Understand how color affects your mood

Psychologists have long since theorize that people's preferences for color and color mixes have deep psychological affect on your mood or feeling. 
In fact, research does suggest that color can affect your being and that your choice of color or combinations of color is significant to your mood. 
An example of this is that healthy people will prefer colors and color mixtures that reflect their health both physically and mentally. 
Furthermore, your color preferences are not necessarily fixed and that they will vary even within a given day depending on your mood. 

Click any of the boxes to test your mood. 

Mood interpreter 
Choose the color below that you like most at this moment. 



Scientists, doctors and mental health professionals have been studying the correlation between color and mood for years. Many now believe that colors cannot only cause emotional reactions, but can also correct mood and well being. 


Recent studies suggest that we don't actually see color, but "feel" it instead. Scientists now believe that each individual "feels" color in their heart, and not their head. 


Colors behave in three basic ways: active, passive and neutral. If you rememberer the basics between these three actions, you can decorate and dress for success. 


ACTIVE 

Active colors are warm colors, including yellow, orange and red. These colors inspire positiveness and exude confidence from extroverts. Warm colors can also inspire conversation and upbeat attitudes. Reds heat up a room like no other hue. Wake up an entryway with fire engine red or warm a den with deep maroon. Yellows and golden colors unleash creative activity and work well in offices, kitchens and study areas. 
PASSIVE COLORS 


Cool colors pacify and restore. Bedrooms, private areas and bathrooms are great places for blues, greens and purples. 
NEUTRAL COLORS 

Think of neutralizing colors as "uncolors." Beiges, grays, whites and taupes do not activate or pacify. Instead, they work together with the other colors to bridge rooms and provide transition. 
PAINTING WALLS 

You can easily change the look or feel of a room by redressing the walls. Mixing and matching colors within the same color scheme is an excellent way to balance color and emotion, and provide a welcoming feel to guests. The following gives a general guideline for wall painting and mood when using passive, active and neutral colors: 
NEUTRAL COLORS 

Neutral colors, such as pale gray, taupe and beige, send a restful message to your brain. It's not a coincidence that most doctor's offices, coffee shops, spas and mental health centers decorate in neutrals. Neutral colors can actually "destress" individuals. 
BRIGHT, WARM COLORS 

To create a feeling of warmth and coziness in a room, use bright, warm colors like yellows, oranges and reds. These colors make good choices for rooms that appear cool due to limited, natural sunlight. Mixing several different shades of warm colors evokes positive, cheerful reactions. 


YELLOWS 

Yellow color schemes add cheeriness to dull rooms. Therapists often use colors with the yellow scheme to boost mood. You can achieve the same effect by adding yellows to rooms which are not associated with happy thoughts, such as kitchens and laundry rooms. Yellows can also be used to increase energy. 


COOL COLORS 

In rooms where there's plenty of sunshine, cool colors can provide a calming ambience. Sage greens and sky blues are perfect for bedrooms, playrooms and activity areas. Other cool colors, such as blues and greens, can evoke quiet moods and even sadness. For this reason, cool colors aren't generally used in large areas. 


PRIMARY COLORS 

Let your playful side come out by painting with the primary colors. Young, playful moods are brought to the surface with primary colors. Children's bedrooms are a great area to use primary colors in. 


REDS 

Red is a power color, often used to invigorate your environment. Red is also said to stimulate and symbolize passion. Remember that red hot date dress? 

COLORS BY MOOD 

Here's a quick rundown of individual colors and the moods they support. 


PINK-soothes, promotes affection. 

YELLOW-cheers, increases energy, expands the size of a room. 

WHITE-purifies, unifies, enlivens other colors. 

BLACK-authoritative, shows discipline, encourages independence. 

ORANGE-cheers, stimulates appetite and conversation. 

RED-empowering 

GREEN-balances, refreshes 

PURPLE-comforts, creates mystery 

BLUE-relaxes, cools 



TIPS AND TRICKS 


To temper wall color choices, pick out furniture and accessories that will provide a visual contrast. Brick-red painted trim, for example, can be balanced with antique-white rugs. 


COOL colors make a room seem larger than it is and warm colors make rooms feel smaller. 


Mixing different shades of beige will add a classy feel to any size room.