Color can have an astounding effect on perceptions, feelings,
and interactions. Different colors evoke different memories and
different ideas. In the bedroom, where one is supposed to be most
at ease, it is important that you plan out your color scheme so
that it creates the maximum comfort for you.
Psychologists have been studying the effects of color on people
for many years. While they have made many discoveries about color
effects on people in different societies, they have not found any
effects that occur across all societies. For instance in China
the color red tends to make people feel calm, while in America
red tends to make people more aggressive. This means that the
effect of color on a persons mind is individual and perceptual,
rather then being physiological and inherent. In order to choose
the right color for a setting, you will have to get in touch with
your inner self, and see which color you harmonize best with. In
the bedroom one tries to achieve maximum relaxation. By choosing
the colors that you feel most comfortable with, you will find the
greatest contentment with your decor.
Think about the following colors. Think about each one
separately. Think about their different shades, how you feel
about them, what they invoke in you.
Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Violet. Purple. White. Black
Once you have gained insight into how you feel about those
colors, you can read about the general effects these colors have
on people in American society. Don’t be afraid to disagree, your
tastes are different from anyone else’s, but do keep in mind that
the average American that enters the room will feel these effects
to some extent.
The two extreme colors are white and black. Black is an attention
grabber, and can create a bedroom with a dark, sultry look.
Unfortunately it will also make the room look smaller and seem
more restrictive. Overuse of the color black can be dangerous in
a room like the bedroom, as it can darken a person’s mood. It may
even produce night mares. Meanwhile its polar opposite, white,
can be uninspiring. Most rooms start off with white walls, and
it is the generic look for many homes. It can have a positive
and soothing effect on ones emotions, but it may also lead to a
lack of stimulation which can be a terrible thing in a bedroom.
Whatever ones perceptions however, white is a good color for warm
climates. White reflects light creating cooler temperatures and a
breezy feeling.
The earth tones are gentle and will keep a bedroom feeling close
and snuggly, as long as you pay attention to the tones you use.
These colors include browns, oranges, and yellows. Browns tend to
remind Americans of family, and of emotional bonds to each other
and the world. Orange is a color that makes people happy, but is
also the color associated with food and could lead to midnight
snacking. Yellow creates a very positive effect on people
psychologically, but only short term. Long term exposure to
this color can lead to irritation.
Blues and greens evoke serenity and peace. They are colors
associated with nature and the ocean. Using these colors heavily
in your bedroom can help to calm the emotions of its inhabitants,
and bring restful nights. Blue will also calm cravings for food
after you’ve gone to bed, because there is very little blue food
in nature, so our minds tend to repress hunger at its site. Pink
is the extreme claming color and many will find it impossible to
act aggressively when surrounded by it. Purple is a nice color
for a bedroom that will make it look more sophisticated.
Red is an exciting color. If you have trouble falling asleep,
don’t use red in the bedroom. However, to get a tired
relationship going, red may be just the color you want. Red makes
Americans aggressive. It speeds up their metabolism and gives
them energy. Red is a good color for sheets or blankets, because
if it becomes too distracting it can be put away until desired.
Combining these colors yields further effects, which are numerous
beyond the scope of this article. Remember that shade and tone is
important, and will alter these effects. Most importantly, you
should have the final say; it is the colors effect on your own
mind that is important, and only you can truly understand your
own impressions.
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