A home offers you both functionality and comfort; it provides you with warmth and shelter, a place to eat and sleep, and somewhere to sit back and relax amongst the company of family and good friends. We spend a lot of time in our homes, and it is an environment that can affect us more than we think.
For many of us, updating and maintaining the decor in our homes can often be disregarded. We sometimes procrastinate around the matter, brushing it off and telling ourselves, "Oh, I can get it done next month." However, the color we use in our homes can have a big impact on the way we feel about it, thus having a knock-on effect on how we feel in everyday life.
Psychology of color
Studies into the psychology of color have found that colors and their shades can influence our emotions in different ways. Some colors are great for creativity; others help us relax, while various shades can inspire spirituality. Using colors in the right way can lift our mood and help promote our overall wellbeing, so it is important to ensure that you are using them correctly.
Taking this into account, consider updating the decor in your home to transform it into your own little paradise to return to after a long day at work. When decorating, it is crucial to use the right colors in your home, and more importantly, using them in the right rooms. The infographic below can provide you with a guide to colors and their meanings, what feelings and emotions they evoke, as well as where best to use them in your home and why.
Using color in your home
Those in rented living spaces may find that they are restricted as to how much of their home they are able to decorate, but there are certainly other ways in which you can bring color into your home.
Curtains
If you feel that something is missing in a room, curtains might be all that you need to complete the feel of the room. The large number of different curtain colors, textures, and styles on offer means that they are a great way to bring a room together and express your personality.
For curtains in rooms that tend to get more sun than others, opt for artificial silk curtains, as they tend to last longer than curtains made from other materials. In colder rooms, use heavier materials like suede or velvet. Finally, in order to prevent a room from seeming too harsh, use patterned curtains only in rooms where the sofa covers or bed linen is plain, and vice versa.
Cushions
Cushions are a great way to quickly bring color into a room without costing you the earth. If you are expecting guests and want to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere, then cushions will help you to achieve this.
Don't be afraid to add variety. Using a number of different brightly colored, patterned and plain cushions in a range of different textures, shapes, and sizes can make a room stand out and make an impact on the people that walk into it. Cushions can be used throughout the house in the living room, dining room, and bedroom.
Rugs
Rugs are a particularly useful and warming touch over the colder months. In rooms with hardwood or laminate flooring, adding a rug in autumn and winter can add depth to a room, making it seem more inviting while protecting chilly feet from cold floors. Choosing the right size, shape, and color of the rug is important, as its features can affect whether a room appears to feel spacious or snug.
The shape of rug that you use is dependent on the shape of the room and furniture. Try to use round rugs with square, boxy furniture and square rugs with more circular furnishings. Both circular and square rugs can be used in most rooms throughout the house however, try to ensure that the main pieces of furniture are easily positioned within the rug's diameter.
Whether you are planning a long-term change throughout your home with painting and decorating taking place in each room, or you are hoping for a quick fix to add a splash of color using furnishings and accessories, our infographic can help you to use the right colors in the right places in order to color your home happy.
Author Bio: Rachel Campbell is a creative content executive for TJ Hughes.
