When thinking of wall painting ideas, one of the factors that you need to consider is the universal perception of the various colors. Color psychology refers to the study of certain emotions that are evoked when people look at specific colors. It is said that cooler colors have the ability to evoke feelings of calmness, while warmer colors elicit feelings of comfort.

In order to have the best design for each part of your home from the living room to the bedroom, you must consider the feeling that you want to have in each area. What would you like your loved ones and your guests to feel once they step into a specific room? By fully understanding this science, you will better be able to choose the best wall painting idea for each part of your home.

Interested to learn how? Read on to know more about the relationship between wall painting ideas and color psychology.

Turning Light into Color 

Turning Light into Color, Colored Lights

In the 1600s, scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered the rainbow by passing pure white light through a prism. He discovered that each of the seven visible colors – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet – is created by a single wavelength. After a few more years of experimentation, it was further discovered that different wavelengths of light could be combined to create more colors. After recreating these colors through mediums such as paint, these were quickly adopted by architects and design professionals for a variety of architectural styles. As more and more colors started to be utilized in multiple forms of design, society started to develop certain perceptions of them.

The effect of color on human emotion is subjective. One prime example of this is the color white. In Western countries, white is associated with purity. In Eastern countries, this color is seen more as a symbol of mourning. However, there are certain colors popularly used that now have a universal meaning. Warm colors such as red, yellow, and orange can depict numerous types of feelings from comfort to hostility. Cool colors such as green, purple, and blue are said to evoke a wide array of emotions from calmness to sadness.

But how do our brains translate light energy into colors and eventually into how we should feel? A large part of color psychology is due to nature using color as its own non-verbal language. When the sky is dark and grey, we know that there is a possibility of heavy rain, which would activate our instincts to stay inside and hibernate. On the other hand, when the sky is full of warm colors, we feel livelier and would prefer to go outside and explore. The colors found in nature and the feelings and actions that we associate with them have greatly contributed to our development of color psychology. 

Let us further discuss the differences between active, passive, and neutral colors before going in-depth into each one.

The Difference Between Active, Passive, and Neutral Colors

Color Palette Fandeck, The Difference Between Active, Passive, and Neutral Colors

In order to choose the best wall painting idea for each room in your home, you need to understand the effects of the different types of color.

Let’s start with active colors. These are also called bright colors and consists of reds, oranges, and yellows. Active colors represent the flow of energy and creativity. 

Passive colors, also called the cooler and less saturated colors, consist of blues, greens, and purples. They are known to have a calming effect that could help increase mental focus. These are more laid-back colors, and can often be overlooked if placed beside active colors. The reason for this is because passive colors are less stimulating to the eyes than active colors.

If the color is neither active nor passive, then it is considered a neutral color. These are predominantly made up of blacks, whites, and browns. Neutral colors mimic those found in nature, from the blackness of the night sky to the brown bark of trees or the soil. These colors can evoke strong emotions and can be used for dramatic effect, like painting huge expanses with one color, or combining neutrals, especially black and white.

Read:
2019 Interior Trends for Black and White
Video on Color Pairing: Black and White
Use the Many Shades of Chocolate as Inspiration for Your Home Colors

If you are looking for balance, you could also choose to mix and match these different types. You could further brighten active colors when you mix it with neutral tones. Or you could choose to further create a heavier mood by mixing together passive and dark neutral colors.

These are the three types that you have to keep in mind when thinking of wall painting ideas for your room.

Now, let’s explore the specific types of colors and what emotion each one can draw out from you and your guests.

How To Use Active Colors

How to use Active colors

Active colors can be seen in nature like in fire or the sun. These are usually associated with high levels of energy and emotion. If you plan to do DIY wall designs, these are not ideal for the bedroom as it can cause you to stay awake rather than easily fall asleep. Instead, consider putting these in playrooms and other areas where activities require this energetic vibe. Read on to learn about specific colors and the emotions connected to them. 

Red

Red is one of the most intense colors in the spectrum with equally powerful emotions. It can make adrenaline levels spike and your heartbeat increase, thus making it an ideal color for rooms meant to stimulate people. Game rooms and TV rooms will benefit from the excitement that red-colored walls emit.

Red also attracts people, which would make any red-colored room significantly more interesting for yourself and your loved ones. The same goes for entryways, as this color can make the rest of your home more inviting for guests to come in and explore. It can also aid in starting up conversations, which makes them fitting for areas of conversation such as dining rooms.

Read The Best Version of Hue: RED.

Orange

In the past, orange was believed to be able to increase energy levels and also heal the lungs. This is seen as an energetic color, which also makes it difficult to integrate into any place of rest such as a living room or a bedroom. The emotions typically associated with this color are enthusiasm and excitement. 

The color orange is best used in places of high activity such as an exercise room. It can further encourage you to keep up your energy levels as you go through grueling workouts. The same goes for playrooms used by your children.

Read The Warm Glow of Orange Takes Center Stage in This Energy Palette.

Yellow

The color yellow is said to be able to capture the joy of sunshine, as well as communicate happiness. The energy that this color exudes uplifts whoever is around it. This makes yellow ideal for dining rooms and kitchens. For hallways and other small spaces, it can give the illusion of a bigger space that is welcoming and expansive.

Studies have found that while yellow is usually associated with happiness, it also makes people more likely to lose their temper. It has also been noted that the color yellow can make babies upset. They lose their temper more easily in a room with predominantly yellow colors. Try to combine your yellow-colored wall by decorating your space with furnishings in white, orange, green, pink, blue, or brownin order to avoid evoking feelings of anger and frustration from the people within it.

Read The Best Version of Hue: YELLOW.

These are just some of the energy-inducing emotions you can get if you choose to decorate your room with an active color.

How to Use Passive Colors

How to use passive colors

Passive colors elicit a soothing reaction from our brains, which makes us feel relaxed and pleased. We associate these colors with the waves of the sea and the beauty of trees in nature. In a room painted with passive colors, we feel calm as the space starts to seem bigger than it is. These are ideal for places in your home that calls for a more laid-back feel, like bedrooms.

Green

As a combination of yellow and blue, green is known as the most restful color for the human eye. It is suited to every single type of room as it will neither arouse a high-energy nor a low-energy response. You could choose to put this color in a family room, a living room, a bedroom, or even the kitchen.

Green is said to be extremely helpful as a stress reliever if it is the primary hue of a room. It is known to be able to cool areas down, which ultimately encourages unwinding while promoting comfort. Some cultures associate the color green with fertility.

Read The Best Version of Hue: GREEN.

Blue

The color blue has been observed to be able to effectively lower blood pressure and slow down people’s heart rates. This makes it an excellent color for those looking for a calm and serene design for their homes. The color blue is ideal for areas of relaxation and quiet.

Social rooms that aim to encourage relaxation are better if painted with warmer blues or bright blues. However, some pastel blues may seem cold, especially in a room that does not have access to sunlight.

However, there are people that associate blue with sadness, like Picasso during his Blue Period where he painted predominantly in blue and blue-green colors.

Read The Best Version of Hue: BLUE.

Purple

The dark hues of purple are associated with two things: luxury and creativity. Dark purple is seen as a rich, sophisticated, and dramatic color. It can help pull off a high-end look in any room within your home. Purple is also associated with creativity. This can be the ideal color for rooms wherein creative energy is encouraged, such as a music room or an art room. Lighter shades of purple like lilac are associated with the feeling of relaxation and serenity. This can be utilized for a baby room.

Read The Best Version of Hue: PURPLE.

How to Use Neutral Colors

How to use neutral colors, chess board

Colors that are not considered active nor passive are neutral colors. Neutral colors seen in nature can be the sand in beaches or a starless night sky. When mixed with active or passive colors, neutral colors can help increase the emotions evoked by the first two.

Neutral colors, if used as the major color, can give a balanced feel to a room, especially when using light neutrals like white or beige. Those who primarily use neutral colors in their living spaces are not trying to elicit any intense reactions from their guests, but instead would like to create a calm backdrop where people in it can become the main event.

Brown

Brown is a representation of earth. It can give off the feeling of security, contentment, safety, and respectability. People who enjoy nature can use this paint color in their interiors as well as exteriors. There are so many shades of brown from the lightest beige to the purest dark chocolate. It is considered a classic interior decorating color and still seen as modern and trendy even today. Highly versatile, brown gives the feeling of coziness and comfort, yet can be stylish, especially if the monochromatic hues are layered in such a way to create a lush and rich palette.

Read Use the Many Shades of Chocolate as Inspiration for Your Home Colors.

Black

Although technically not a color, black may give off the vibe of power, mystery, and elegance. This can make any room look sophisticated and ambitious. However, too much black can give off an extremely sad and negative emotion. Instead, it would be better for you to use black as an accent to other more primary colors. 

Read:
Black List: What Goes Well With Your Black Interiors
Dark Inspirations for Interiors from “Undás”, “Todos los Santos”

White

White, also technically not a color, represents purity and cleanliness. It can give a refreshing feel to any room painted in this color. The most ideal shade of white to make a room cozier are the warmer shades, which means whites with undertones of yellow or pink. For a more formal feel, it would be ideal to make use of the cooler shades, which are whites with undertones of blue or green.

Read A Classic and Clean Look: The Versatility of White for Home Exteriors.

Evoke Emotions Through Your Wall Colors with Boysen Philippines!

Choosing wall painting ideas for each area of your home is no easy feat. The wrong color may give a specific room the wrong vibe. To give you an easier time choosing the ideal wall painting ideas for each room, take note of the above tips  about color psychology. Not only will you be able to easily design your home, but you will also be able to successfully create a home that you would love living in and that your guests would love to visit.

Besides taking into consideration the psychology of each color, try to seamlessly integrate your wall painting ideas with the other elements of interior design – space, line, form, light, texture and pattern. Before finalizing your wall colors, check that they would fit the architectural style of your home as well as the furnishings you would like to bring in.

Choose from a wide range of colors for your wall painting ideas with Boysen Philippines! Click here for more!

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