From the Floors Up

Learning Color Psychology

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Today, we are going to explore the psychology of colors to see the different ways that you can use the same colors to change the end results. Let’s get started!

Combinations

What you pair a color with can change how much it affects the atmosphere. For instance, different color pairings can complement, contrast, or even take from the other colors in a room. For example, if you pair red in your design with orange and yellow, the room will have a warm, inviting atmosphere. However, when red is paired with a neutral palette, the color will have the most authentic psychological influence on the room. Now pair red with against blue, and it will have the hardest contrast. The ratio in which you contribute to each color will also determine how much influence it has on the space.

Hues

A hue is both the color and the tinting of the color. Exploring different hues can have different outcomes on an environment psychologically. For example, blue may be used to relax an atmosphere, and green may be used to add liveliness. Now take turquoise, the hue between green and blue, this color can borrow elements of both. You can darken or lighten the shading of a color to create different outcomes as well.

Finish & Tone

Colors can also be affected by how they are perceived in design by their tone and finish. For instance, glossy yellow is more vibrant and expressive than matte yellow. Likewise, pastels are washed out by whites, where muted colors are darkened by blacks. The same color can have a masculine or feminine feature just by softening it or creating a pastel tone.

We think that the psychology of color is fascinating how it can change a room. We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about how colors affect our atmosphere. How will you facilitate these tricks in your own home? Let us know below in the comment section.

Understanding Colors & Their Influence on Your Design

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Colors can be very impactful in an environment. We use color to add character to a space. From warm and cool tones, every color can help change the overall feeling of your home. Trying to find the perfect blend of colors to complement each other can be tricky at first, but understanding some basic tricks can help you master the skill. Today, we look at some of the simple aspects of color and how you can use them in your design. Knowing these can better help you facilitate different colors in your home. Let’s get started!

Tones

There are three types of tones that can be used in a room. You can create a warm-tone, which makes an area feel more inviting. This tone can be accomplished by using colors like red, yellow, pink, and orange. Or, you can create a cool-tone atmosphere by using colors like blue, green, purple, and indigo. This tone will make an area feel more relaxed and laid back. Lastly, you can create a neutral-tone. This tone is done by using beige, grey, white, black, or other colors that have no direct correlation with setting a tone. Each has their time and place in your design. Try to match the right colors to the feeling you want to provoke in each room.

Textures

Texture can also be very valuable in your design. When designing a room, you will typically stick to around three to four colors in general. However, with only three to four colors, some areas tend to blend together. For instance, having a beige couch against a beige wall can seem to mix together. This bland look can be fixed through the use of texture. So make sure you have plenty of texture throughout each space. You can have some carpet, grainy surfaces, or silky pillows. These types of texture will help create a dramatic effect and allow objects to pop off one another.

Complementary

With the use of more than one color, you will want colors that complement one another. While each color by itself can create a color meaning, using colors together can also be an effect. Consider the color green being used monochromatically throughout a design space. With all this green, you can evoke feelings of life, revitalization, or even envy. The color green has several psychological influences in an environment. Now take that same room and add the color red. You probably would quickly recognize this color combination as festive or Christmas-influenced. Pay attention to how the colors in your room complement one another and how they portray a feeling.

Color is one of the most powerful tools to use in design. A better understanding of how to use color can help you master your design. Since every color has its own psychological influences, these tricks can be great tools to take your design to the next level. While design is about aesthetics and functionality, how your design makes you feel is equally important. This can all be accomplished through the power of colors.

Color of the Year 2020: Classic Blue

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Did you know that every year the color authorities announce a new color of the year? In fact, this color is selected by a team of color experts at Pantone Color. They research and explore what color seems to be most influential and significant in the world at that given time, and the color is selected in December for the following year. This color is then used by businesses throughout the next year in design and marketing.

Classic Blue

The year 2020 will kick off with the new color Classic Blue. This classic color is construed of the deep and passive shade of blue with undertones of indigo to help create more serenity. Classic Blue is a very stable and reliable color. This traditional color was chosen to allow your mind to wander. In fact, Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Pantone Color, says, “what’s the future going to bring as we move into the evening hours?” is the thought this color can help provoke. The team at Pantone Color believes that Classic Blue is more than just visually stimulating but also helps to awaken all your senses.

Who Decides the Color of The Year

In 1999, Pantone Color became the global authority on color. Each year in December, they select a color that seems very influential in the world. They look at different aspects of life and carefully choose the color they see most meaningful at the current time.

Where You May See This Color

Every year these colors make history by being used by many major companies. Many large and small companies can use this trending color to help promote themselves. If you are looking to keep your home or business up-to-date, consider giving some homage to Classic Blue. You may notice it being used in apps, phone colors, paint themes, clothing, and other materials more frequently.

In 2020, be sure to keep your eyes out for Classic Blue, and see if you notice it in marketing, design, fashion, or other aspects of life. You will be surprised how common this color becomes in the following year.

Surprisingly Effective Color Palettes

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Colors can have a dramatic impact on our living space. Each color has the power to influence the overall mood of the atmosphere. In fact, designing a room comes down to colors. We tend to use color palettes to give rooms a more diverse feel and capture the impacts of each color. If you went into a dimly lit, dark restaurant with red accents, you might feel a romantic vibe, whereas a brightly lit, blue and white atmosphere will have a completely different feeling. Typically, colors that are near each other on the color wheel can complement each other quite nicely. You can easily create a cool-tone or warm-tone atmosphere by choosing the corresponding colors. However, colors that are opposite of each other can also work together. In fact, here are three surprisingly effective color palettes you can consider adding to your own home:

Peach and Forest Green

These colors are nowhere near each other on the color wheel. Even the shading of peach and forest green is very far from similar. However, with peach’s youthful, springy feel accompanied by a more formal green, these two colors work wonders together.

Green is excellent at adding vitality to a space and freshening it up, but when you darken this color by creating forest green, it can dampen some of those desired effects. That is why mixing peach with forest green, creates a highly desirable effect.

Blue and Rustic Orange

Blue and rustic orange are another unique color combination. Blue is known to be a very passive and tranquil color, whereas orange is used in more Rustic or Mediterranean style homes. These two colors complement each other in a unique way. The rustic orange feels creative yet serious, helping to ground the free spirit of a bright blue room.

Teal and Red

The last surprisingly effective color combination that we had to explore is teal and red. Teal is a blue-green tone that is calming yet rejuvenating, whereas red is known to be bold and aggressive. These two colors are known to balance each other out while creating a colorful yet neutral feeling environment.

When exploring the color palette, do not be afraid to get a little crazy. You never know when two colors can effortlessly complement one another.

The Power of Color

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Color is one of the most influential properties you can add to a room. Color, yet so simple, is very complex. When we see colors, they are received and transmitted in different pathways of the brain. Due to this, we have emotions, hormones, and feelings that are directly correlated with colors. That being said, not everyone is affected the same way by colors. Since many colors have psychology feelings affiliated with them, we all can feel different ways about certain colors.  

Color Changes 

While choosing color is simply a choice of personal preference, there are many elements to consider. We cannot see color without light. If a room was painted red and another room was painted blue with no light, you would not be able to identify either. This also means natural lighting can affect how we see a room. When the sun rises and sets, we have warmer tones. However, midday light can have a more fluorescent feel. Where your windows faces can make the room feel completely different. In fact, color can be changed simply by your lightbulbs, the color of your flooring, the reflectiveness of your paint, and even the outside atmosphere (grass, sand, or snow).   

Choosing Colors 

A general rule of thumb is that rooms facing north and east do not get enough light throughout the day. This means it can be more beneficial to add warmer-hued colors. Colors like red, orange, and yellow can all help influence a warm feel in the space. Rooms that face south and west typically have enough light in them throughout the day. These rooms may thrive better using cooler tones like blue, green, or purples.

Color Feelings 

Remember, all colors have moods which they can set other than just warm or cool. Using dark tones can make a room feel smaller or more sophisticated. Lighter shades open up the space allowing light to travel more freely, which can make a room feel airier and inviting. Research color psychology to help determine which colors are best for your space, but try to not add too many colors to a space. Just see which shades work best with one another to create a seamless color scheme.

Lastly, you should always get paint swatches and test them in your room’s actual light. Check them in the morning, evening, and midday to see how they feel with the rest of the atmosphere. Remember, color can be one of the most influential elements in a space, so take the time to pick the perfect colors for your home while remembering to have fun. 

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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