The power and persuasive nature of color have been well-documented over the years, particularly with studies highlighting the relationship between color and personality traits. Aside from people being naturally drawn to certain shades, color also has the power to evoke a desired feeling in a space. When deciding what color to paint the interior of your home, it’s worthwhile to explore shades that mirror your personality, as well as the way that you would like people to feel in each particular room.
The Relationship between Personality and Color
Many of our common insights regarding the relationship between color and personality are based on the theories of the ancient Greek physician, Galen. He designated four different personalities linked to bodily fluids and their color: choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black bile), phlegmatic (phlegm) and sanguine (blood).
Today, one of the many color personality theories that exist is the Hartman Personality Profile, or The Color Code, which divides people into four similar categories, identifying common traits of each color personality:
– Reds: The Power Wielders
– Blues: The Do-Gooders
– Whites: The Peacekeepers
– Yellows: The Fun Lovers
Decorating to Display Your Personality
These interesting and insightful theories can be used in highlighting parts of your personality in your home décor. If you are a strong-willed and independent person, you might be drawn to bolder shades. While it would be off-putting to paint your entire living room a crimson hue, try painting an accent wall in a deep shade of merlot instead.
For those who highly value a calm and serene environment, earth tones will elicit these feelings. Airy blues, lush greens and tawny browns will display your subdued and serene personality. Bubbly and energetic personalities can be displayed by an equally lighthearted and playful color palette, using shades like yellow, orange and other citrusy hues. Warm colors are a great way to display an outgoing personality, with cooler colors showing a more subdued nature.
How Color Affects Mood
When selecting paint colors for your home, also take into consideration what you will be spending your time doing in each room. Color has the ability to enhance concentration, encourage sleep and inspire you. It is helpful to match the color of each room to what you would like to feel like doing in that space.
For home offices, lemony yellows would be distracting. To promote concentration and productivity, paint work spaces in lighter shades of blue. Blue also evokes a sense of calmness and serenity and curbs appetite. For the kitchen, pale yellows feel cheerful and warm. Yellow is also thought to subtly increase metabolism and give you energy. Painting a lavender hue in the living room will give the space a relaxed and calming atmosphere.
Color is one of the easiest ways to distinguish a space and display your unique personality. If you are considering updating your home with new paint, consult a professional painting company to ensure the highest quality work in the shortest amount of time. Before painting, take some time to research the colors that you are naturally drawn to, as well as what parts of your personality you’d like your home to display.