How Wall Color Can Affect Your Mood: a house log

Now that my bun in the oven is totally “out” (there is nothing like announcing it to the world at large) I am liberated to admit things like “lately I have been reading nursery decorating books.” And my go-to one so far is Feathering The Nest by Tracy Hutson. But wait, do not tune out yet all of you non-baby people…

Because not only is it packed with vivid eye candy (much of which is totally green and intentionally geared towards stimulating baby’s brain and keeping children’s safety in mind), it also has plenty of interesting researched information, like a detailed write up about the impact of color. And it is not simply baby-skewed. Many of the color studies were performed on grown ups too, so imagine our surprise when we read things like “couples argue most in yellow kitchens.” Here is an eye-opening rundown of each color and what some studies suggest that it means to the people around them (all according to Feathering The Nest):

Red-

• increases energy and enthusiasm
• generates excitement
• instills confidence
• associated with energizing organs, blood circulation, and the senses of hearing, smell, taste, vision and touch
• recommended as an accent since it is intense
• might hurt a person’s ability to settle down or concentrate for extended periods
• an occasional bold stroke of it can encourage attention to detail

Orange-

• cheerful, bold, daring, spontaneous
• creates a sense of adventure
• encourages confidence and independence
• takes creativity and enthusiasm to new levels
• stimulates the lungs, respiration, and digestion
• reputed to increase milk production in new mothers and boost the appetite
• may elevate IQ as much as twelve points

Yellow-

• the most visible color
• sparks optimism, enlightenment, energy, creativity
• stimulates mental activity and memory
• said to encourage expression and communication
• believed to heighten mentality and strengthen muscles
• can assist in concentration, memorization, visualization skills, speaking, and writing
• some research showed babies cried more in yellow rooms
• other studies also found that couples argue most in yellow kitchens

Green-

• said to be the most refreshing color and the easiest on the eyes
• brings peace, rest, hope, comfort, balance, and harmony
• creates a sense of safety and security
• good for preemies or infants with gastroesophageal reflux syndrome
• strengthens and preserves eyesight
• alleviates depression, nervousness, and anxiety

Blue-

• perceived as a constant in our lives since it is the color of the ocean and the sky
• soothing, calming, tranquil, peaceful
• may encourage individuals to be trustworthy, committed and dependable
• is used to assist babies with respiratory distress syndrome
• decreases heart rate

Purple-

• a rich uplifting color
• provides a sense of calmness
• promotes inner strength
• inspires creativity and artistic talents
• is associated with respect and spirituality
• may calm a colicky baby and foster peaceful sleep
• provides a soothing effect on the ears, eyes, and nervous system

Pink-

• sweet, calming, innocent
• pink symbolizes youthfulness and softness
• it is frequently associated with kindness
• said to heal sadness
• allows individuals to get in touch with their feelings

Brown-

• deep connection to the earth
• has natural and organic components
• is believed to afford a sense of stability and wholeness
• a quite grounding color
• provides a feeling of order, reliability, and protection

Black-

• a submissive color
• makes a room appear smaller for a cozy, stabilizing feeling
• promotes a sense of bring grounded
• strengthens the ability to focus and gain a sense of self

White-

• a pure and joyous color
• symbolizes cleanliness and new beginnings
• aids in clear thinking and encourages clarity
• generates a sense of balance and harmony
• is associated with speedy healing
• a common color to treat depression

So what do you folks think? Does it have you rethinking any color choices you’ve made in your home? We are relieved to hear that blue may encourage people to be trustworthy, committed and dependable since it is our bedroom choice. Whew. And how about that yellow kitchen bombshell? We have seen tons of them and they consistently seem so cheerful. Let us talk about color… and how it makes you feel.

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