Paint is one of the most versatile aspects of interior home decoration. It is easy and inexpensive to change wall color at will and, consequently, also change the mood the room evokes in yourself and others. Colors have been found instrumental in creating certain moods. Knowing which colors invoke which moods will enable you to choose colors for your home that reflect positive energy and make visitors feel calm and welcome.

When you set out to choose which colors you will use in your home, ask yourself some important questions. The first question you need to ask is how much you like a particular color. If you are not sure about a particular color, it is best to avoid it. Chances are, over time, you will come to like it even less and start to avoid whatever rooms you chose to paint with this color. Any color that makes you feel uncomfortable is definitely the wrong one to use, even if it seems to fit in well with the rest of your decor.

Colors can make you feel sleepy or energetic, happy or depressed, and any emotion in between. They can make a small room look larger and a large room seem small and confining. Ask yourself what activities will be performed in the room you are painting. This will help you decide if you want a cool, relaxing color or one that will keep people awake and interacting. The sleepy colors are blues and greens. These are always good choices for bedrooms and bathrooms. The shade you choose will depend upon your taste, who will be using the room the most, and whether you want the room to appear larger or smaller than it is.

Light, pastel shades will make a room feel cooler and appear larger. Darker shades have the exact opposite effect. Children and the elderly gravitate toward bright, primary colors. Most other adults, on the other hand find bright colors overwhelming. A bedroom for a child would do well in a bright blue or green. For an adult, however, a softer version of these colors will have a calming effect that is better for sleeping. A bright color will work well in a bathroom. While relaxing in this room is important, you don’t want everyone falling asleep in there.

Blue is definitely not a color you want in your kitchen or dining area. This color has been proven to suppress appetites and you are apt to find people not wanting to eat much in rooms of this color. Red, on the other hand, increases appetites and keeps people awake and sociable. This is an excellent choice in any dining area. There are some people, however, that find their blood pressure rising when they are near a great deal of red. If you feel this may be the case, try using a burgundy or wine color. These will induce the red emotions but will keep them toned down to manageable proportions.

Living rooms, family rooms and game rooms all do well with the color orange. This is seen as a cheerful color by many people and will induce warm, friendly feelings. It must be kept in mind, however, that too much bright orange, red or yellow can be overwhelming for most people. Use these colors sparingly. Try painting one wall with a bright shade and the other three with a lighter shade of the same color. This will lessen the effect somewhat and make the energy easier to handle. You want to avoid browns in these rooms. Neutral and earth colors often make people feel uneasy. The darker browns can cause a feeling of being trapped in some. If you must use these, such as with paneling, try to have at least one wall a bright color or add colorful stencils and borders to lighten the effect.

A word about violet and pink. Children often love these two colors, but few adults find them likeable. It is best to avoid both in any room other than a child’s bedroom. Violet seems oppressive to many people. Pink seems almost too feminine and is often a color avoided by men and women alike.

The best judge of whether or not to use a certain color is your own instinct. This is your home and you alone must live within its walls on a daily basis. Choose the colors that make you and your family feel comfortable. Those colors are truly the best in any room.

Written by Joyce Anthony - © 2002 Pagewise