Color psychology: how color affects mood – an interior design masterclass

Color psychology is sometimes dismissed, but it has a massive impact on our mood and wellbeing – just as much as picking a tone to suit the room's orientation and light levels. 

Choosing a color that positively enhances our moods can bring tangible rewards – a purposeful choice can make us feel motivated, fill us with confidence, calm us down and even help us concentrate better. With so much hanging on our color choices, it’s important to get it right when decorating a home.

Here, renowned fabric and wallpaper designer Vanessa Arbuthnott shares eight of the most popular colors from her collections, explains how they affect mood – and whichs rooms they work best in as a result.

See: The Color Wheel – H&G's complete guide on how to mix colors

Color psychology in interior design

These color psychology interior design tips are purely positive. Taking note of the mood you want the room to inspire and picking a tone that suits the room's light levels – generally, cooler tones for south- and west-facing rooms and warmer tones for east- and north-facing rooms will help you create a successful color scheme for every room.

Boost brainpower with blue

'It’s been proven that students exposed to blue before undertaking an exam achieved greater results, making it the perfect color choice for a bedroom or study,' says Vanessa. 

She does warn that too much blue can make a room feel a little unwelcoming – 'be sure to balance with warm undertones, such as yellows and creams,' she suggests.

• See: Blue room ideas – the cool colors that bring rooms alive

Relax with restful green

Green is synonymous with nature, balance and wealth, which is why it's so often seen in bedrooms and other rooms we like to relax in, such as living rooms and bathrooms. 

However, Vanessa warns not to go over the top. 'In large doses it has been shown to make us experience feelings of jealousy – the infamous green monster,' she explains. Mixing it in with blue or even soft pinks will avoid any eruptions of envy.

• See: Green room ideas – wonderful color ideas for verdant spaces

Take an optimistic approach with yellow

Sunny yellow is the happiest color, heightening optimism, confidence and energy. However, the phrase ‘too much of a good thing’ rings true, as an over-the-top yellow scheme has been proven to evoke feelings of distress. 

'Babies actually seem to cry more in yellow rooms,' says Vanessa, 'so it's best avoided in bedrooms.' Keep it low-key in sociable kitchens and dining rooms for the perfect balance.

• See: Yellow room ideas – guaranteed to turn up the heat

Warm up to orange

While not everyone’s first choice, orange is actually one of the most friendly of colors. 'It's a social shade often used in gyms and active wear brands due to its motivational, get-up-and-go qualities,' reveals Vanessa. 

Give guests a warm and enthusiastic welcome by using it in kitchens and hallways.

Stir up excitement with red

Representing passion, optimism and adventure, red raises a room’s energy level, stimulating conversation and drawing people together.

'It is used a lot in food and drink branding across the world as it is known to stimulate appetite,' Vanessa explains. 'That makes it great for social rooms such as dining rooms and kitchens.'

You might want to avoid it in the bedroom, though. It’s been shown to speed up the heart rate – not what you want just before falling asleep.

Spread calm with pink

Ever heard of the pink effect? Exposures to large amounts of this pretty shade can have a calming effect on nerves, relieving feelings of anger and frustration. Choose pastel shades for children’s bedrooms or darker hues for a more sophisticated scheme.

'In society, pink can represent a sense of immaturity, a lack of will power and self-worth,' says Vanessa. 'Yet this can be easily balanced with an injection of black and grey, which work well with the lighter color.'

• See: Pink room ideas – for spaces that are fresh, warm and surprising

Lift spirits with lilac

'Lilac is proven to be the most spiritual colour, often linked with the area between earth and heaven and used a lot by spiritualists and mediums,' reveals Vanessa, who suggests you use it in your bathroom or bedroom for a calming space. 

Be sure, however, to bring in a few brighter tones, as too much lilac can leave you feeling a little down in the dumps.

See: Neutral room ideas – light, dark and timeless ways with colour

Assert yourself with black or grey

'Although it might not be the first colour that comes to mind, black implies self-control and discipline. It also symbolises independence and a strong will and gives an impression of authority and power,' says Vanessa. 

'However, it is worth remembering that too much black can cause depression and a negative environment so be sure to use in moderation.' 

This grey bathroom uses black in small doses as an accent color to avoid overwhelming the room, or you could go down the color wheel and choose a versatile grey, instead.

For more color inspiration, visit Vanessa Arbuthnott