Mental health has become a bigger topic of discussion in recent years. Many stigmas behind it are falling away and people are starting to recognize what can really affect their mental well-being. Often, it’s situational. Everything from traumatic events to damaging relationships can cause anxiety or depression.
But, did you know that your home environment could be playing a role, too?
The colours of your home interior can directly impact your mental health – in either a positive or negative way. For example, having a lot of bright red can make you feel more anxious and easily irritable. Soft blues, on the other hand, can provide a calming environment.
It might not seem like much on the surface. But, choosing the right colours for your home can make a bigger difference in how you feel than you probably think. So, how can you create the right environment to improve your mental health?
Understanding Color Psychology
To fully grasp how the colours you choose could be impacting you, it’s good to know a bit about colour psychology. It’s something marketing professionals often use to evoke certain moods and emotions in consumers. But, there’s more to it than that.
Studies have shown that certain colours not only influence the way people shop but the way they feel. Your feelings about colour are cultural, historical, and extremely personal. Colour is so powerful, it is even sometimes used for therapeutic purposes as a holistic treatment. For example, red can stimulate circulation while blue can soothe aches and pains. It’s also used to help with mental health conditions. With that in mind, it’s important to understand some of the common symptoms of depression and anxiety. While they are different, many of the symptoms overlap, including:
- Changes in eating/sleeping habits
- Trouble concentrating
- Feelings of worry, dread, or helplessness
Depression also often comes with heavy feelings of sadness and guilt. Anxiety can make you feel edgy and irritable. You don’t have to be in a therapeutic setting to take advantage of colour psychology for these conditions. You can benefit from it in your own home.
When it comes to interior design, you should use colour psychology to evoke certain feelings and moods in each room. Choosing the right colours for certain rooms can make a big change in how you feel and how you function.
Which Colors Make a Difference?
So, which colours belong where? It depends on how you want to utilize certain rooms in your home, as well as the overall environment you’re trying to capture. If you already deal with anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, choosing relaxing and soothing colours throughout your home can be beneficial.
Otherwise, the easiest route is to go room by room and decide on the environment you want. Let’s break down how different colours can work best in certain areas of the house:
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- Red – Raises energy levels in a room, so it’s good for home offices or entryways
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- Yellow – Evokes happiness and positive energy, making it wonderful for kitchens”
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- Green – Works almost anywhere, as it evokes optimism
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- Purple – Often associated with positive feelings, it’s great for a dressing room or hallway
- Blue – Used as a calming influence, perfect for bedrooms where you want to relax
You can also use colour psychology to stay on top of current trends. Earthy tones are “in” right now, and it’s expected that their popularity will continue to rise. But, they aren’t just trendy – they can help with your mental health, too.
Warm tones inspired by nature can bring the feeling of being outdoors inside. Multiple studies have shown the mental benefits of spending time in nature. It can reduce stress, help with symptoms of anxiety, and even boost your mood. Bringing the “outside in” won’t only make you pretty stylish, but can improve your overall wellness, too.
Start With Small Changes
Unless you’ve already been planning on a home remodel, you probably don’t want to go through every room in your house with a paint roller. The good news? You don’t have to.
Instead, choose one or two rooms that you’d really like to give a facelift to, and focus on painting those walls the right colours to fit your needs. Throughout the rest of your home, you can make small colour changes that could actually make a big difference. Add a few throw pillows or blankets to each room in the colour you want. Or, switch things up with colourful artwork.
If you want to paint but don’t want to commit to a whole room, consider making an accent wall in the colour of your choice. Even small additions or colour changes can influence the entire look and feel of a room. In return, you can start to feel different when you’re in there.
If you’ve never heard of or utilized colour psychology before, try it out at home. It’s a wonderful way to create a calm and serene environment, encourage positivity, and maintain your mental health in the place you spend most of your time.