How Your Room’s Wall Color Affects Your Mood

Have you ever walked into a room and felt incredibly at ease? On the other hand, have you ever walked into a room and felt your shoulders rise and body get tense? There are a few different factors that may cause this phenomenon, and one of them is the room’s wall color. You may not realize it, but color plays a bigger role on our mood and our emotions than we think. A bright yellow room may give us just the energetic boost we’ve been looking for. A deep blue may calm us but may also help us get into our feelings a little faster. Some colors “emote” more than others, but either way, they affect us. Learn more about how your room’s wall color affects your mood below!

A Brief Look at Color Psychology

In order to pick the right color for your home, you should first look into color psychology. As prevalent as color is in our lives, there isn’t that much scientific research on the idea of how color affects people’s moods. The truth is, color affects people in different ways—there are general ways a shade brings about a mood. However, the actual emotions it inspires in an individual depend on the person’s personality, the climate, their background, and a variety of other factors. Either way, what is known, is that colors do in fact, impact our mood. Now let’s delve into the different wall colors and how they can impact your mood!

Yellow

Like we talked about, yellow often brings people happiness. It’s a mood brightener, in the simplest sense. This can go awry, however, if you choose a shade of yellow which is too bright. Brighter shades of yellow can cause fatigue and anxiety—an accent wall could be the perfect amount, but the whole room may overwhelm. Soft, pale yellows are easier to live with in the long run; the ambience they give will still provide guests with that cheerful energy, while reducing the chances of being overwhelming.

Blue

Blue is most often people’s room color choice if they want to bring relaxation—that’s why it’s one of the most popular bedroom colors! When people feel overwhelmed, then a transition into a deep blue room can help them feel centered and serene. In a therapeutic sense, blue is actually believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain. However, there are downsides to choosing blue if not designed properly:

• Pastel blues can come off too cold
• Dark blues (when not partnered with brighter design features) can invoke feelings of sadness

If you’re going to choose a blue, we’d recommend lighter, warmer blues, in addition to balancing them with warm hues and furnishings.

Red

In a more scientific sense, red is known to raise blood pressure, increase your heart rate, and even stem some irritability. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a color you need to steer clear of for your room. It’s also known for stimulating appetites and conversation; time for a red kitchen, maybe? It’s also a color that’s associated with passion and energy, but if you want to paint your bedroom or living room red, we’d suggest a more muted, deeper red. This will give it a softer look and won’t be as harsh on the eye as a firetruck red.

Green

When you think of green, do you think first of nature or of jealousy? Most people think of green and associate with the restful, soothing nature of nature. It’s a color that’s thought to relieve stress and help heal. Maybe that has something to do with the mixture of the calming primary blue and the happiness of yellow. In addition, green is also one of the most restful colors for your eyes—it clears the mind, encourages composure, and goes well with a variety of other hues!

Purple

People think of purple as royalty, but there’s more to this beautiful color than just that. Similar to blue, purple has a calming influence that most often relates to spirituality, abundance, and health. On the other hand, where a deep blue can bring along sadness, a deep purple gives off a romantic and luxurious atmosphere that’s great for creativity. If you want a purple for the bedroom, stay away from the creativity spurring deep purple and opt for a gentler lilac or lavender.

Orange

If red is too rich for you, then orange may be just what you need. Orange represents bravery and generosity and is the perfect accent to a boring room. It gives that same happiness as yellow, works in virtually any room in the house, and gives off some energy. Pair it up with a nice clean white or a soft gray and you’ll get fresh looks for the space. Even if you went with a bright orange, you still wouldn’t get that overwhelming nature that often comes with a bright yellow.

Pink

You may not think about using the color for everyday spaces, but a pink room is actually a great color choice if you’re looking to relieve tension and conflict. There’s actually something called the Pink Effect, where large amounts of the shade can calm the nerves and relieve feelings of anger and aggression. It has the opposite effect of its primary color, in that the longer you’re exposed, the calmer you’ll become!

White

White is the hue most people turn to when it comes to interior design. It can be put anywhere, complemented with anything, and can hardly be considered sterile (when designed well, of course). It’s used to make smaller rooms seem larger, to make spaces seem fresher, to symbolize faith and innocence, and so much more. If you’re ever on the fence, maybe your room really just needs a fresh coat of white paint.

Black

The last shade we’ll talk about is black. The color black symbolizes elegance and wisdom, it’s stylish and timeless, and can give your space just the personality twist it needs. Now, we wouldn’t recommend going with a black accent wall; if you’re going to do it, go big. You can always brighten it up with lighter accessories to elevate the mood.

There you have it—a brief look at color psychology and how your room’s color affects your mood. If you decide you need to switch it up and create a new mood and atmosphere, turn to ECOS Paints. We have non-toxic* interior paint in all the colors and shades you could ever need. Take a look at our collections now and know that you’re not just choosing the best color for your mood, but the best paint for your health.

* Non-Toxic - Conforms to ASTMD-4236, specifically concerning oral toxicity, skin irritation, and respiratory effects.