The psychology of color

MANILA, Philippines - Picking a color for your room can be challenging. Personal preference must come hand in hand with sophistication, which is not an easy task for a lot of people.

Colors not only express personality and add aesthetics to a room; they can also influence one’s mood. Hence, it is important to take note of how the room will be used and the time of day it is frequented before settling on an interior color scheme.

The 2010 Graduating Class of the Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID), the country’s pioneer institution in interior design education, explains the psychology of color in their graduation exhibit “Caleidoscope.” Mounted in cooperation with Eastwood City, the exhibit focuses on the four C’s: Color, Character, Cause and Cost, design elements that challenged the batch to create 18 elegant and creative interiors that are cost-efficient as well. The exhibit runs until Oct. 31 at the Athena Building, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.

• Green. Green is the color of rejuvenation, balance, harmony, optimism, and youth. This relaxing hue can reduce stress, alleviate depressive tendencies, and encourage healing, making it a good choice for living areas and even home offices.

• Blue. This color relaxes, soothes, and induces sleep, making it a popular tone for bedrooms. It also denotes cleanliness, making it suitable for bathrooms and laundry areas.

• Violet. The color of royalty, violet can be optimistic and uplifting, or serious and subdued, depending on its tonal value. It also adds a feeling of luxury, indulgence, or drama to a room. Violet is a fairly new trend for interior design, often the choice of strong personalities or eccentric characters.

• Red. This powerful color denotes excitement, power, danger, love, and romance, and is best used as an accent. Warm red can create a sense of intimacy, while certain muted shades of red can make a room look cozy. It also stimulates the appetite, making it a popular choice for kitchens and dining areas.

• Pink. The many shades of pink have different effects — soft, pale pink can soothe; warm pinks can uplift one’s spirit and motivate, while hot pinks can stimulate and energize. Interior design trends have elevated pink from the little girl’s room, and with the appropriate accents, pink can add an elegant touch to any living space.

• Orange. A friendly color that improves the mood and appetite, orange is usually the color of choice for kitchens, breakfast nooks and dining rooms. It also stimulates conversation, and adds warmth to a room. While bright orange can make a room feel hot, toned-down orange, like terra-cotta, can be soothing. Earthy orange, like copper, brings sophistication.

• Yellow. This gender-friendly color stimulates the mind, improves memory and concentration, invigorates the appetite, and infuses energy. It can brighten up a dark room, and can create excitement when red or orange are too intense. Yellow is a popular choice for nurseries and children’s rooms, as well as family rooms and dining rooms.

• Neutrals. Black, brown, gray and white blend well with any color. They are associated with confidence, formality and strength of character. They allow people and other elements to shine, while giving the space a warm and relaxing atmosphere.