Everything You Need to Know about Color Psychology in Interior Design

Your home is a reflection of your personality and style and what better way to express it than through colors? Whether you are redesigning your entire living space or simply looking to add a touch of vibrancy, incorporating color theory and the color wheel can breathe new life into your home decor. 

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF COLOR THEORY

Before diving into the art of color it's important to understand the basic principles of color theory. Color theory is a comprehensive system that explores how colors interact with each other and the emotional responses they evoke. At the heart of this theory lies the color wheel, a tool that helps designers navigate vast array of colors and use them harmoniously in their designs.

The color wheel organizes colors into primary, secondary and tertiary colors. Primary colors, such as red, blue, and yellow, cannot be created through mixing other colors. Secondary colors, like orange, purple and green, are formed by mixing two primary colors. Lastly, tertiary colors are created by blending primary and secondary colors together.

Each color can have its variations. There are 4 main categories:

• Hues: The pure colors on the color wheel; the basic spectrum colors like red, blue, and yellow, from which all other colors are derived.

• Tints: Hues with white added to them, making them lighter and often more pastel; for instance, pink is a tint of red.

• Tones: Hues with both black and white (or grey) added to them, which makes them subtler and often more complex; for example, olive is a tone of green.

• Shades: Hues with black added to them, making them darker; navy is a shade of blue.

CREATING HARMONIOUS COLOR SCHEMES

Color schemes play an integral role in establishing the overall mood of a space. By carefully selecting colors based on their relationship to each other on the color wheel you can effectively create a harmonious and visually pleasing atmosphere.

Monochromatic Color Scheme

This scheme relies on variations of a single hue creating a sense of simplicity. For instance, if you choose blue as your base color, you can incorporate lighter and darker shades of blue throughout the room.

Analogous Color Scheme

This involves choosing colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Analogous schemes often evoke a soothing and calming ambiance. For instance, pairing green, yellow-green, and yellow creates a harmonious and nature-inspired setting.