The way that colour affects emotion varies throughout childhood and into adulthood, but there is absolute evidence backing the psychology of room colour and how it affects feelings and behaviour on a daily basis.

In preparing to paint a space, whether it’s an office or a home, make sure you understand the science and psychology behind colour and its effect on emotional reaction.

And remember: The right colour for one room may not be ideal for another.

Choosing Room Paint Ideas in the Bedroom

When choosing a bedroom colour, the most important factor to consider is relaxation.

A bedroom should be an escape from stress.

Like many yoga studios and spas, blues and greens in a bedroom can promote calmness and restoration. Blue has been noted to lower blood pressure, while red has been shown to raise it. Both colours have positive impacts; the colour red is just associated with alertness and high-energy, better concepts for social areas of the home and feelings that aren’t necessary when trying to unwind before going to sleep.

Using an ideal balance of blue and green helps ward off insomnia and encourages restful, deep sleep. One clever way to incorporate these colours in addition to paint is through houseplants and natural art accents.

Bright and Dark Colours

A bright yellow is very effective at promoting happiness. The sunny colour invokes optimism and a cheery attitude, as does orange. Both can encourage interaction and laughter.

The darker the colours, the more heavy they start to feel within your space and on your attitude. Darker hues of any colour may start to solicit negative feelings.

Negative and positive reactions aren’t just influenced by the colour; sometimes, it comes down to personal tastes.

Before beginning to paint, consider how you feel about the hues based on prior interaction and knee-jerk response. Create a list of colours organised by personal preference, or you could just close your eyes and envision the room in different hues, noting how each makes you feel.

While the final choice for paint colour is important, there are also many ways to intentionally include different hues into your home apart from the main wall colour.

Each room serves a different purpose and should evoke different feelings based on the actions taking place there. Adding accents, such as painted furniture, feature walls and art, are great ways to balance out the colour of the walls and incorporate more than one feeling into a space.

When beginning your journey of thinking about room paint ideas, it is important to research the psychology behind the colour choices, as well as your personal preferences.

Choosing the right colour can have a tremendous impact on mood and relationships, so before you make a final decision, be sure that you are promoting positive energy and a healthy, happy space.