5 Wall Color Schemes That Can Boost Your Mood

By Editorial Staff Updated: September 14, 2018

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You’re a better person when you’re calm and happy, so turn your home into a feel-good space with a mood-altering coat of paint. “Color is so influential in relation to how a room feels, therefore it can easily affect our mood and behaviour,” says color expert Andrea Lucena-Orr. “If a space is dreary and emotionless, it can change the way we feel in that space. As soon as you enter a room that’s bright or has a certain positive essence, you can’t help but feel uplifted and reinvigorated.”

There’s even new research by the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia, claiming that different-colored walls can strongly influence a range of emotions. When painted right, they can apparently make us feel relaxed and calm, or cheerful and excited, while the wrong color scheme can make us bored, sad, tense, and even irritated.

Scroll through for five wall color schemes that’ll be sure to color you happy.

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1. Fun and Vibrant

Taubmans color expert Fiona King admits that while yellows, oranges, and pinks generally add a sense of cheerfulness, they can be polarizing, sometimes making people feel tense and irritated. "Use them sparingly and test a small area with a sample pot first, making sure you show everyone who has to live in the space!"
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2. Cozy and Warm

Consider choosing a paint with an orange tone if you want to create a sociable space, says Haymes Paint's color and concept manager, Wendy Rennie. She recommends oranges that work well in living areas. "Sometimes a bright orange can be very overbearing, but when it's toned down, it can be quite warm, which gives a feeling of cheerfulness. It's very sociable because it's got that energy associated with it."
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3. Reflective

Darker greens create a hushed atmosphere, as they are associated with nature and lush forests. "Colors such as greens and blues can help you feel relaxed and rebalanced," Lucena-Orr says. "These balancing hues will transform your room into a restful, relaxing sanctuary. They are perfect for living spaces and bedrooms."
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4. Light and Airy

A bathroom needs to be both relaxing and fresh. Be kind to yourself by choosing gentle hues and flattering natural light. Just note that the light of your bathroom will be different to that of the paint shop.

"Look at the color under different lighting conditions (day and night) and paint the color on a piece of cardboard so you can move it around furniture and fittings," Lucena-Orr says. "Don't make your decision immediately; leave the colors up for at least two to three days before you decide."
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5. Calm and Relaxed

A touch of gray works best when creating a chill-out zone, says Melanie Stevenson, marketing manager of Porter's Paints. She suggests half- and quarter-strength versions of soft grays, blues, and whites.

"A calm atmosphere can be created with soothing tones of gray — choose grays with a cool blue or green undertone — soft neutral greens, gray-blues, mauve-grays and misty white," she says. "If your preference is for warm colors, the most relaxing are soft tans and 'dirty' light pinks. Opt for muted, complex colors rather than sharp or crisp options."

This post was written by Homes to Love editors. For more, check out our sister site, Homes to Love.