The Psychology Behind Colour in The Home

Colour psychology is a subject that has been investigated for years and the discovery of colour psychology is said to have originated in 1810 by German poet and artist Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth who published one of the first books on colour psychology. In this article we explore the psychology behind colour in the home so that you can create the right vibe in your home. 

What is colour psychology?

Colour psychology is a branch of colour theory that includes giving colours emotional and psychological meanings. There are some colour meanings and emotional impacts that are universal, yet some colours might symbolise various things in different cultures. Since marketers started using the theory to influence consumer perceptions of brands through marketing initiatives, the idea of colour psychology has grown in popularity. Artists and interior designers who want the colours they employ to elicit a specific emotional response or psychological reaction frequently take this into consideration.

Despite the fact that everyone experiences colour differently, some effects are universal. The colours of the rainbow can evoke a variety of emotions, including warmth, happiness, and even feelings of trust or compassion. Here are some illustrations of colour psychology, including instances of both the advantages and disadvantages of each colour:

Black 

One simple but effective colour used in many homes is black because it is sophisticated looking and goes with pretty much everything. Paired with the right furnishings, a black feature wall can be a unique but positive addition to any room. Typically, people do tend to use black as more of an accent colour than a feature wall due to its intensity. 

Positive:

• Formality
• Sophistication
• Security
• Dramatic

Negative:

• Death
• Evil
• Grief
• Seriousness

White

The most popular colour in the home has to be white, there are many different shades to choose from and itg goes with everything making it a very versatile colour choice. This simple and clean looking colour is inofensive and excellent if you want to liven up a room with dashes of colour in furniture and decor. It’s important to remember that too much white in the home can leave a room feeling cold and isolated.

Positive:

• Clean
• Simple
• Honest
• Innocence

Negative:

• Sterility
• Cold
• Isolation

Blue

If you are looking for a calming colour that promotes tranquillity then we would recommend using blue. Colour psychology studies suggest that blue helps to reduce tension which may be one of the reasons why many of us associate the colour blue with peace. Despite its positive connotations, blue can also evoke feelings of sadness and coldness which is where the saying ‘feeling blue’ originates from.

Positive:

• Trust
• Peace
• Loyalty
• Competence
• Calm

Negative:

• Cold
• Sadness

Green

One colour that has really taken off recently is green, a colour that comes with two sides when it comes to evoking emotion. The positive emotions include freshness and balance, whereas the negative emotions associated with green include envy and sickness which links to the saying ‘green with envy’. It’s important that when using any colour in the home, you carefully select your shade to match the feelings you want to evoke.

Positive:

• Nature
• Freshness
• Balance
• Quality
• Health

Negative:

• Envy
• Sickness
• Immaturity

Yellow

If you are a creative person, one splash of colour you may want to use in the home is yellow which represents new ideas, happiness and optimism making it a great choice if you want to lift the mood. It’s important that you use this colour carefully as too much yellow is said to generate negative emotions such as nervousness and agitation, particularly amongst people already feeling stressed. 

If you are looking for your perfect yellow paint Victory Colours has many different shades to choose from, who also sell their eco friendly paint range. Their Lemoncello No.62 is recommended for anyone wanting to add happiness and warmth to their room. 

Positive:

• Creativity
• Happiness
• Warmth
• Cheerfulness
• Optimism

Negative:

• Abrasive
• Cowardice

Orange

As we step into autumn, a popular colour choice in the home is orange which represents the golden leaves falling off trees and big orange pumpkins. Aswell as being associated with this cosy season, the colour orange can evoke a range of feelings from confidence to frustration. We feel that the right shade of orange is a great way to radiate warmth and cosiness through the home.

Positive:

• Courage
• Confidence
• Warmth
• Innovation
• Energy
• Friendly

Negative:

• Frustration
• Ignorance
• Frustration
• Immaturity

Red

Perhaps the most bold and eye-catching colour you can use in your home is red, a colour that tends to be associated with strong emotions- both positive and negative. The number one rule when it comes to using red is that a little goes a long way. The positive emotions include love and excitement whilst the negative ones include anger and danger. The colour red is interesting because whilst it has some universal connotations, there are cultural ones too. For instance, red represents luck and happiness in China but conjures up feelings of caution and danger in the Middle East.

Positive:

• Excitement
• Love
• Strength
• Power

Negative:

• Anger
• Danger
• Aggression
• Warning