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Color Meaning, Color Psychology & Color Therapy:
Warm Colors
Found on the red side of the color wheel, warm colors have a tendency to communicate warmth, intimacy and relaxation. These colors seem to advance closer to the viewer creating a sense of closeness and comfort. However, intense warm colors such as reds and oranges tend to stimulate and excite the viewer.If your child is warm and affectionate herself and if she loves to read or just relax in her room, you may consider suggesting she base her kid room colors on something from the red side of the color wheel.
Cool Colors
Found on the blue side of the color wheel, cool colors have a calming affect although intensely cool colors (very dark) have a tendency to depress the viewer. Cool colors tend to draw away from the viewer, which is likely why some respond to cool colors with a sense of coolness and reserve. Painting kid rooms, light cool colors such as blue green, light blue, blue-violet and even white have a calming effect and make rooms feel more spacious and elegant.
Earth Tones
Ground colors like grays, browns, and beige (muted yellows) ground you. They are a good choice for hyperactive children, creating a sense of warmth, comfort and relaxation.
Muted ground colors are best. Just look outside for examples of the browns and grays found in squirrels, trees, and the earth. (Since I’m from Prince Edward Island, Canada the rusty red color found in the soil has a grounding effect for me but it may not produce the same reaction for those in other areas of the world.)
Black
Black is best used sparingly if at all. Traditionally it represents darkness, despair, sorrow and mourning and subconsciously it is strongly associated with death. When it is used in large amounts it absorbs light and it can generate depression and/or zap the energy out of the viewer.
While discussing painting kid rooms, teens often mention black as a color choice. (I know my teenager and his friends did.) For them it’s creates a sense of mystery and modern style. The style they want to communicate can still be reached using black in restricted amounts, as accents or accessories. That said, black should not be used in large amounts, especially in rooms that are used frequently.
White
White predominately represents peace, faith, joy, cleanliness and of course, purity. Since it reflects almost 80% of light, white rooms seem brighter and larger than rooms painted in other colors. However, if you’re painting kid rooms predominately white, have lots of stain remover on hand. White is also a great anchor color that can be enhanced with other fun kid room colors.
Red
If you’re looking to create a sense of peace when finished painting kid rooms, you may not get it if you choose to use large amounts of red in the room. While reds can create a sense of warmth, they also stimulate and energize the viewer. The brightest of reds can increase desire, excitability and are associated with danger, passion, anger and tension. Used to counterbalance neutral colors, it can add life and sparkle in a kid room.
Orange
Yes, it has some of the same effects as red but to a lesser degree as it combines the energy of red with the happiness of yellow. Brownish oranges create warm, cozy vibes while brighter oranges are fun and lively, and a good choice for play rooms. The brightest of oranges are non-relaxing while softer oranges are warm, welcoming, satisfying and add energy to the room.
Green
Said to reinforce self-esteem and suggest hope, restfulness and calmness, green is a refreshing color that makes dim rooms seem more vibrant as long as it’s not too dark.
Use it on its own or to create a sense of relief as you counterbalance it with hot colors like red and orange.
Blue
Blue often signifies harmony, loyalty, peace, depth of feeling, sensitivity, wisdom, confidence and stability. It’s a great bedroom color as it slows the human nervous system and produces a calming effect that prepares the body to nod off to sleep.
It can soften bright rooms, making one feel comforted and at peace. On the other hand, certain blues can make the viewer feel cold. Blues that are too dark have the same effect as black.
Purple
Combining the stability of blue and the energy of red, violet can take on the characteristics of blue or red depending on the shade. Often it’s considered a risky, powerful color as the feelings it evokes depend on the shade. Traditionally it signifies royalty, power, justice, nobility and luxury yet it is also associated with depression and suffering. Dark purple can evoke feelings of sadness and frustration while lighter purples can make the viewer feel peaceful, romantic and nostalgic. Light purple is a good choice for feminine kid rooms.
Yellow
Stimulates, energizes and is sunny and cheerful. Pale yellows make rooms seem larger while stronger yellows create warmth and brighten dim rooms. If overused it may be disturbing to the viewer. It tends to grab attention and stimulate muscle activity.
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When a baby is born he sees only black, white and gray. Within a week or so he can see red and begins to reach out to the color as it helps him develop his perception skills. Since children see red before blue it’s best to decorate a baby room using soft tones instead of bright primary colors as they may confuse his sensory skills and overwhelm him. As a result, kid room paint colors and the particular colors to paint a room should be well thought out prior to giving birth.
For many, the brightest of reds for example, may represent a loud, unsettling color that makes focusing on a task difficult, for others it could provide a sense of comfort and security since they relate it to a favorite stuffed friend or blanket. So no matter what our age, we relate to colors based on personal experiences and interests.
Kid room paint colors in general and deciding on what colors to paint a room need not be overwhelming. All that's required is a little forethought and some fundamental knowledge from which to base your kid room colors on.
The youngest of children aren’t yet affected by the cultural influences of color. Even though adults have had more experiences with color, we may not all respond the same. For example, for many in the world white represents purity but in Japan it represents mourning and death.
