Using colour to brighten your home and mood while waiting for spring

Do you need a little something to lift your mood in March? Did you know that colour has been used for centuries as a form of healing therapy? The colour choices for your home can have an impact on your well-being and happiness. The colours you choose to brighten your home can also say a lot about your personality. Feelings associated with different colours can vary depending on many factors such as ethnicity, age and gender. And our relationships with colours are often dependent on our cultural experiences. Although it is impossible to make implications that specific colours have definite effects on everyone, enough research has been done to say that specific colours do affect large groups of people in specific ways.

Here are a few ways to use colour to brighten up your home while you wait for spring to finally arrive:

Via Pinterest

Red is normally used to stimulate the body and mind. Use red in a space to increase circulation as well as your appetite. Other feelings and moods associated with red are excitement and adrenaline. Red is ideal for social areas where you would gather with friends and loved ones such as family rooms and kitchens.

Via home-designing.com

Yellow is used for cleansing and stimulating nerves. It increases your metabolism and many have found that yellow works best in dining rooms or coffee nooks. However, be mindful of the amount of yellow you add to the space; studies have shown that too much yellow in a confined space is known to cause a rise in temper.  

Via bigchill.com

Purple is one of the most versatile colours in the spectrum. When using a dark shade of purple, it has an essence of seriousness and can quickly add drama to a space. Many psychologists associate the colour purple with intensity and sensuality. Lighter shades of purple on the other hand have a calming effect and are often used to calm nerves. Therefore purple is a great colour to add to a bedroom or a home office space!

Via eatwell101.com

Orange originally represented royalty and grandeur. It can be seen throughout European and primarily Dutch history. The colour orange helps with energy levels as it radiates warmth and comfort. Orange is known to be one of the strongest colours as it has the quality of aiding people suffering from depression. You may want to try orange as an accent wall or for accessories such as throw pillows.

Via homebunch.com

Blue is most commonly associated with health and serenity. It also represents nature, the ocean and the sky. It will bring relaxation to a space and is known to treat pain. Blue encourages productivity and focus and is best seen in areas of deep concentration. Blue is a colour I often use in family and living rooms.

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Green promotes tranquility and health. A great way to incorporate green into a space is through the use of live plants. Adding plants can increase oxygen levels and add moisture to the air which helps us breathe easier and clears up respiratory issues. Think of green as another neutral.

Via homedit.com

Pink is used to calm and reduce tempers. It can promote relaxation and aid in sleep. Although pink is one of the less popular colours for interior design, colour psychology has shown that pink is a colour of hope and produces feelings of comfort and reassurance. Pink is a non-threatening colour. Try pairing it with darker hues to add power and strength to your room.

When choosing a vibrant colour to brighten your home, keep in mind what the room will be used for on a daily basis as this will play heavily on the energy and mood. Also, consider the time of day you will use your space, and remember that the sun affects colour dramatically. The exact same colour will look different depending on the amount of light. Test them out at different times of the day and night.

For more colour power inspiration check out our Pinterest board. Then march into this month by using colour to reflect your personality!

Feature image via vintagerevivals.com