After years of research, color has been known to have a psychological effect on both our mental and emotional well-being. Psychologists have found that certain colors such as red or yellow can cause an increase in blood pressure or hunger levels, while colors such as blue and green cause calming and soothing effects. This closely studied phenomenon is called ‘color psychology’ and is often used by advertising, marketing, business executives and even interior designers to produce a subconscious effect in our brains.
For instance, what do nearly all fast food chain restaurants have in common? They all use different mascots, logos and marketing strategies to draw in their customers – this is true. However, fast food chains are also heavily reliant on warm, bright colors such as red or yellow, to produce an attention-grabbing effect within potential customers who may be merely passing the restaurant on their way home. We associate McDonalds with the golden arches and a fiery red background. Upon closer research, we can also conclude that these colors produce a subconscious-hunger or craving for McDonalds this is called color psychology. Color psychology is the association of different feelings, thoughts, moods invoked by color.
Interior designers keep this color psychology in mind when designing a space and so do companies that provide home goods and decor. At Blindster, one of the top-selling window covering companies in the United States with over 100 years of combined experience, we believe color psychology can be easily applied to a variety of concepts, such as choosing blinds for a home. Data collected by the North American Mental Health Professional Advice Council (NAMHPAC) suggests that light – combined with the natural color in a room – has a direct impact on our moods.
How Do Colors Impact Mood?
Warm colors tend to produce feelings of hunger or restlessness. Colours such as red, yellow and orange are often associated with attention-grabbing signals such as stop signs or alert signs. When we compare these feelings to something such as fast food, our brains naturally associate this colour to the feeling of being anxious or stressed because we are conditioned to believe red indicates an upcoming stimulant. In turn, this has a placebo effect on the brain, causing us to feel naturally more hungry.
On the other hand, cooler tones and colors promote relaxation, creativity and tranquility. If you are decorating an office space, it is best to use a purple tone – which combines a stimulating red with a relaxing blue – to create an optimal creative and productive environment. Lighter tones of purple have been associated with relieving tension and anxiety.
Other cool tones such as green or blue actually promote relaxation, because they don’t cause strain within our eye muscles like warm colors might. Interestingly enough, marketing experts and psychologists have historically promoted the color blue as an option for high-traffic areas. Blue is said to gradually reduce stressed breathing rates and to lower blood pressure.
How Does Light Impact Mood?
Despite personal preferences of many individuals, natural light has been proven to have a tremendous impact on our mental health and thought patterns. Blindster professions know that a dark home with access to little or natural lighting, or a home that has received poor window coverings and treatments, can result in higher rates of depression, anxiety and isolation.
Blindster has seen many homeowners resort to window treatments and window covers to completely eliminate natural lighting from their homes, in an effort to save money on their energy bills in the future. While this is an effective way to cool down your home, especially for homeowners who live in hotter climates, this solution ultimately leads to an unhappy home.
Homeowners who receive little to no natural light within their homes are more likely to experience decreased levels of creativity, motivation and overall productivity. With the recent trend of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, working in dark, isolated environments has become normalized in society, but could lead to catastrophic effects in the mental health states of millions of people.
Additionally, we know the importance of protecting against light pollution. Light pollution is the impact of artificial light such as street lights, blue light or any human made lights on our circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, but when we expose ourselves to excess artificial light the circadian rhythm gets affected therefore negatively impacting our sleep-wake cycle which directly affects our mood and thoughts. This in turn affects different aspects of our lives until the circadian rhythm is aligned again, which can be done through protecting against artificial lights that enter your home from outside.
How to Select the Right Blinds for Your Space
Luckily, our team at Blindster has taken color psychology into consideration when designing our vast array of products and window coverings. Blindster offers blinds made of materials ranging from faux-wood to aluminum and more. However, choosing the right blinds for your home depends on many other factors, besides personal preferences.
- Start by color matching the selected shade tone with the window trim or molding. Oftentimes, you’ll find that your window trim is a cream or off-white color. This makes it easier for homeowners to select a neutral-colored window cover or blind shade to create a classic look within the home.
- Create a cohesive look within your home by then comparing the shade of your window coverings to your walls, floors and surroundings.
- Be aware of the illusion different colored blinds can create within the home – for instance, lighter colored blinds can make your space look more ample and spacious while darker shades can make your space look smaller and more compact
- Factor in how quickly your home absorbs heat – darker coverings will absorb heat but may also prevent more light from entering the home.
Coordinate Colors with Window Coverings
Once you have selected a style of blinds or window coverings, and you have evaluated your home’s needs, you can then move on to the most exciting and creative part of the process – mixing and matching colors.
- Known for its fiery, attention-grabbing reputation, red is an excellent color to use for window coverings in a bedroom or a living room. Red is a great way to energize a room in a sultry, romantic way while also making a bold statement.
- Orange is commonly used to create an inviting, attractive ambiance within the home. As we now know, the color orange is associated with caution, security and fun. Orange window coverings in a game room or exercise room to add to the energetic and lively atmosphere.
- Yellow is almost always associated with elevated feelings of happiness and joy. Using yellow window coverings in a space will always produce a brightening effect in any kitchen, bathroom or dining area within a home.
- Green, often associated with nature, creates a sophisticated tone within your desired space. Our team at Blindster believes that green blinds will add a refreshing vibe and elegance to nearly any room in a home. For homeowners wishing to add a calming and relaxing element to their home, green is an excellent choice.
- Blue window coverings are one of the most popular choices due to its versatility and elegance. Like green, blue also encourages feelings of relaxation and serenity and can be combined with other cool-colored tones to further enhance feelings of tranquility.
- Purple, as mentioned previously, is an excellent choice for window coverings in a creative space, such as a home office or studio. It combines the stimulating elements found in red, as well as the relaxing properties of blue to create a color that promotes the flow of creativity. Additionally, purple adds a regal touch to any room they are in.
Ultimately, the window coverings you select paired with room color will take much more factors into consideration such as personal creative styles, furniture colors and so on. By paying attention to important elements found in color psychology and natural light and artificial light research, homeowners are able to take a more strategic approach to designing and customising their home. In turn, this creates happier homeowners, with higher rates of motivation and productivity.
For more information on Blindsters and our wide range of products, please visit https://www.blindster.com/window-blinds/.
