Exploring the Secrets of Color: Teaching You How to Master Colors in Interior Design (1)
Color can be described as one of the core elements in interior design, as different colors represent different moods and feelings. What colors should you use if you want to focus on work or spark creativity at home? Which colors never go out of style? What colors can increase the natural lighting of an indoor environment? Our editor will answer all these questions, leading you into a world of vibrant hues to take a deep look into the secrets of color and teach you how to play with them.
Basic Knowledge of Color
First, let’s go over some basic color knowledge. Colors are divided into “cool colors,” “warm colors,” and “neutral colors.” Cool colors refer to blue, green, and purple; warm colors refer to red, yellow, and orange; and neutral colors refer to black, white, and gray. Every color carries a unique feeling. Warm colors represent stimulation, happiness, optimism, and vitality. Cool colors represent soothing and calmness, though they can sometimes emit a sense of sadness. Neutral colors are mainly used to harmonize color combinations and highlight other colors. Let the editor test you: what do you associate with the color blue? Is it the sky and the sea? Our brains naturally link blue to the sky or the ocean, which gives people a sense of tranquility and stability. Therefore, blue represents peace and steadiness, helping people to concentrate. If you want to focus on studying or working at home, you can choose blue as the main design color.
Color Symbolism
Yellow: Represents passion, positivity, sunshine, and the courage to challenge things. This shouldn’t be a surprise; besides the bright nature of the color itself, we often associate yellow with smiley face icons, giving it a joyful feeling.
Green: A color often chosen by many peace organizations and environmental groups. Because when we see green, we immediately think of nature, grass, and leaves, making it a harmonious, fresh, and natural color. Additionally, green has the effect of relieving eye fatigue.
Red: A symbol of passion and vitality, it also represents joy and celebration. At the same time, it stimulates brain waves, stirs emotions, and boosts work efficiency, allowing you to instantly come up with more creative new ideas. If your work requires inspiration, you can try adding small red items to your home or office. Just remember not to use too much, as an excess of red can actually cause feelings of irritability.
Purple: A feminine and elegant color symbolizing dignity, sophistication, and mystery. Lavender and pink both carry a youthful, girly temperament.
White: Simple, pure, clean, and quiet. It is mainly used to harmonize color combinations and is a color that one never grows tired of looking at.
Black: Like white, it is mainly used to harmonize color combinations. It is a color full of personality, symbolizing solemnity, calmness, and seriousness.
Pantone Color Institute
When talking about color, one must mention the world-famous Pantone Color Institute. It is a company that names colors, identifies current color trends, and selects a Color of the Year annually. For instance, the combination of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating was chosen for 2021. Illuminating is a bright, cheerful, and energetic warm yellow infused with solar energy. Ultimate Gray is the color of pebbles on a beach that silently weather the elements, providing a calm and stable feeling that symbolizes steadfast reliability. For 22 years, the Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions across numerous industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design.
I thinks this is truly impressive! If you are opening a store or decorating your home and feel torn between colors, you might want to refer to the Pantone Color of the Year.
Now that we’ve covered the basic knowledge of color, in the next article, we will talk about how to apply these colors to interior design!