Color me bright! Just hearing this phrase perks you up, doesn’t it? Humans are blessed with the most powerful faculty of color vision. We are able to blend, mould, expand, contract spaces just with the use of this superlative tool. Ever wondered why?
ANY color reflects a degree of light which connects to the subconscious level. Depending on the intensity our mind reacts to this stimulus and creates an emotion either pleasant or otherwise. What you see affects you much more than what you hear. The sight gets imprinted in the brain and recorded in the mind. Unconsciously, that color speaks to you and generates emotions, thoughts that affect your words and actions.
A quick look at some examples of what they can do for the designer:
Greens (trees), blues (sky) and purple (lotus) are cool colors that soothe the eyes and are calming. They are therefore used in hospitals and care centres. Warm colors like reds (traffic signals) orange (Sun) yellow (sunflower) alert/excite and stimulate the senses. We use them in children play areas, kids’ rooms, etc. Cool colors make a space appear bigger and more airy while warm colors create a cosy atmosphere and visually decrease the area.
A deeper dive into color theory will help you organises spaces and color them with care.
Red Stands for focus, energy and stimulates the space
Orange Can be used as a symbol for spirituality and poise
Yellow When you want lively, cheerful spaces with an artistic touch
Green Denotes calm, is soothing as it is Nature’s own color
Blue Has a calming effect and also stands for faith
Pink Highlights youth, sweetness and cheer
Purple Is always associated with affluence and is considered a regal color
Brown Stands for dependability, is earthy and therefore denotes strength
White Will always be a sign of peace, hope and purity
Black Is an imperial color, very formal and conveys a sense of security
With so many colors to choose from (and this is barely the tip of the iceberg!) you can mix and match and literally transform spaces. So now when you welcome the Festival of Colors on Holi do pick your colors with care. Remember they speak louder than you do! We had used this spectrum of color to mask the entrance of a kitchen from the entrance lobby. Needless to say it became a focal point!
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