Do bulls really get angry when they see the colour red? Actually bulls are colour blind and it's just the cloth being waved in front of them that gets them annoyed, not to mention the spears being thrown at them. But, it is a known fact that colours affect our moods. How we make a decision, react to a situation or deal with people is directly proportional to our perception of shapes and colours. The right paints used in interior or exterior design can help cure illnesses, brighten the mood of the room and increase productivity.
In his book Colour and Light in Man-Made Environments, author Frank H. Mahnke notes: €[People] subjected to [visual] under-stimulation showed symptoms of restlessness, excessive emotional response, difficulty in concentration, irritation, and, in some cases, a variety of more extreme reactions.€ If you have a tough time thinking of the right kind of colours to choose for your interiors you can take inspiration from nature to begin with. The colours of nature are soothing to most people; you may even look at earthy and shades of natural colours. Creating a pattern or generating a colour idea is your first step to improve your interior design or exterior design. Just to give you a head start here are a few colours and their impact on us.
Red: the colour red grabs your attention, and increases your blood pressure, pulse and breathing. It is the colour most often associated with passion and love. It is one of the few colours that have the ability to stimulate your appetite, which makes it a good colour choice for your dining room.
Orange: conveys excitement and energy. It is said that in older cultures, orange was used to heal the lungs and increase energy levels. While orange is attention-grabbing, it also is bright, friendly and reminiscent of beautiful fall colours. Use orange and its more muted cousin rust to create a welcoming room.
Yellow: when we see this colour the first thing that comes to mind is sunshine, cheer, optimism and clarity. Although it usually is considered a cheerful colour, yellow can have negative effects. It has negative effects because not everyone loves yellow. Of all the colours, yellow is hardest on the eyes, and it may stimulate your frustration and anger.
Blue: the colour of sky or and water. Blue represents calmness and serenity. In David Johnson article €Colour Psychology€ on infoplease.com it is stated that many fashion consultants often recommend wearing blue for a job interview, since it conveys loyalty, reliability and productivity. You may wish to use this colour in your bedroom for its soothing effects. But keep in mind that an overdose of blue can make you feel cold and depressed.
Green: the colour of nature, it's refreshing and relaxing. If you would have noticed most hospitals and doctors' offices often use green because it's considered a healing colour. Most businesses and schools use green in their decor for its stress-relieving effects. Green as an interior colour is an easy colour to live with, in any room of your home.
Purple: it's all about royalty, majestic and drama. Kings and queens used to use purple extensively in clothing and interior or exterior design, simply because of purple dye was so expensive and only the wealthy could afford it. Therefore today the colour is associated with richness.
Black and White: it's probably the simplest choice most people will go with. Apart from being the simplest choice in terms of risk factors Black and White is considered to be neutral colours. Yet each has powerful associations of its own. Black represents power and elegance. As an interior colour black can give a room depth. White, on the other hand, connotes cleanliness and purity, and, as a wall colour provides a clean background for other colours. With Black and White one may freely experiment with furniture and other upholstery.
Many more colours exist each with its own power and psychological impact on us. All the best for your interior design and we hope you get a great colour idea.