you feel angry or happy in a yellow room? Does the color blue make you feel calm and tranquil? Your feelings about color are often deeply personal and rooted in your own experience or culture. Therefore, the psychological effects of colors in interior design will vary from person to person. But while perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, there are some colors that seem to have universal meaning.

Color Psychology

Color psychology is the study of the way shades of color can influence human behavior. Color can affect impressions that are not obvious, the taste of food, for example. Colors have attributes that can evoke specific emotions in people. While there has not been extensive evidence presented, researchers and experts have made a few important discoveries and observations about the psychological effects of colors in interior design and the effect it has on moods, feelings, and behaviors—which is why it can be such a powerful tool when used in home improvement.

What Colors Mean

While we can’t predict every person’s reaction to every color, we can discuss feelings that certain colors tend to stir up. Here are some examples of what colors mean out of context, all other things being equal.

Red

Red has been used psychologically in interior design in dining rooms to stimulate conversation and liveliness.

Red: (primary) next to orange and opposite violet.

Color Meaning: Energy, passion, action, daring, ambition, determination.

Example Shades: Scarlet, crimson, cerise, magenta, maroon, carmine, claret, burgundy, carnelian, cherry, and cardinal red.

Orange

Use orange in your interior design as an accent color or in a room where you want to inspire creativity.

Orange: combined by blending red and yellow.

Color Meaning: Heat, joy, social communication, optimism.

Example Shades: Amber, apricot, gamboge, champagne, citron, ochre, peach, sunset, tangerine, summer squash, and pumpkin.

Yellow

There’s nothing like yellow in interior design to communicate happiness and welcome in any room. However, psychologically, yellow is the easiest color to get wrong; tone down the yellow you are attracted to by a couple of shades.

Yellow: (primary) between green and orange.

Color Meaning: Joy, intellect, optimism, cheerfulness, friendliness.

Example Shades: Canary, gold, daffodil, flaxen, butter, mustard, lemon, fire, banana, butterscotch, honey, and Tuscan sun.

Green

Like blue, green works psychologically and emotionally in almost any room in your home’s design, particularly in spaces where you want to promote a feeling of nurturing peacefulness.

Green: made by combining blue and yellow.

Color Meaning: Life, balance, growth, harmony, healing, safety.

Example Shades: Lime, juniper, sage, chartreuse, fern, olive, emerald, pear, moss, shamrock, seafoam, pine, mint, seaweed, pickle, pistachio, and basil.

Blue

Cool and calming, blue works well just about everywhere. Blue appliances in the laundry room help promote feelings of order. A blue freestanding tub will help you feel calm in the bathroom.

Blue: (primary) shade between green and violet.  

Color Meaning: Peace, trust, tranquility, loyalty, confidence, integrity.  

Example Shades: Royal, navy, azure, cornflower, sky, space, teal, steel, powder, turquoise, electric, Tiffany, Prussian, Egyptian, Maya, Carolina, pigeon, sapphire, and baby blue.

Purple

Psychologically, purple has been used in interior design to communicate drama and sophistication.

Purple: having components of both red and blue.

Color Meaning: Imagination, royalty, wisdom, creativity, magic.

Example Shades: Mauve, violet, lavender, plum, magenta, lilac, grape, periwinkle, sangria, eggplant, jam, iris, heather, amethyst, raisin, orchid, mulberry, wine.

Pink

Pink is a creative shade for any interior design space where you want to elicit calm.

Pink: intermediate between red and white.

Color Meaning: Romance, love, nurturing, sensitivity, compassion.

Example Shades: rose, fuchsia, punch, blush, watermelon, flamingo, salmon, coral, peach, lemonade, bubblegum, crepe, taffy, and hot pink.

White

White is used throughout homes to emphasize a sense of openness and clarity.

White: lacks hue, reflects all visible light, palest of shades.

Color Meaning: Freshness, purity, simplicity, light, cleanliness.

Example Shades: pearl, alabaster, ivory, cream, egg shell, cotton, chiffon, salt, lace, linen, coconut, bone, frost, porcelain, parchment, and rice.

Gray

The psychological color of compromise, i.e.; “a gray area.” Gray is very popular in interior design because of its versatility.

Gray: neutral colors between black and white.

Color Meaning: Foggy, dramatic, neutral, mysterious, illuminating.

Example Shades: fossil, ink, abalone, smoke, pewter, steel, stone, iron, fog, slate, shadow, ash, anchor, charcoal, and harbor gray.

Brown

Brown is often described as natural, down-to-earth, and conventional, but brown can also be sophisticated when used in interior design.

Brown: produced by mixing red, yellow, and blue.

Color Meaning: Solid, earthy, conservative, traditional. Can produce feelings of warmth, comfort, and security.

Example Shades: coffee, mocha, peanut, carob, hickory, mocha, pecan, walnut, caramel, gingerbread, chocolate, umber, tawny, cinnamon, penny, and cedar.

Black

With careful consideration, black in small doses can be used in interesting ways. The psychological effects of black accents have a grounding effect on your interior design.

Black: lacks hue and brightness and absorbs light without reflecting any.

Color Meaning: Sophistication, mystery, power, formality.

Example Shades: ebony, crow, charcoal, midnight, ink, raven, oil, ink, onyx, pitch, soot, obsidian, grease, leather, oil, and jet black.

Of Note: Color Therapy

Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, is a version of alternative medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years, dating back as far as ancient Egypt, Greece, China, and India. Anyone who has ever been forced to sit staring at drab beige walls for hours on end can tell you that colors have real psychological and emotional effects on people. The use of blue or green walls in hospitals is very prevalent to provide soothing contrast to other harsh macabre colors hospital staff is constantly exposed to.

According to color therapy, color and colored lights can help treat physical and mental health. Seasonal affective disorder, for example, has long been treated with light therapy. Another example is blue light phototherapy, which is often used to treat neonatal jaundice in hospitals. 

To practice your own personal color therapy, use colors in your space that you love and will boost your mood. Craft interior design schemes based on creating what is conducive to your happiness.

Color in Your Space 

Now that you know more about color meaning, color therapy, and color psychology, you can tailor your home and each room within it to best serve your family. Here are some room color design ideas to try to in your interior design.

 Kitchen & Dining

The kitchen is the heart of the home. You gather to eat, talk, have family time, do homework, pay bills, and a plethora of other tasks. A lot is expected of this one room, so consider carefully what your goals are here.

Red is known to increase your appetite by increasing your metabolism, which is why red is such a popular color in restaurants. If your goal is to suggest hunger in your kitchen, use red.

Orange is a warm, energetic color that also stimulates the appetite. This tone can give you an energy boost and inspire conversation. 

If your ultimate goal is health and wellness in the kitchen, yellow is known to increase metabolism.

Black can be used to create interest and ground a kitchen space, if used sparingly. We suggest kitchen cabinet hardware or appliances, on floors, or in high gloss shelving.

Interesting to note is blue. One of the most popular colors, in other areas of the home, it might be the least appetizing. Some weight loss plans even recommend serving food on a blue plate. Blue very rarely occurs naturally in food aside from blueberries. Blue tinted food is often a sign of spoilage or poison.

Bathroom

The right color palette in the bathroom is so important because it's the place you prepare for the day and unwind for the evening. Inspiring tranquility is a must. You can create a spa-worthy sanctuary with the right interior color schemes.

Blue, which calls to mind feelings of calm or serenity, can also lower the pulse rate and body temperature. It is often described as peaceful, and tranquil...which is a perfect combination for the bathroom.

Green has a calming effect which is likely due to its associations with nature, where people often feel relaxed and restored.

Yellow is often perceived as being a high-energy color. It is often used in situations and products intended to create a sense of excitement or energy. According to color psychology, it can also evoke anger in some shades in some people, so proceed with caution here.

Laundry

It’s a room devoted to tidiness, cleanliness, water, and establishing order. It's important to find an interior color scheme that you're drawn to and won't get tired of seeing.

Blue evokes feelings of security and orderliness, perfect for a space that you want to feel tidy, clean and organized.

Color psychology indicates that green has restorative and refreshing properties, which is just right for setting the tone for the rest of the home.

Use black accents to ground the space and give the appearance of order.

Entry

Welcome guests, set the tone for the rest of the home, keep things bright; these are the goals of a good entryway.

Yellow is a bright color that is often described as cheery and warm, which can be a lovely way to welcome others into your home. However yellow is also the most fatiguing to the eye due to the amount of light that it reflects, so if your entry contains a lot of natural light, keep it to a pale shade.

White, according to color psychology, offers a neutral impression. This allows you to create a feeling later with other, larger interior color schemes. This is why many homeowners choose white interior entry doors.

Brown, according to its color meaning, offers a traditional welcome along with feelings of warmth and security.

Hallway 

Most hallways don’t have room for a big impression, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make one. Hallways connect spaces to one another, so it’s best if they are neutral to connect spaces with differing themes or color schemes.

Gray is perfect for hallway spaces because of its neutrality. Shades of silver are great for sconces here.

White works well in hallways as well. Consider that most wall space is taken up by doors leading to other spaces or closets. Because white is reflective, it is very helpful in a hall space where light is often needed.

Office

Your office should be a space that inspires you to do your best work. It should also feel organized and personal. This is a tall order, but absolutely doable. What color may depend on what type of work you do.

Blue is often used in offices because, according to its color meaning and research, people are more productive in blue rooms.

Color psychology has shown that green can improve reading and comprehension ability.

Purple inspires the creative. According to the Pantone Color Institute, Ultra Violet "takes our awareness and potential to a higher level."

Living Room

The living room is the spot where, aside from the kitchen, your family will gather the most. Lots of space, a positive vibe, and a welcoming place to gather are three necessities for a functional, well-designed living room.

Because blue is favored by so many people, it is often viewed as a non-threatening color that can seem conservative and traditional.

Green is often used in decorating for its calming effect. For example, guests waiting to appear on television programs often wait in a “green room” to relax.

In color therapy, pink is often used to impart feelings of trust, nurturing, and compassion. Which is a perfect sentiment for a family and friends gathering space.

Try Color Psychology In Your Home 

Knowing what colors mean can empower you with knowledge to choose interior color schemes that will create the happiest, most productive home for your family. Using the color meanings and color psychology, try it in one space as a sort of color therapy experiment to see if you feel a difference.