THE IMPACT OF COLOR
by Renea Lewis, Allied Member ASID
Design by Choice, LLC
Spring is just around the corner and we find ourselves thinking of cleaning and
freshening up winter weary rooms. Color is the most exciting and inexpensive
decorating tool we have to make a major impact on a room. It is important to
consider a few things about color before jumping into a color scheme that may
not be right for your room.
As a design professional and color specialist, I meet with many clients that have tried a myriad of
colors on their walls that simply do not live up to their expectations. Several factors
contribute to making a wise choice for your room.
First to be considered in choosing the right color for your room is room orientation and amount of
natural light. Rooms with north oriented windows have a soft glow of light and are not impacted by
direct sunlight. South oriented rooms are flooded with sunlight throughout the day. Windows facing
east and west are impacted by morning and afternoon sun. Therefore, careful thought must be put
into how the room functions for your family. For instance, a room with a lot of natural light facing
north could become chilling when painted in a subtle blue. The same room painted in a soft gold
becomes inviting and warm.
THE WARM COLOR STORY
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Bold, positive and full of energy. (Not the best choice for a toddler’s room – the child would never take an afternoon nap!)
Natural Association: Roses, Blood, Heart, Autumn Leaves
Psychological Symbolism: Red Carpet, Love, Passion, Anger, Power |
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Bright, happy and rejuvenated (A perennial favorite for kitchens)
Natural Association: Sunshine, Daffodils, Canaries
Psychological Symbolism: Intelligence, Happiness, Light Hearted |
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Cheerful, playful and fun (the color of the forever young!)
Natural Association: Fire, Sunsets, Lava, Butterflies
Psychological Symbolism: Hungry, Rebel, Fresh, Attention |
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The children’s study featured
here combines warm butterscotch
walls with rich browns. It is an
inviting and friendly space for
children to do homework or crafts. |
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THE COOL COLOR STORY |
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Restful, peaceful and conservative (the most popular of all the colors)
Natural Association: Sky, Water, Ocean
Psychological Symbolism: Calm, Serene, Sad (as in feeling blue) |
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Soothing, fresh and gentle (God’s neutral color – all other colors blend well with green!)
Natural Association: Grass, Meadows, Forests
Psychological Symbolism: Money, Good luck, Eco-Friendly, Spring |
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Magical, mysterious and worshipful (a favorite of creative people)
Natural Association: Violets, Mountains, Eggplant
Psychological Symbolism: Dignity, Mysterious, Moody, Creative |
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The bedroom is a study of the cool palette. Mid-tone soft olive walls with accents in
aqua blue merge to create a restful retreat. |
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The human eye can distinguish over 1 million different colors. No wonder it is difficult to choose just
one. However, all those colors break down to a fairly simple concept. Knowing some color wheel
basics can help in determining if a warm or cool color scheme is right for you. Warm colors are red,
orange and yellow. Cool colors are blue, green and violet. Consider cooler colors for rooms that are
flooded with natural sunlight. Consider warmer colors for rooms that have limited natural light. Color
schemes using both warm and cool colors can be very rewarding in our Michigan climate. (Look for
future articles on “How to Create a Color Scheme.”)
 The color wheel consists of six primary
and secondary colors. Each of the color
families need to be contemplated. When
considering red, for example, variances
in the color mean different things. Which
red is right for you? Is bold, vibrant red
that exudes energy right for your room?
Or, is a soft, soft pink (a tint of red) which
suggests tenderness right for your room?
Maybe a rich burgundy (a shade of red)
which brings dignity to a room is best.
Do consider all the shades and tints of
a color to help in making the best
decision for your room. Think about
adjectives you would use to describe
the room of your dreams.
Most people choose colors that they relate
to through psychological symbolism or natural associations. Natural associations relate to the natural world around us and how we
associate with it. A good example is that we relate the color blue to sky and water, both restful and
peaceful. Psychological symbolism is more about how we feel when we think about a color. The best combination is when both the natural and physiological associations
of color are positive.
Color is an important decision. Becoming aware of how and why color affects
people will help in making the right decision for your home. When in doubt, call in a professional
for a color consultation that will assure you get the perfect color the first time.
To view a bio and additional work samples from Renea Lewis, click here |
