Color me Comfy

The Art and Science of Color Choices in Home Design

Throw some shade to an interior design scheme that makes a living space livable. It’s an uncommonly understood school of study, but the psychology of how color impacts mood, productivity, relaxation, and other human conditions has been carefully considered for more than a century by professionals taking both art and science into account.

Realtors are accustomed to prospective home buyers who bristle at an otherwise perfect property with wall colors that turn them off, and it’s a constant source of amusement for those of us who watch home buying shows. Color indeed reflects the personality and design strategy of interior décor, and thankfully, it’s a snap to change when it comes to walls.
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To make a home eminently livable, pay attention to tips from the experts and decide which shades are most suitable and productive for which types of living. It’s a fun pursuit for design gurus and a fabulous way to narrow down paint selection pursuits, and it may just add everyday living from peaceful relaxation to energetic productivity. Here are some ideas for customizing via color:

• ENTRYWAY
  Introducing your personal digs becomes critical to shape a mood, and something neutrally soft and inspiring works best. Try a pale teal, buckwheat, or ultra-light apricot, adding just enough pixels to infuse a welcoming feeling.
  

• LIVING ROOM
  Ground Central for gathering and entertaining, the living room works best with rich, full-bodied color. Chocolate brown, navy, steel gray, and even lighter shades such as sage green and buttercream deliver versatility that meshes with furnishings and accents. They lower anxiety levels, psychologists say, and infuse a sense of confidence.
  

• HALLWAYS
  Navigating a living space is an energy-positive action. Reflect that kinetic concept with an on-the-go color that motivates transition and movement. Fiery bold red, yellow-tinged deep purple, and charcoal are top choices for these locations.
  

• MASTER AND GUEST BEDROOMS
  A big surprise is how powerful and yet relaxing black walls can be. Mitigating this dramatic shade with carefully chosen linens, furnishings, and accent décor can de-escalate its perceived negative energy by blending in soft tones including pale yellow, ivory, and pink. Also consider partial wallpaper with tasteful striping or cheery polka dots; both take the focus off of stark black, complementing it nicely.
  

• OFFICES
  Productivity varies when office spaces come to mind. Creative endeavors call for an easy, relaxed feeling, and pale, tan-based yellow shades work best, with a deep navy, mellowed orange, or pastel green following close behind. Is your job more tech-focused? Try a mid-tone gray-green, brick red, or a yellow-tinged eggshell.
  

• BATHROOMS
  Last, but not least, powder rooms represent more intimate, short-stay experiences. Fresh turquoise, lavender, stoic gray, and wheat shades offer a comforting sense of privacy and calm. Shade variants conform to the design motif of an ensuite or guest bath, with vintage and cottage aesthetics call for softer shades and stark contemporary energy works splendidly with deeper, more permeating colors.

 
Any questions on sourcing the full range of spectacular shades? Hit the mothership of all things colorful: Pantone. They will blow your mind with an endless array of blended tones and the nuanced science of color.