DESIGN TIP
for Your Home: Color

Ever wonder why some rooms in Better Homes & Gardens look cozier than others? Or why some rooms make you feel calmer while others make you feel more productive? It may have something to do with the color of the walls or furnishings used throughout the room. Color is a powerful producer of feelings. So here are some questions to consider when you are trying to figure out what color to paint a room:

• What is the main activity or use of the room? Will you or your guests use the space to work or study in, entertain in, or sleep in?
• What emotion or physical response do you hope to experience while in the space?
• Do you like the overall physical size of the room or do you wish for it to feel smaller or bigger?

How you answer these questions will help guide you as you consider the humongous number of hues available on the market. So, for example, if you want the room to appear larger than it is, use cooler colors (blues, greens, and purples), and keep the contrast within the room to a minimum. If you want to shorten or shrink the size of a room, use warmer colors (reds, oranges, and yellows) throughout, and create contrast throughout the space.1

If you want a room that facilitates activity or excitement, add some red to it. If you want to project hospitality and warmth, use yellow or orange somewhere in the room. Or do you want a particular room to help you feel relaxed? Then use green or blue throughout it since these colors are associated with repose, freshness, and calmness.2

While I think homes that have mostly white or beige walls are beautiful, I also love homes that have some color on their walls. Pops of color add interest and beauty to a home. Do not be afraid to add some color to your walls, floor, or ceiling trim, or even to your front door. Paint is an easy thing to change, especially if a particular color doesn’t end up making you feel as relaxed or productive as you hoped it would.