The name red is derived, in nearly all languages, from the word blood. Red is an impassioned color, the color of danger and fire. It also speaks to us of happiness, warmth, vitality, strength, and fame.

Physiologically, red prepares us for the fight or flight response. It increases blood pressure and pulse rate, stimulates inhalation, releases adrenaline, and increases eye blinking. Red also increases energy, promotes movement, keeps us alert, and facilitates judgment.

Psychologically, red is a warm color that advances, creating the impression that red objects are closer than they really are. This makes red rooms look smaller. Also, too much red brings out aggression and can be oppressive and tiring.

Orange speaks to us of happiness and power.

Physiologically, orange stimulates the appetite (think fast food restaurants!). It also stimulates and enhances dance and movement, and it gives strength and courage.

Orange is an energetic color that promotes joyfulness, lightness, release, and pleasure. It is also a very social color…use it successfully in areas where you’ll be entertaining.

Peach represents attraction and love.

Psychologically, peach creates a safe environment for confronting difficult or painful memories; it also instills confidence. Like orange, it is a very social color, and it stimulates conversation.

Peach can be a great color for children’s rooms and nurseries, as it is a receptive, warm, tender, and nurturing color.

Just a bit of trivia…peach is the color that reflects most beautifully off our skin, and gives us a healthy glow. If you want to look your most beautiful, surround yourself with this color!

When we think of yellow, we most often think of sunshine and happiness. Symbolically, in the East, yellow connotes power. In the West, it connotes cowardice (“yellow-bellied”).

Physiologically, yellow can create detachment, nervousness, and shallow breathing. Use it sparingly! Yellow is more appropriate for mature minds than for younger ones (I don’t recommend yellow for nurseries).

In small doses, yellow can be stimulating; it can clear negative thinking, boost self-esteem, and encourage joy and laughter and conversation. Yellow also can promote tolerance, patience, and wisdom.

Green is the color of balance and harmony. It represents tranquility, hope, freshness, good health, and rebirth.

Green is the most restful color to the eye, for physiological and psychological reasons. Physiologically, the lens of the eye focuses green light exactly on the retina. Psychologically, green is the color we see most in nature and is therefore most comfortable and natural to us. Green promotes balance and careful judgment and cools emotions.

Too much green can make rooms look flat and empty; balance with accent colors. Green rooms can help tone down a noisy environment and make it easier to tolerate; green rooms also promote sanctuary and healing.

Did you know? Studies have shown that people who are in pain report milder symptoms in green rooms (or surrounded by green plants) than in any other color room!

Turquoise represents “verdant youth.” It is a color of spring, and it symbolizes joy and luck.

Physiologically, turquoise promotes calm activity and it stimulates immunity.

Turquoise gives rooms a cool, fresh, spacious appearance.

Blue is the color of truth. It represents hope, trust, and spirituality.

Physiologically, blue reduces our blood pressure, heart rate and respiration. It instills calmness and combats tension and anxiety. In fact, one study showed that patients who were under hypnosis and told to concentrate on the color blue reported a sense of calm and relaxation.

The use of blue in a room makes it seem to be cooler. In the same hypnosis study, when the patients were given the suggestion of blue surroundings on a very hot day, their skin temperature actually cooled! In gathering spaces, you might choose either green-blues or periwinkles to warm the space a bit and make it more upbeat or social.

Fun fact! Blue is an appetite suppressant (really!). Other than blueberries and blue potatoes, there are no naturally occurring blue foods…in fact, blue warned our ancestors of molds or foods that were poisonous to eat. On a constant diet? Paint your kitchen or dining room blue, and eat on blue plates!

Indigo (a bluish-purple) is the color of spiritual opening or awakening; it is known as a healing or cleansing color.

Indigo promotes dignity and reverence; it encourages purpose, prayer, and meditation; and it calms the body and balances the mind.

Brown can provide security and earthy support in times of emotional stress.

Too much brown in a room can cause lethargy and depression. Popular accent colors right now are pale blue, aqua, pale pink or raspberry.

Black can give a sense of depth, but can also indicate a lack of hope.

Physiologically, black heightens emotional responses; it can also create feelings of depression.

Black can be good as an accent color in rooms; you might also be brave and paint an entire room in black (very dramatic!) and accent with beautiful jewel tones.

Grey is an ambiguous color—a “grey area!” It can connote hopelessness, like a dismal cloudy day, or can signify balance and the resolution of conflict.

Studies have shown that employees working in grey offices take more sick days than those working in offices with color. Use it carefully! Look for greys with tints of brown (taupe), purple, red, or blue.

In the East, white represents winter or death. In the West, it represents purity.

Physiologically, white encourages peace and restores equilibrium. However, pure white can produce glare and cause optical fatigue when used in large quantities.

Too much white in a room can suggest a “non-experience,” or can give a stark effect that leads to desolation. Use it carefully! Compensate with ornaments, paintings, plants, or colorful accent walls or fabrics.

Melissa Andron and her husband Lee own Realm Design Studio. They are “designers of real and virtual environments.” Lee handles the virtual environments with web site design and programming for single-person firms to Fortune 500 companies. Melissa handles the real environments with interior design for homes, offices, churches, and medical practices.

Melissa’s passion (besides her puppies, Samson and Loki!) is the design of healing environments. She loves to create environments that nourish our spirits by addressing various aspects of design including not only space planning and color, but also art, music, aromas, textures, and other elements that directly affect all of our senses.

• Jul 04 - Home Comforts
• Aug 04 - HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
• Sep 04 - HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS (part 2)
• Oct 04 - Color My World
• Nov 04 - Feeling Blue?