How to Successfully Transform Your Interiors with Colors & Patterns

Did you know color and pattern in your space impact you psychologically by affecting your mood and emotions? If you’ve ever stepped into a space, and can't quite put your finger on why it's uncomfortable, you've probably experienced this intuitively. 

I have a few pro tips I keep in mind in color psychology when selecting colors for your home and surroundings.

Reason #1 - Varied Hues for a Healthy, Happy, Vibrant Home

Bright colors including vibrant shades of orange, yellow, green and blue, offer a feelings of expanse, and welcomeness. These colors are friendly, happy, and encourage communication. This is often why we find them best suited in the dining area and kitchen. Incidentally it's also why we see them in fast food restaurants!

Dark colors, for instance deep reds, purples, blues, and greens, can have a closed off feeling, and set a secretive mood. However, if applied in the right places, or as accent features, these deep colors can also convey comfort, security, and relaxation. 

Warm colors with undertones of orange and yellow, can literally raise the perceived temperature in a room. They also can inspire activity. These types of colors are best used in rooms you'd like to be creative in, such as a home office, craft room, or workout room. These colors are also the worst type to choose in areas of relaxation, such as your bedroom, or a sitting room (or your hyper kids’ bedroom)!

Cold colors are those with undertones of blues and greens, and have a cool, relaxing, and calming effect. We especially like them in bedrooms. They also create a perceived cooling effect in the temperature of the room, which helps induce sleep.

I would definitely avoid a cold grey in a dining area or kitchen. That is unless you want to lessen your appetite. Red will raise the perceived the energy level in a room, but it could also create more irritability or hostility—so I'd avoid this color in a meeting room. Though, you could it as an accent instead of the base color for the room to raise the energy level in small amounts.

Reason #2 - Plentiful Patterns for a Stunning Space

Now that we have established color importance together,  we can talk a bit about how pattern effects our moods in our spaces. Decide when you choose a pattern whether it will be a focal point, a small accent, or if it will act as a backdrop in the entire space. Pattern can easily change the perceived size of your room. A pattern can create a feeling of largeness or smallness of space depending on size and complexity of the pattern.

Reason #3 - Blending Colors & Patterns for a Harmonious Home

Typically, floral patterns have lots or curves. These curves will create a soothing mood, because of the softness of their lines and absence of angles. Depending on the color of floral pattern, florals can make a person feel vibrant, happy, youthful, and carefree. 

 Tropical patterns tend to use highly concentrated color and pattern in combination and will tend to create a heightened sense of emotion. We recommend unless you're at the Boca Rattan to use these patterns sparingly!

Stripes are an incredibly versatile visual aid.  Vertical stripes elongate a feeling, and can create great expanse in a space. While a diagonal line can evoke a feeling of instability. But yet a horizontal line can make a person feel more grounded. Paring strong contrasts in color with stripes increases the energy in the space, while a monochromatic stripe will offer a calming effect.

Lastly, a geometric pattern represents strength. For example the honeycomb pattern is associated with the feeling of persistence.

Mixing color and pattern for your desired mood in your space is our specialty! Looking for a team that can combine design strategy with your personal aesthetic to create harmony in your home? Reach out and let's get acquainted!

Cheers,