Using different hues to create emotion with paint

Do you ever wonder why you feel immediately relaxed when you enter a spa, yet when you enter a gym, you feel alert and energised? The answer can be found in the colours selected to decorate the space.
Interior designers use colour psychology to evoke an emotional response, says Sue Wadden, director of colour marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “Homeowners can use this strategy to connect colours with emotions and memories to create one-of-a-kind spaces.” Colour psychology starts by exploring warm and cool hues and then using these different tones to manipulate mood throughout your home. It’s easy to do with the tips below.
Warm colour families
Red, orange, and yellow are considered warm colours since they are associated with images of heat, like fire or sunshine. Warm families of colour are bold and powerful when incorporated into home design.
Yellows
Because yellow reflects light, it’s an excellent choice for foyers and dark hallways. Its cheery nature has the ability to create an uplifting mood in homes. Rich yellows are great accent colours because they catch the eye. This colour isn’t for the faint of heart. The colour features an acidy, deep mustard feel but is a great accent colour paired with neutrals. Its pop can really spark up a room.
Reds
Reds evoke feelings of passion, energy and intimacy, so it’s an excellent colour for workout rooms and master bedrooms. Red also inspires the appetite, so is a logical choice for dining rooms or kitchens. Michael Plank, director of colour marketing and design services for Sherwin-Williams in the US, enjoys Chinese Red. “Chinese Red is one of my perennial favourites to play off dark stains with its saturated and sophisticated nature, he says. “Rich in hue as it is in Chinese culture; the harbinger of joy and fortune.”
Oranges
Orange has a friendly attitude that awakens and welcomes. Never understated, orange works well in family rooms and is a playful choice for children’s bedrooms or bonus rooms. Orange tones can also integrate into other colours.
Cool colour families
Blue, green, and violet are considered cool colours because the inherent tones of each shade. Reminiscent of water and the outdoors, cool colours stimulate feelings of peace and tranquillity, and are great options for bedrooms, bathrooms and patio spaces.
Blues
Blue is soothing and elicits feelings of relaxation, which is perfect for bedrooms and bathrooms. Alternatively, blues should be kept out of the kitchen because it’s a colour that’s associated with appetite suppression. It is a calming hue that works in virtually every room.
Greens
Green tones provide a feeling of familiarity because they are found throughout nature. Light greens are ideal for living rooms and offices; dark greens are wonderfully rich as accent colours. Vivid greens add unexpected pop, notes Sherwin-Williams Senior designer Karrie Hodge. “I really like dark colours and this colour reminds me of the deep turquoise part of the ocean, she says. “This would make a great front door colour on a white or grey coloured house. This colour would pair well with some natural stone or brick or wood.”
Violets
Purple tones are immediately attractive to children, making them a great paint option in playrooms or bonus rooms. Additionally, violet is also a stunning accent colour in bathrooms. It’s a rich berry tone that is. This would make a really dramatic accent wall colour in any room; I could even see this as a really fresh front door colour.