Colors- Set the tone

We’ve known for ages, since long before the advent of color therapy, that various colors express and stimulate diverse moods, reflections and responses. Colors can energize and stimulate, calm and refresh, and even inspire and heal us. Red famously draws attention and stimulates decidedly energetic, aggressive, or erotic responses. Matadors wave red flags at bulls to provoke aggression. It’s no coincidence that sexual zones around the world are called Red Light Districts. Statistically, police pull more red cars over annually than cars of any other color. Blues and greens tend to relax, soothe and calm, which is why talk show guests often wait in a Green Room before going out to face lights, cameras and audiences.
Because colors do affect us, it’s important to choose carefully the color schemes in our living environment. Colors can soften or mute a room, as in “tone it down”. They can make a room warmer and cozier. They can energize a room, making us feel more awake, creative and alive. The key to choosing a color scheme for any room is knowing what we want to experience and how we want to feel in that room. Then we can explore the range of color option and pick the right colors for the right room for our particular needs.

The primary determining factor in any color choice is what you like, whether it be strong, flamboyant colors, rich primary colors, airy pastels or simple conservative shades. Experiment with one wall or area of a room. Be creative, even playful. Liberally paint your chosen color there, or roll wide swathes, vertical or horizontal, of possible colors on different walls. Then let it dry. Sit with it for a while. Sleep on it. See how it looks in different shades of light at different times of day or night. Notice how it draws your eye, how it makes you feel.

Below is a brief general description of the basic effects of colors on the human psyche.

Pink - Pink is physically, mentally, and emotionally soothing. It enlivens compassion, love, and purity.
Yellow - Yellow is awakening and mentally activating. It stimulates intellectual activity.
Red - Red stimulates the mind and body. It encourages sexuality and passion. It can be extreme and very powerful. Use it wisely and sparingly.
Green - Green brings balance, encourages growth, and instills calm.
Blue - Blue enhances creative expression. It is peaceful and expansive, like the sky.
Purple - Purple has a hypnotic effect. It encourages intense emotions – from anger to sublimity. It should be used very sparingly.
Orange - Orange activates optimism and refuels energy reserves.