Today’s title might sound like some silly children’s game, but it’s not really like that. Let me explain… Have you ever wondered why the question “what’s your favourite colour?” has gained so much fame in time?
Truth is that colours are not just for kids, but they are directly connected to our state of mind and our psychological reactions ever since we are born. Did you know that for children, colors are actually used in order to develop an identity? For example in the architecture of kindergardens and schools, colors are often used in order to help children to orientate and identify themselves as part of a certain classroom and a certain “community”.
(Now you’ll probably think: whatever, what could be so difficult in choosing a colour?)
I remember as a little child I had insisted so much for my parents to paint my room violet. I thought it was my favourite colour in the world, until I discovered that being surrounded by four violet walls was not that pleasant after all: it felt oppressing and after years I found out that I was not the only one feeling this way (of course that doesn’t mean that there are not still people who love this color, so don’t worry if you are one of them).
As you might know, colors are categorized into warm and cold, each of them having so many nuances and tones. Studies have proven that different colors can have various effects on us, depending of course on the quantity in which they are being used and often also on the person’s character. If you paint your entire room violet like I did, you might feel overwhelmed and enclosed in a little space, while for example if you choose to use soft blue nuances for your bedroom, this will give you a sense of peace, even though blue is one of the “cold” colors. Red might give you too much energy and instead of relaxing you, it would produce the opposite effect.
For a bedroom, I would actually reccomend to use pastel colors instead of vivid ones, but this again depends on your character. I tend to be very stressed at times, so I prefer to use colors that can absorb a little bit of this stress and induce me a state of calm.
On the other hand, work spaces need to give you energy, so if you want to make a choice that would give you energy without stressing you, go for green. It’s like a secret weapon, since it has been scientifically demonstrated that just by seeing this color, people tend to distress and become more productive. (I will soon dedicate an entire article to this subject, so stay tuned!)
In some countries, restaurants tend to use intense colors, red especially, since it induces the will to eat, but it doesn’t attract you to stay seated for too much time. You grab a bite, pay the deal and go home. However, I wouldn’t use the same method for your home kitchen: red can really give you headaches, especially if you do not have that much time to spend cooking.
That being said, there is no universal best choice, but try to take into consideration at least part of these aspects when you start redecorating or to consult a specialist that could give you a personalized advice. I would suggest you to choose a main color that you like and try to mix it until you find maximum three nuances that you enjoy and try to use those for the design of your room. When combining too many colors for the main elements of a room (walls, floors, ceiling, doors, furniture), you might find yourself in the middle of chaos, which could be nice for a day, but not for a few years.
If instead you are one who loves many colors and it’s just impossible for you to decide, you could think of going neutral (it sounds absurd, right?). Don’t worry, I’ll explain myself: I mean using the neutral white, black, grey for the main elements of the room and add a few color accents – this is actually a technique that many interior designers use and the result might surprise you. Why? Just think about it: it’s like you always have a blank board in front of you that is ready to be painted. Once you want to change the design, you just go to the nearest store, buy some new cushions, a new carpet or decorations in the colors that you like and suddenly the room changes from blue-ish to pink-ish. Not bad, isn’t it?
After knowing all these facts, choosing the color for your room is not that simple anymore, am I right? It is a combination of factors that need to be analyzed, from the function of the room to the quantity of light that enters it: they are all essential things for your well-being. Therefore, choose well and stay well!
P.S.: let me know what your choices were, I’m curious! Also if you need an advice, I’m here for you 😉
myarchistories 