Lift Your Mood with your Interior Space: The Psychology of Color

Have you been a little extra tired lately? Having trouble focusing? Feeling anxious and overwhelmed?

Believe it or not, the interior colors we choose to surround ourselves with can actually help with all of these concerns. Right now, many of us are spending a little extra time in our homes. And making a few small interior color adjustments can actually help us focus better, be more creative, and even calm our stress.

CNN’s “Color boost: How vivid hues in your home can lift your mood,” features an interview the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman.

Eiseman, an expert in color psychology, gives some tips on easy color switches to make in our homes. Of course “there are no magic bullet answers” to color psychology, but she has found through her research that certain colors do tend to evoke certain responses.

A University of British Columbia study also reveals two colors that can brighten our living/working spaces, as well as our minds.

We’ll explore what the experts have to say about colors!

Warm Colors

Eisman informs us that, generally speaking, warmer colors are more activity-producing and help to animate us. Likewise, The University of British Columbia found that red boosts performance on detail-oriented tasks where careful attention is required.

So, if your energy levels are low or you’re feeling depressed, go for warmer tones. And if you’re having trouble paying attention to details, go for the extreme of warmth and implement some red into your workspace. (The work-from-home-ers could probably all use that one right now!)

Cool Colors

According to Eisman, cool colors calm us. So colors like blues, blue-greens, and lavenders may be the right choice for many of us as we face anxiety and uncertainty right now. With that, green’s association with the outdoors can be therapeutic and healing.

The UBC study found that blue boosts creativity. Participants in the study were able to genuinely perform creative tasks (for example, brainstorming) more effectively with the aid of blue cues. Juliet Zhu of UBC's Sauder School of Business states that "through associations with the sky, the ocean and water, most people associate blue with openness, peace and tranquility. The benign cues make people feel safe about being creative and exploratory."

Think about what you need more of in your life right now. Better focus? Increased creativity? Healing? 

Maybe some interior alterations and a few pops of color could help!

CB Creative Agency specializes in art consulting, interior design, and custom fabrications. We’d love to come help translate your distinct needs and intentions into reality! Contact us to learn more about how we can help you and your space.