“Color is life, for a world without it appears to us as dead.”
Colour theorist Johannes Itten as cited in Aesthetics of joy, fear of colour
Your home is a escape from the troubles and stresses of the outside world so it’s unsurprising that people want to return to a clear mind (clear space= clear mind) but once there, is their home performing to make them feel on top form when they are at home?
The Dopamine Decor trend
Dopamine, often referred to as the “feel good” hormone is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in our brain’s reward and pleasure systems. Adequate amounts contribute to feelings of wellbeing and happiness. We know that it influences mood, motivation, and attention span and it is released when we experience something pleasurable.
“Vivid colours produced small dopamine hits, which, in uncertain times, provide a sense of optimism and reward.
dopamine decor allows people to “externalise” their identity and boost their mood, giving a “heightened sense of wellbeing”.
– Dr Natasha Sharma, Psychologist
Balanced dopamine levels play a role in cognitive functions such as attention, focus, and learning which can help us to pursue our goals. It helps the brain filter relevant information and maintain concentration.
Dopamine can help to reduce depression, anxiety and addiction, so gaining a dopamine boost can lead to increased feelings of pleasure.
Greys and neutrals, whilst being indicative of feeling calm and relaxed, and the estate agent’s greatest friend, can also create feelings of emotional flatness. If you want some get up and go, and if you want to achieve life goals, you should probably look at adding some colour to your home environment.
Adding some colour to the home office, a kitchen or a study area, therefore could be a good place to start.
Why are people scared to add colour and how can we help?
Why are people scared of using colour in their homes, on their cars or their clothes? Maybe even in their food! In the UK we can be resistant to colour for fear of being too bold, too brash and for fear of offending others so we tone it down. But we also have a psychology of indecision (which isn’t surprising if we live with our furnishings for a long time and see them as an investment). Some buyers can’t decide what colour is ‘them’ as they aren’t attuned to their preferences – or perhaps they don’t live or work in an ‘aesthetic’ industry or may not have had the conviction to choose a personal style.
But we can guide these customers to making choices and help them to see how what they have can be brought to life so that it benefits their lives.
Which colours to use?
A cross cultural study published in 2025 has summarised 128 years of research, the majority from the 2000s, that links colours with emotions. The findings included positive and negative associations with colour. Useful findings included:
Warm Colours Energise:
Yellow, Orange, and Red create high-arousal, positive feelings such as joy, enthusiasm, and amusement and were described as stimulating and uplifting across cultures. Orange was often linked with fun, excitement, and amusement.
Cool Colours Calm
Cool tones were most frequently associated with low-arousal, positive emotions. Green, blue, and turquoise hues evoked feelings of relaxation, peacefulness, contentment, and security. However, blue also had an occasional association with sadness, making it slightly ambivalent.
As summarised by Cognifit
White and light pastel tones are clean, hopeful, and peaceful
White consistently appeared in studies as a symbol of calmness, safety, and hope. It was also associated with clarity and low-arousal positive statesPurple and Pink show unique positive associations
Pink emerged as a strongly positive colour, often tied to love, affection, joy, and comfort. Purple had a more complex emotional profile linked to empowerment, pride, creativity, and occasionally, sadness or fear.
Negative association colours
Personally, I have a aversion to brown and beige (a 70s palette) and there is no surprise because grey and brown were shown to create low arousal, negative states:
These two colours showed consistent associations with low-energy, unpleasant emotional states: grey was linked to boredom, fatigue, depression, and emotional numbness. Brown evoked disgust and gloominess.
Colour makes the room work and the furniture excel
Colour can make the whole interior come together in a way that is cohesive and complete. Using coloured furniture, colourful walls and accessories can link up the elements of the room in a way that brings attention to every item that’s put in it. It guides the eye.
You can use contrasting furniture with a statement wall, match the wall to the furniture, select a few colours that tie the furniture to the wall or the accessories. Without at least a accent colour, furniture can get lost and form can be missed. Draw the outline of the object by giving it a colour as the background so that it can be seen and championed.
In grey, beige and non-colour rooms, there can be a feeling of discomfort and unease. Carpets that are too dark can suck the space of soul. Add a colour of warmth to the room to make it feel warm and bring in textures from natural materials to complement paint and furnishings. it can still be neutral, but a few elements of colour to add energy and interest makes the eye notice not just the colour, but the neutrals too.
Take the next step in learning how to use colour for interiors by an artist offering advice for those who are hesitant and find out how to bring the colour back!
how to
introduce
colour
into a
home
HERE FOR THE ADVICE BUT NOT A TRADE READER?
Leave a Reply