Color is one of the most celebrated aspects of interior decorating. It is also the only dimension of a space that can provide immediate, full scale transformation. Once the walls and ceiling are painted, the most influential parts of the room are now ready to be harmoniously altered by furniture and accessories, and window treatments and wall decor, creating a beautifully balanced space.
A person's reaction to color is instantaneous - they will either love it or hate. It will invoke feelings of calmness or distress, happiness or sadness. And color has the wonderful ability to transform itself with the simple introduction of light, or the lack thereof.
Is there a room in your home you absolutely love when the morning light is beaming in, but don't really enjoy going into later in the day? If you can answer yes to this question, you have experienced the psychology of color first hand. The goal of an interior decorator skilled in the art of Color Analysis is to work with their clients likes, and dislikes of color, to perfect the color selections for the room so that it is enjoyable no matter what the lighting is like.
Since colors are innumerable, I am only going to address the meanings of some of the basic and familiar ones. An interior decorator combines this information with their clients tastes and personality to masterfully create the perfect backdrop for each space.
Red - The most powerful color of them all. It demands constant processing by the eye and mind. A color not to be used by the timid because it is inherently stimulating. It makes people more enthusiastic. Associations: energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination, passion, desire, love. Physically: stimulates human metabolism, increases respirations, raises blood pressure.
Light Red - joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, love
Pink - romance, love, friendship, feminine
Dark Red - vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, wrath
Brown - stability, masculine
Red-brown - harvest, autumn
Orange - This is the most controversial color. It is either loved or hated in its purest form . The varying tints and shades of peach and terra cotta have always been the more accepted versions of orange. It is related with warmth and energy. Associations: joy, sunshine, enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, stimulation, strength, endurance. Physically: increases oxygen to the brain, stimulates mental activity and appetites
Dark Orange - deceit, distrust
Red-orange - desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, thirst
Yellow - This is the most pleasant and cheerful color, and generally liked in most of its variations. Associations: joy, happiness, intellect, energy, honor, loyalty. Physically: produces a warming effect, stimulates mental activity, generates muscle energy
Light Yellow - intellect, freshness, joy
Gold - prestige, illumination, wisdom, wealth, high quality
Dull Yellow - caution, decay, sickness, jealousy
Green - Color most associated with nature. Associations: growth, harmony, freshness, fertility, safety, money, stability, endurance, hope. Physically: healing power, restful, improve vision
Dark Green - ambition, greed, jealousy
Yellow-Green - sickness, cowardice, discord
Olive Green - peace
Blue - Color of sky and sea. Associations: depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, heaven, tranquility, calmness, masculine. Physically: beneficial to mind and body, slows metabolism and calms
Light Blue - health, healing, tranquility, understanding, softness
Dark Blue - knowledge, power, integrity, seriousness
Violet (Purple) - The color of royalty. Associations: power, nobility, luxury, ambition, wealth, extravagance, wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, magic, feminine, purity. Physically: promotes sleep, purifies physical and spiritual levels
Light Purple - romantic, nostalgic
Dark Purple - gloom, sadness, frustration