Interior Colors Can Beat the Heat

There’s no question that the “dog days of summer” are upon us in Indiana. Each year, the humidity levels make it feel like it’s over one hundred degrees outside. Unfortunately, the hot weather has a tendency to make people more irritable at times. So we figured it’s a great time to offer up some interior paint options that can visually and psychologically tell a room to chill out.

Calming Colors

I’ve written extensively how certain hues and paint colors are believed to have similar psychological effects on people. Summer is a great time to choose calming colors for rooms. Shades of green, blue and lavender are popular choices for these spaces to achieve the desired effect. Generally, darker shades lead to a deeper, more impactful psychological association.

Choose Colors from Childhood

Selecting interior paint colors that a reminiscent of fond memories, can create a pleasant mood. Perhaps it’s a cool shade of blue paint that perfectly captures a trip to the ocean from decades ago. The paint could make a great choice for coloring a room that represents a favorite unwinding spot after work.

Say Yellow to Sunshine

While yellow can be an overbearing color for some people, it is strongly associated with feelings of optimism. Used strategically, it can be a psychological asset while offering a visual pop. Yellow is a great choice for entranceways, inspiring positive feelings on the way out the door as well as “I’m happy to be home” feelings on the way in.

Favorites

It may seem obvious, but sometimes I see people so caught up in color schemes and moods that they forget to incorporate their favorite colors. Because every color can serve an emotional purpose, there’s an appropriate place for any paint selection in a home. Take a seemingly obnoxious shade of orange for example: it’s known for evoking feelings of increased energy, making it perfect for a home gym. Plus, if it’s a favorite color, people may be encouraged to spend more time in the area. It’s a win-win!