Interior Design Colors: The Psychology of Creating Spaces
Color is powerful—it shapes our mood, behavior, and how we experience a space. As an interior designer, I often marvel at how the right hue can turn a room from chaotic to calming or from drab to dynamic. And while we all have our favorite colors (mine shift depending on how much coffee I’ve had), understanding the psychology of color can help you create a home that feels uniquely yours.
Take the Brooklyn Repose project we’ve recently worked on. It’s a thoughtfully curated two-bedroom condo where urban sophistication meets the serenity of nature. Color helped with this tremendously. (You can see images here, but also on our Houzz profile page.)
So let’s get into how specific interior design colors influence the mood and atmosphere of this serene yet eminently functional sanctuary.
Understanding Color Theory
Color theory is the backbone of interior design, a science that helps us understand how colors interact and the emotions they evoke. Imagine it as a roadmap guiding you through the many options of hues, shades, and tones. By mastering color theory, you can create a color scheme that not only looks good but also feels right.
At its core, color theory involves the study of color properties and combinations. It’s about knowing which colors complement each other and which clash, how to balance bold hues with neutral tones, and how to use color to influence mood and perception. For instance, pairing complementary colors—those opposite each other on the color wheel—can create a vibrant and dynamic look, while analogous colors—those next to each other—offer a more harmonious and serene feel.
Understanding these principles allows you to craft an interior design paint color scheme that enhances the ambiance of your space, making it not just visually appealing but also emotionally resonant.
Neutral Tones: The Foundation of Calm
Neutrals, including beige tones, are the unsung heroes of colors in interior design. They’re versatile, timeless, and, when used thoughtfully, can create a sense of spaciousness and tranquility. In the Brooklyn Repose project, a palette of soft beiges and warm taupes is the foundation, grounding the space in subtle elegance.
Why does this work? Neutrals have a way of quieting the mind. They don’t demand attention but instead create a canvas that lets the rest of the design shine. Perfect for a home that must balance modern living with moments of repose.
Japanese-Inspired Earth Tones
Drawing inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, earthy tones like ochres, terracottas, and muted tones of brown are sprinkled throughout the home. These interior design colors evoke a connection to nature, making the space feel warm, welcoming, and rooted.
In the bedroom, a Kyoto-inspired headboard in rich wood tones anchors the room, encouraging relaxation and mindfulness. Paired with natural textures, these hues create an environment that feels almost meditative. Think of it as your very own Zen retreat—no passport required.
Blues: Calm, Focused, and Endlessly Versatile
Blue is often associated with calm and clarity in interior design colors, and selecting the right paint colors can enhance these qualities—ones we feel come in quite handy in today’s fast-paced world. In the Brooklyn Repose project, shades of blue subtly weave their way into the design, from indigo-dyed fabrics in the bedroom to slate accents in the meditation room.
Blue not only calms the mind but also fosters focus, making it an excellent choice for spaces where you need to think, work, or simply unwind with a good book (or Netflix—no judgment).
Pops of Green and Bold Hues: A Vibrant Connection to Nature
While the base palette leans neutral, the kitchen and dining area in Brooklyn Repose features intentional pops of bold colors with green. A vibrant green backsplash and leafy plants bring the space to life, creating a fresh, invigorating atmosphere perfect for cooking and dining.
Green symbolizes growth and renewal, making it ideal for areas where you gather with family or friends. Plus, it ties back to our innate connection to nature, which is so important in urban settings.
Warm and Cool Colors: Balancing Temperatures in Your Space
Interior design colors have the power to change the perceived temperature of a room. Warm colors like red, orange, and golden yellow evoke feelings of warmth and energy, making spaces feel cozy and inviting. On the other hand, cool colors such as blue, green, and purple bring a sense of calm and serenity, perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere.
Balancing these temperatures in your space is key to achieving a harmonious environment. For example, pairing a warm beige tone with a cool blue accent color can create a balanced and inviting atmosphere. Imagine a living room with a warm, earthy beige sofa complemented by cool blue throw pillows and a dark green rug. This combination not only balances the temperature but also adds depth and interest to the space.
By thoughtfully combining warm and cool colors, you can create a space that feels both dynamic and balanced, catering to different moods and activities. So color brings in flexibility.
Choosing an Interior Design Color Palette: Personalizing Your Space
Selecting a color palette is one of the most exciting steps in interior design. It’s your chance to infuse your personality into your space and set the tone for how it feels. Start by considering the mood you want to create. Do you want a calm and cozy retreat or an energizing and vibrant hub?
Think about the colors that evoke these emotions for you. For instance, neutral tones like soft beiges and muted grays can create a serene backdrop, while bold hues like jewel tones or bright colors can add a touch of drama and excitement. Don’t forget to consider the natural light in your space, as it can significantly affect how colors appear. (I like to talk about light and its effect on design and the effects on interior design paint colors can’t be ignored.)
A well-balanced color palette often follows the 60-30-10 rule: 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% an accent color. (This is not a hard rule, but it can give people a framework to think about color.) This approach ensures that your space feels cohesive and well-designed. For example, in a bedroom, you might choose a soft gray for the walls (60%), a dark green for the bedding (30%), and golden yellow accents in the form of throw pillows or artwork (10%).
By electing and balancing your color palette well, you can create a space that feels truly yours.
The Art of Layering Color
Color isn’t just about individual shades—it’s about how color combinations interact. Again, the Brooklyn Repose project uses layering to great effect. Earth tones ground the space, blues add calm and depth, and pops of color like green provide energy. The result? A harmonious balance that feels both sophisticated and serene.
Color Scheme Strategies: Monochromatic and Analogous Approaches
Creating a harmonious color palette involves more than just picking your favorite colors. It’s about understanding how different colors work together to create a cohesive look. Two popular strategies are the monochromatic and analogous approaches.
The monochromatic approach uses different shades, tints, and tones of a single color to create a cohesive and serene color scheme. This strategy can make a space feel calm and sophisticated. For example, a living room decorated in various shades of blue—from a light sky blue on the walls to a deep navy on the sofa—can feel both elegant and tranquil.
The analogous approach, on the other hand, involves using colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. This strategy creates a harmonious and balanced look with a bit more variety. For instance, a dining room with a color scheme of dark green, golden yellow, and earthy brown can feel warm and inviting, perfect for gatherings and meals.
By understanding and applying these color scheme strategies, you can create a space that not only looks beautiful but also feels harmonious and well-thought-out.
Applying Color Psychology in Your Home: Interior Design Color Schemes
- Start with a Purpose: What do you want the room to feel like? Calm and cozy? Energizing and vibrant? Use the psychology of color and insights from interior designers as your guide for selecting hues.
- Layer Thoughtfully: Combine neutrals with accent colors to create depth and interest without overwhelming the space.
- Incorporate Nature: Whether it’s greens, earth tones, or organic textures, grounding your palette in nature creates a timeless and welcoming atmosphere. (I love bringing Mother Nature into our homes, so regardless of the article topic, I like to remind readers of this important element of design.)
Final Thoughts: Your Home, Your Palette
Color is personal—it tells your story and shapes how you live in your space, influenced by the psychology of color and well-chosen color palettes. Whether you’re drawn to the earthy elegance of the Brooklyn Repose project or want to experiment with bold pops of color inspired by Pantone’s Color of the Year, understanding how interior design paint colors impacts mood and behavior can help you curate a palette that truly feels like home.
Remember: Your space should make you feel good every time you walk in the door. And if you get it wrong the first time? That’s what paint samples are for.