Chromotherapy: Tools for a more fulfilling space

Walls are one of the hardest working elements in your home or office. They define your floor plan, support decorative accessories (bookshelves, pictures, mirrors, lighting, etc.) and enhance design details (paint, wallcovering, and tile).

With so many options for your walls, picking paint color may seem like naming your first born. There are millions of shades to choose from and once you start comparing them it may feel like everything you pick is wrong…

Let us assure you that color doesn’t have to be as complicated as most make it seem. Color has a psychology that designers, artists, and cultures have studied for centuries. For example, the color white has two completely different meanings depending where you are or where you are from. Traditionally in western cultures white symbolizes purity, cleanliness, and renewal, while in eastern cultures white symbolizes death and mourning.This goes for many colors — based on gender, nationality, age, and trends colors can mean many different things to different people.

Humans also have an emotional connection color: green with envy, feeling blue, or rose-tinted glasses. So sometimes when people say to us they want color “x” (fill in the blank) what they are really asking for is to have us provide an experience, feeling or emotion that they have associated with that color. As designers we must be in-tune with what you are looking for — so that is why we ask you to do a little homework and provide us with as many images of spaces you like and don’t like so we can begin to understand your reaction to color.

So what can you do with all of this emotion revolving around color?

We think no matter what your design style or what paint color you are searching for there is an overarching theme that most people want in a space — effortless and cohesive. Here are our top 5 designer tips to help you discover that “perfect” color.

1. 80/20 rule (it’s more like a guideline)
A little color goes a long way. A baseline to start when thinking about mixing and matching colors: 80% of your room should be white, off-white or some other neutral, and 20% of your room can be saturated hues and shades.

2. Pull from an item you love
Whatever accessory to have to have in the room start to pull a few colors from it — whether it’s artwork/ picture, fabric pattern, sentimental heirloom, an element from nature or your company logo.

3. Create a Style Wheel/ Vision Board
Knowing what you like, just as much as what you don’t like, can start to build the character of your room. Always remember it doesn’t have to be exact — it’s just a great place to start.

4. Ask your designer!

We always have tried and true colors to select from
For me, Kilim Beige is a great color that is subtle yet captivating enough to go with almost anything.

5. If you are completely stuck and don’t even know where to begin here are a few suggestions based on the psychology of color that have been developed and tested for years.

*Bonus tip!
Paint is much more than a decorative tool. You can use it to alter the perception of a room: make ceilings seem higher, walls longer, and open spaces cozier. We suggest you consult with a designer to achieve these looks in your home/ office as there isn’t a “one size fits all” method to achieving the desired look.