Five things to consider before (re)painting your room

We’ve heard it over and over again–to do more productive things during this quarantine to support our mental and physical health. Some people are using this chance to learn how to cook, grow plants, learn a new language or simply do some spring cleaning. You can also rearrange your room and paint it with a new color, just to give your room a breath of fresh air. Color is one of the most important aspects of a room design as it changes a mood, disguises flaws, evoke memories and even create illusions. Here are five things to consider that may help you decide on what colors to choose for your room.

1. Mood

Room colors can influence our moods, thoughts and physiological reactions. Think about how certain colors make you feel and if they can influence any type of emotion. Here are sample colors and common mood they bring:

• Red – Red raises room’s energy level. It is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement. It also draws people together and create a conversation

• Yellow – Yellow communicates happiness, allowing us to see the brighter side of things. For small spaces, yellow can feel welcoming.

• Blue – Blue is considered relaxing, calming and serene. The darker shades of blue may also evoke feelings of sadness.

2. Perception

Color preference is also a statement on how we want other people to perceive us. Having white for example can represent youth and freshness. Red may project an image of power and confidence.

3. Size

Colors have the power to change the shape and size of room and its furnishings. Light colors are expansive making rooms seem larger, while dark colors give large rooms a more intimate and cozy facade.

4. Temperature

Paint color can either give you a warm or cool feeling. Warm colors such as orange or red tend to make you think of warm things like fire and sun. Cool colors on the other hand, like blue or green can give you a calm and soothing feeling because of color association to sky and trees.

5. Light

Artificial and natural room light needs to be considered when choosing the right color and shade. If you want to brighten a space that’s short on light, choose light-reflecting colors. To tone down or to add contrast to the brightness of the room, select dark colors.