Paint By Mood: How Different Hues Affect You

Induce (or suppress) your appetite, encourage creativity or calm your nerves all with the right paint hue.

Everyone knows how daunting selecting the perfect paint color can be. What color works best where? What's the perfect shade for natural light? Do I stick with warmer or cooler tones? Once you've finally nailed down your preferred hue, what in turn does that hue say about you? Or, more importantly, what does it do to you?



Typically when we select paint colors, we're searching for ones that will look best in a particular space -- and we neglect to think about how that final color will make those who enter the space feel. Many experts will agree that every color we encounter has some sort of psychological impact, whether it's soothing our mood, exciting our appetite or rejuvenating our spirit.

A mistake in color choice can definitely have a drastic impact: the wrong peach hue turns dreary and depressing, a mistake in yellow can be headache inducing, and an error in pink can be Pepto-Bismol-required nauseating. But just as the wrong hue can wreck the feel of a space, it can also be detrimental to our moods. "Studies indicate that babies cry more in a yellow room than any color tested," says Andrea Piontek, senior color stylist for Olympic Interior Paints. "Despite its happy demeanor, yellow can provoke anxiety."

Of course, we're all individuals, so color impact will vary from person to person.

"Research studies show that color-mood association differs widely among individuals depending on cultural, learned and individual preferences," says Jody Simons, color expert for Valspar paints. For instance, in China and India, white (not black) is the color most commonly associated with death. "One conclusive finding, however, is that the saturation or intensity of color can have significant impact over a neutral color," Simons adds.

So next time you're staring with overwhelmed eyes at a wall of paint swatches, don't just think about what looks pretty -- think of your space as a psychological tool, and paint accordingly. Here's a breakdown of basic color groups to help guide you through the process.

Reds
In the presence of red, time seems to slow down, says Andrea Piontek of Olympic. This is why the color is often used in bars, casinos and restaurants, to remove a feeling of being rushed and entice visitors to stay longer. Another factor for the common appearance in restaurants is the consensus that red stimulates the appetite. This is why Mary Lawlor, color stylist for Kelly-Moore Paints, recommends leaving red for the dining room. Opt for brighter, orange-based reds for a true appetite-inducing impact. Blue-based reds should be used for a more sophisticated, intimate feel.

Try these hues:
To energize... BEHR, Bijou Red, UL110-16
To set a sexy tone... Benjamin Moore, Merlot Red, 2006-10
To induce the appetite... Valspar, La Fonda Fireberry, 1010-1



Blues
Most commonly connected to sky and water, blues tend to have a cooling effect. "They can also be associated with clear thinking, sharpness or calm and meditative environments," says Jody Simons of Valspar. Stick to pale blues for a cooling effect, brighter turquoise-level blues for sharpness and clear thinking (great for offices) and deep, dark blues for a calming, meditative environment.

One of the most successful ways to use blue is in the darker or more saturated variations, says Erika Woelfel, director of color marketing for BEHR Paints. "Darker blues, such as navy Mosaic Blue UL240-21 (seen above), get warmer as they go deeper," she says. "It is a terrific color to use in a bedroom or bathroom." Blues with higher chroma, like Cerulean 560B-7, she adds, energize a space, making it feel more inventive and engaging.

And for all those calorie-counters, here's a fun theory: "Blue is a color rarely found in food and so it's a color that suppresses the appetite," says Mary Lawlor of Kelly-Moore Paints.

Try these hues:
To introduce the feeling of a clear sky... Benjamin Moore, Fantasy Blue, 716
To create an intimate setting... Benjamin Moore, Hale Navy, HC-154
To encourage meditation... Olympic, Brilliant Blue, B52-6


Greens
Perhaps because it surrounds us in nature, green is said to make us feel tended and secure. Though depending on the shade, green can be both tranquil and invigorating, says Jody Simons of Valspar. "Soft mossy greens can emote tranquility and serve as great neutrals," she says. "While citric greens that contain more yellow can invigorate and feel fresh."

Try these hues:
To calm... BEHR, Grass Cloth, 400D-5
To de-stress... BEHR, Moss Print, UL210-14
To invigorate... Benjamin Moore, Agave, AF-420

Browns
Similar to green, brown (also in nature) prompts comfort and security. Andrea Piontek of Olympic cautions the use of dark browns in small rooms because it can feel enclosing and claustrophobic. "Very light browns reflect most light and are kind to the eye in much as they contribute very little to eye fatigue," she says, "making that shade family ideal for rooms where you read, like a study or home office."

Try these hues:
To feel secure... Valspar, Churchill Hotel Brown, 3010-9
To encourage novel reading... Valspar, Light Raffia, 3008-10B

Yellows
Yes, it's true: Studies have shown that babies cry more in a yellow room than any other color tested. The studies also show that with more than one child in a room they are even more likely to cry "in concert" in yellow spaces, alluding to the theory that yellow creates anxiety.

Because of its initial impression of cheeriness, the color is most often selected for kitchens. But Andrea Piontek of Olympic advises against this. "Kitchens are the hub of the home, where everything happens and is discussed, so they're naturally high anxiety rooms even without the presence of yellow," she says. Instead, she recommends using the color in transitional areas, such as a hallway or laundry room where the color can have a more invigorating impact.

Or, opt for richer honey tones -- perfect for making a large room feel more cozy and inviting, says Erika Woelfel of BEHR Paints. Deep, richer tones also allude to an air of elegance (think gold).

Try these hues:
To create the feeling of a sunset... Benjamin Moore, Roasted Sesame Seed, 2160-40
To establish elegance... Olympic, Yukon Gold, B13-3

Oranges
We often use color subconsciously as a status indicator, says Andrea Piontek of Olympic. "Orange is a great example of a declassifying color," she says. "Declassifying colors denote casual informality, while classifying colors suggest formality, expense and status."

If orange is a favorite color, Piontek suggests leaning toward the terra-cotta end of the spectrum. "Terra-cotta colors are an upgraded version of orange," she says. "Terra-cotta's shade range varies from very near orange (approaching the illusion of inexpensiveness) to very deep red-brown (expensive), giving you quite a wide opportunity to use the friendliness of orange without compromising the apparent quality."

Oranges are also known to stimulate creativity when clean, bright hues are used, says Jody Simons of Valspar. Tone them down and they become cozy and comforting.

Try these hues:
To stimulate creativity... Valspar, Sunset Glow, 3009-2
To comfort... Kelly-Moore Paints, Pumpkin Pie, 4306-5 (shown above)