Home decoration and the use of colors: How do the colors of our home affect our mood and activities?

Just as the intensity of light, sunlight, or artificial lighting, color temperature, the size and orientation of large windows have an impact on our daily mood and activities, the colors of our home, the strength of colors, combinations, and patterns also significantly influence our mood, emotional state, susceptibility to certain things, and overall affect our comfort and sense of well-being at home.

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Home decoration and the use of colors

  • Let’s examine in detail how the colors of our home affect us!
  • From a interior design perspective, how can we categorize colors?
  • Which color suits each room better?

Starting with the basics, let’s see the general psychological effects of colors on us.

Psychological effects of individual colors:

Red:

Exciting, invigorating, dynamic; enhances emotions, eye-catching.

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Yellow:

Radiates warmth, creates a joyful atmosphere. Energizing effect; provides a radiant, bright appearance.

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Beige:

Radiates calming timelessness, warmth, and a desire to please everyone. However, due to the latter, it can also create a common, boring, frustrating effect.

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A warm, mild light brown or yellow-brown color that is easily combinable with other colors. Be cautious, as many people choose it when they are afraid to commit to any distinctive color! They think that with such a completely restrained shade, they cannot go wrong, and they surely cannot ruin it.

Green:

Elicits a fresh, natural feeling. Has a calming effect.

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To this endearing statement, the powerful green shade adds a determined, elegant, bold character.

Blue:

Elicits a clean and refreshing effect. Calms the mind and can help reduce stress.

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White:

The color of innocence, honesty, pure elegance. Also, the color of hygienic cleanliness and pure light.

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Pure, bright, and sophisticated in effect. White can be well paired with other colors. If our space is not large enough, it can also have an expanding effect.

Gray:

Elicits an elegant effect, soothes, slows down, radiates timelessness (and transience).

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Based on the above image, we can also realize that a color is not usually tied to a specific style. For example, when it comes to interior design, upon hearing the color gray, most often, in the case of a living room, we associate it with some Scandinavian or minimalist interior, not a Victorian (or Glamour) style. Gray is a very versatile neutral color that can be applied to any other color. Its predominant appearance may be characteristic of more modern styles. In this case, it can be used to soften the elegance of black and white and reduce strong contrast. Graphite and especially anthracite grays are often used instead of black because they are softer, warmer, and still retain their elegance.

Brown:

Has a natural, friendly, warm, and timeless effect.

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Brown shades (including cream and beige tones) fit perfectly into a natural, warm environment. They can be used on wooden furniture, floors, or textiles. However, if our furniture follows a vintage trend and we overdo it with brown shades, we may create an overwhelming and outdated “old” effect.

Black:

Elicits a sense of serious, restrained elegance, while also being somber, the color of mourning.

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Strong and dramatic, but when used in moderation, it works exceptionally well as an accessory or contrast. For example, in the form of black frames, furniture, or accessories. Excessive use has a space-constricting effect. In recent fashion trends, alongside black or deep gray anthracite-colored furniture and other furnishings, there is a subtle inclusion of gold or antique gold surfaces. However, the luxurious feeling of black and gold can be achieved even without using gold colors. With LED lighting, imitations of carbon filament Edison bulbs from 100 years ago can enchant us again, now as low-consumption LEDs. When the warm white LEDs’ cover is tinted amber or smoke, filtering the original 2700 Kelvin color temperature, we get 1800–2200 Kelvin light, resembling the color temperature of a candle flame or a carbon filament bulb. This extraordinarily warm white light has the effect of illuminating black furniture with a golden light, providing an truly exclusive “luxurious” appearance.

I couldn’t resist delving into some details of interior design at times, but perhaps it better aids the understanding of psychological attitudes.


Colors play an important role in the context of individual rooms to achieve the desired effect:

  • Living Room: Comfort and a warm atmosphere are important here. Earth tones can be used, and elements in shades of red or orange can be used to emphasize warm tones.
  • Bedroom: A place of calm and relaxation, so pastel colors, blue, or green can be ideal.
  • Kitchen: Inspiring for food preparation; vibrant colors such as red or yellow can be chosen — colors often associated with desirable foods.
  • Bathroom: Clean, fresh-feeling colors are suitable, such as white, blue, or light green.
  • Home Office: Considered stimulating for work and concentration, green or blue tones. Calming, they can assist in efficient work.

This list was a strictly general approach, a baseline, , but let’s look at more details.

During interior design planning, warm, neutral, and cool color combinations are used.

Warm colors include shades of orange, red, yellow, brown, and beige. These colors radiate warmth, energy, and liveliness, and are excellent for creating spaces where people gather, relax, or where a warm and friendly atmosphere is desired.

Cool colors radiate coolness, calmness, and freshness. Examples of cool colors include blue, green, purple, and cool-toned grays. While green is officially a cool color, it’s worth distinguishing between yellowish and bluish tones of green. If we feel more yellowish tones in green, it becomes a warm green. These colors are excellent for use in spaces where tranquility and cleanliness are desired.

Let’s look at some practical examples of how and in which spaces warm and cool colors can be applied in interior design:

Living room or dining area:

  • Orange and red create a warm and vibrant atmosphere. These colors are excellent for rooms where people meet and spend time together.
  • Shades of beige, yellow, or brown can create a pleasant, warm environment. These colors can be introduced through furniture, pillows, curtains, or even a bit of painting.
  • Cool blue, green, or gray colors can give the living room a modern and sophisticated look.
  • Combined with silver or chrome accessories, we can create a cool and elegant atmosphere.

Bedroom:

  • Warm shades of red and deeper shades of orange evoke a sense of romance and passion, making them ideal for bedrooms.
  • Yellow and beige can create a pleasant, calm environment, especially if softer, pastel shades are chosen.
  • Shades of blue and purple have a soothing effect, making them ideal for the bedroom. They can help reduce stress and promote restful sleep.
  • Cool-toned grays can also create an elegant and tranquil environment in the bedroom.
  • Particularly for bedrooms, an all-white solution has become fashionable. White symbolizes purity and innocence. If your room is white or lacks color, modern lighting technology allows you to transform it into any color. For example, bedrooms are not usually used in daylight, so we generally use some form of lighting. Dim warm-white lights create a romantic atmosphere in semi-darkness, regardless of the fact that the bedroom is bathed in daylight. At the same time, with today’s RGB LED lighting, you can paint your white room in any color in the evening. The lights can flash, or you can go wild with red.

Kitchen:

  • Red and orange have invigorating effects, stimulate appetite, so they can also be used in the kitchen area.
  • Brown and beige can create a warm and friendly kitchen environment, especially when combined with wooden elements.
  • Cool blue or gray shades can lend cleanliness and a modern appearance to the kitchen.
  • Cool green colors can also be applied in the kitchen, especially if you want a fresh and natural environment.

Bathroom:

  • Yellow or orange can be excellent choices for the bathroom to create a fresh, sunny feeling.
  • Beige or brown shades evoke a sense of naturalness and can create a calm bathroom environment.
  • Sea blue or aqua colors are refreshing and convey cleanliness, making them particularly pleasant in the bathroom.
  • Green colors, such as mint, can also bring freshness and naturalness to the bathroom.

Entryway, hallway:

  • Bright orange or red is an option for drawing attention and creating a lively atmosphere, even in the entryway.
  • Beige, brown, or gold colors can create a warm and welcoming effect.

Home Office:

  • Cool-toned grays or blue shades have a concentration-stimulating effect, making them particularly advantageous in the home office.
  • Simple, clean design and cool colors complement each other well in the workspace.

Children’s Room:

  • Lighter cool colors, such as light blue or mint, can create a pleasant and cheerful environment in the children’s room.

When applying warm colors, it is important to consider the room’s size, lighting conditions, and individual preferences. Strong warm colors can easily dominate, so it’s worth balancing them with neutral or cooler colors. On the other hand, strong cool colors can be too cool and sometimes create a too sterile or rigid feeling, especially when used in large quantities. Therefore, it’s advisable to combine them with natural materials and neutral colors to create a balanced and pleasant environment.

This brings us to the importance of neutral colors.

Neutral colors are generally shades that can easily be paired with other colors and do not create strong contrast. These colors can provide a pleasant, balanced, and timeless appearance to a space. The most commonly used neutral colors are white, black, gray, and brown. While brown and beige can be considered warm colors, in certain color contexts, some of their tones can be accepted as neutral shades.

How to apply neutral colors in the interior design of our home?

  • Base Wall Colors: Neutral colors are excellent for painting walls. White, gray, or beige walls convey cleanliness and lightness.
  • Furniture: When choosing furniture, opt for pieces in gray, white, black, or beige. These colors can be well combined with other colors and styles.
  • Textiles: Use neutral-colored pillows, curtains, and rugs. These are easy to replace if you want to change the mood of the space.
  • Accessories: Accessories such as vases, candles, or decorative pillows can be white, black, or other neutral, natural colors. These can be easily changed, allowing for economical updates to the room’s overall look over time.
  • Wooden Elements: Wooden furniture and accessories also blend into the neutral color palette, bringing warmth to the space.

Neutral colors, due to their flexibility, provide an excellent foundation for diverse decorations and can easily be integrated into any style or color palette.

The use of colors alone is not enough.

Achieving a harmonious balance between the colors of walls and furnishings is crucial in interior design. To illustrate with a simple example: two colors or tones that are individually bland or even unattractive can create a pleasant effect when combined.

Some important considerations to achieve desirable and harmonious results:

Color Harmony:

Choose colors that harmonize with each other. Some colors easily harmonize, such as similar shades or choices within the same color family.

Balanced Contrast:

If you want to create contrast between walls and furniture, choose colors that work harmoniously together. For example, darker walls can be balanced with lighter furniture or accessories.

Patterns, Textures:

Use diverse patterns and textures on furnishings, but keep in mind that they should also complement the color palette. For instance, if the walls are colorful, opt for simpler patterns or textures on furniture, and vice versa.

Spatial Relationships:

White and pastel colors expand the space, while dark and bold colors narrow it. By using contrasting colors on two adjacent walls, we can optically transform the room’s shape. Alternatively, patterns on the walls — illustrated most simply with vertical or horizontal stripes — can visually widen or heighten the wall.

Lighting Conditions:

Consider the natural lighting conditions of the space. Both sunlight and artificial lighting influence the appearance of colors. Colors can change under different lighting conditions, so it’s advisable to test them in the chosen space. The living room receives cool white sunlight, while the light at sunset is warm white. It is essential to think about when we want our rooms to look their best. The same applies to artificial lighting. Cold colors shine better in cool white light, while warm colors shine better in warm white light. For example, if we illuminate a room with high-gloss minimalist furniture, warm white light will age it (add a yellowish tint), making it look cleaner and whiter than cool white light. If we have a country-style room with matte white-painted furniture, cool white light may make it look artificial, while warm white light, in a natural setting, will enhance its style, aging it.

Artificial Lighting Characteristics:

The selection and combination of general ambient lighting intensity, along with the application of local directed lighting, are extremely important. Intense general ambient lighting is not favorable for homes, as it is more suitable for workplaces, shopping centers, and communal spaces. In a room, it can create a formal and austere atmosphere. It is more advantageous to use a softer or even minimal general ambient lighting and illuminate the functions, activity areas, and interesting parts of the home. By directing light, we can create a special contrast and evoke a more intimate and romantic atmosphere.

Consistency:

Consistency between the colors of walls and furniture helps the space appear harmonious and balanced. For example, the color of the walls should harmonize with the color of the furniture in front of them.


When can we say that the color scheme of an apartment is overwhelming?

When the chosen colors, their intensity, or their combination exert an excessively intense, dark, or disturbing effect on the overall appearance. An overwhelming color scheme can result from various factors. Here are some examples of when someone might feel this way:

  • Dark or overly intense colors: Using dark or overly strong colors on walls or large surfaces that suppress the space and allow little light to pass through can create an overwhelming effect.
  • Excessive use of the same color: Monotony or excessive use of a single color can also be overwhelming. For instance, if every wall is painted in a strong, vivid color, it can create an uncomfortable and pressurized feeling.
  • Too many patterns: Too many patterns or textures in a space can be distracting. Avoid excessive pattern chaos and opt for simpler, harmonious combinations.

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I understand, bohemian style — but it’s still a shock! Antique Eastern Art Nouveau Bauhaus Postmodern — circus color extravaganza.

  • Poor color harmony: When different colors clash or lack proper color harmony, the entire space can appear chaotic and overwhelming.

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Discreet elegant Bauhaus tubular modernist dining table — but the chandelier shouldn’t have been brought from the funeral home. 🙁 — although it would look good in a horror movie.

  • Inconsistent styles: Avoid styles that don’t fit together. For example, don’t try to combine a modern design with an antique style unless you can harmoniously coordinate them.

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Achieving the overall effect of a feminine white vintage room. But looking at the details, it’s like an overcrowded bazaar. Vintage includes a certain functionalist approach, where decorative objects provide subtle harmony. In contrast, on a Scandinavian rural plank wall, an antique-looking fake fireplace frame; a new Victorian armchair with falling-apart door cabinets and a cluttered coffee table — not like this. It’s more like a vintage warehouse. 🙂

  • Excessive contrast: Excessive-contrast colors, such as strong black and white or the strong contrast of vibrant colors, can also cause a feeling of pressure. Sharp contrasts, like white walls and very dark furniture, or brightly colored walls and overly colorful, patterned furniture, can be distracting.

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For example, an overly contrasting retro wallpaper dominates the room, even if a retro look was the intention. All images in the article were created with the help of DALL-E.

  • Inappropriate colors for the room’s function: If the colors don’t harmonize with the room’s function, such as overly vibrant colors in a calm bedroom or too cool colors in a warm living room, it can be distracting.
  • Inadequate lighting and color temperature: Proper lighting also plays a crucial role in the perception of color. Natural light or the right amount of artificial light can help counteract the overwhelming effect. It’s also essential to choose and combine general ambient lighting intensity with the use of local directed lighting.

If you feel that the color scheme of an apartment is overwhelming, it’s worth reconsidering the color combinations, repainting walls in different colors, or adjusting their intensity. By creating a balance and harmoniously combining individual colors, a more pleasant atmosphere can be achieved. It’s important to incorporate our own preferences continuously and choose colors that make us feel comfortable in the space. The key is to find harmony and balance among colors, patterns, and textures. Testing and making changes in small steps can help achieve the desired ambiance in the home.

The listed mistakes are generally perceived issues. For certain styles, these may be acceptable or even essential elements of the style. Therefore, for some styles, what would generally be considered a mistake becomes a virtue. To understand this, we need to first explore the color, formal, and pattern requirements — style features — for the most common styles. This will be the topic of a future article.


In summary:

We have seen several examples, but it is essential to consider the diversity of styles. It’s important that individual taste and unique preferences also play a role in interior design. Some people prefer bold and extravagant combinations, while others favor a more streamlined and simple interior. The most crucial aspect is creating harmony and cohesion, regardless of the interior design style we follow.

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