Decorate With Intention: Lift a Room's Mood With Color

Do you find yourself feeling more relaxed in the cool blue of your favorite café? Or feeling on edge in your friend's red dining room? It's possible that the colors surrounding you are influencing how you feel.

Let's take a look at some of the most common color associations:

Red: high energy, powerful, sometimes angry, makes your heart beat faster

Orange: social, joyful, extroverted, happy

Yellow: optimism, clarity

Green: color of nature, balance, peace

Blue: restful, calm, deeply relaxing, beneficial for sleep

Violet: creativity, intuition

This list is by no means exhaustive; it is meant to be a jumping-off point to spark your own thoughts on color. Take a moment if you like to jot down your impressions.

Use rich color inspired by travels.

Have you ever come home from a trip and suddenly felt your home to be lacking oomph? I know I have. If the rich colors of a vacation spot have left a lasting impression on you, why not consider bringing a bit of their spirit into your home? You may not want to completely overhaul your space, but even painting a small study or alcove in a vibrant shade can make a big impact.

Translate your inspiration into a room scheme.

The next step would be pulling inspiration from the landscape to create your room. I would bring the pink of that feathery plant in with a soft pink wall color and deeper pink chair, contrasted with a bit of fresh green and deep brown for a cheerful, feminine vibe.

Give a color a second chance.

For the longest time, I was convinced that I did not like red in interiors. I must have seen a few really hideous or overdone examples of red that put me off it completely. But now I really appreciate it. For instance, the clear tomato red of these cabinets brightens up the rustic wood in this open-plan kitchen.

If you have written off a color entirely, I am not saying you will necessarily ever love it, but you never know. Keep an open mind and you may be pleasantly surprised.

Creamy shades count.

On the other hand, for some of us color is best admired from afar. If your heart goes pitter-patter for clean, crisp whites, flouncy double Devon cream and palest taupe, go with it! A light-filled interior piled with varied shades of white and rich textures can be just as exciting as a color-saturated home.

Get your creative wheels turning.

A few more prompts to help get you started:

• Are you a rich-color lover at heart but live in a white box?

• Which colors make you instantly happier?

• How do you respond to bright or bold color?

• Do you have any strong color dislikes?

Think back on some of your favorite memories. Which colors do you associate with these times?

I hope this has sparked your imagination and given you some food for thought on bringing color into your home. Now I would love to hear from you.

Tell me: Are you a color lover or do you prefer white and neutrals? Have any painting horror stories or great successes to share? How would you like the colors in your home to make you feel?

More: How to Use the Color Wheel to Help You Choose Colors