Domesticated

 There have been many studies in marketing, psychology, and consumer behavior centered around the way humans react to color- I did some research and came up with a cheat-sheet for understanding how the walls in your house affect your mood, ambition, and energy levels.

Red

Red is an intense color that invokes passion in people (why it is the traditional color of aggression and romance.) However when people sit in a room painted red it tends to make them agitated and uncomfortable. Red is best suited in a hallway or entryway- somewhere people don’t really hang out and are on the move. If you really have your heart set on painting a living space red- go for a blend like terra cotta, red-orange, or another altered version.

Orange

Orange is a warm color that has the ability to inspire without making people uncomfortable. Colors like melon, pumpkin and burnt orange make great colors for living rooms. It is a smart choice for dining rooms and kitchens too- because orange has red in it which is known to pique your appetite.

 Yellow

 Avoid this color at all cost- it is toxic! Don’t your eyes just hurt from looking at the title text? In the light spectrum, yellow has the highest frequency and therefore is the first color to reach your eye (indigo is the last.) This causes people to feel irritated, causes them to be more opinionated and argue more, and it makes babies cry!! Take it from the kids- do not paint an entire room this color- save it for accent pieces. However just like red, if you simply must paint your kitchen yellow, choose a softer version mixed with blue or red undertones.

Green

Green will go well pretty much anywhere- it can be calming or invigorating depending on what shade you choose, can be gender-neutral, and goes with lots of other choices, although be careful when pairing with red, you don’t want your house to look like perma-Christmas.

Blue

Blue is the most calming color in the spectrum and is ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, anywhere you want to relax. Be careful though because darker blues can make one feel sad or depressed, and very true blues in bedrooms can make the room feel cold. To fix that, find a warm blue with yellow or red undertones. (Side-note, blue is the least-occurring color in food,as opposed to red. If you’re on a diet psychologists say to eat on blue plates- it makes you eat less!)

Pink and Purple

Pink- great for girls’ rooms, or the ultimate bachelorette pad- but did you know pink actually has been known to neutralize aggression? The former football coach for the Iowa City Hawkeyes had been a psych major and  painted the visitors’ locker room pink to calm the opponents! If you are decorating for both yourself and a man in the house- keep the pinks limited to accent pieces and go for the darker pinks over bubble-gum.

Purple- similar calming effect due to the blues, however is not very popular except with little girls. Go for a more grown-up eggplant color for your bedroom or bathroom and save the lavender for your niece or daughter.

Black, White, Greys, and Browns

Black and White-  Black is great for modern accent pieces but unless you drink blood don’t even think about painting your walls with it. Instead how about black and white striped or damask effect wall paper? The combination of black and white comes off very modern, but piece it with a color accent to keep the room from looking too cold. The same goes for white- if you paint all of your walls white it comes off looking very sterile- try painting with an eggshell or ivory instead.

Greys- This one is my favorite because it is just SO hot right now (for walls)- not only does it go with everything without looking creepy or stark, it also has been known to be studious and invoke creativity- my kind of color!

Brown, Beige, Khaki, etc.- Browns are comfortable,  familiar,and can look awesome when they are paired with other colors. However be careful not to go too neutrals crazy- take some risks it will be worth it!