What is Color?

1. That aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of the light reflected or emitted by them, definable in terms of the observer or of the light, as:

a. The appearance of objects or light sources described in terms of the individual's perception of them, involving hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources.

b. The characteristics of light by which the individual is made aware of objects or light sources through the receptors of the eye, described in terms of dominant wavelength, luminance, and purity.

Color in Interior Design

Color is essential of all work in Interior Design. Color is a main factor in the success of any interior design, or architectural project. Every color gives a person a feeling. People like certain colors for different reasons, but mainly colors bring the same sensation or a common one to most people.

Psychology of Color

Different colors give people different sensations and feeling.

Red- The color red is used to draw attention. It creates a vibrant and intense feeling in your home. Red is a very powerful color. Highly saturated hues of red could cause someone’s blood pressure and heart rate to increase. While muted shades of red can be very warm and semi earthly.

• intense, passionate, anger, warmth, exciting

Yellow- The color yellow can bring a bright, optimistic felling to your home. It reminds of sunshine which causes are body to become stimulated. But a very intense highly saturated yellow might make you feel cranky.

• intellect, goodness, optimism, happiness, bright, cheery

Blue-The color blue creates a cool, calming feeling. Blue has been shown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure. Light shades of blue could make a space seem bigger and more open. It can also make you feel cooler on a hot day. It’s also shown that blue reduces your appetite, so blue would be a perfect color for a kitchen royal, spiritual, cool.

• mystery, wisdom, calming, peaceful,

Green-The color green creates a gentle, relaxing feeling. It gives people a safe feeling. It is very easy to look at. Green is a very earthly peaceful color.

• neutrality, growth, money, soothes, relaxes, harmony

Violet- The color violet gives a rich expensive feeling to a home. It brings a very royal, powerful feeling. Purple will add luxury to any room.

• different, creative, uplifts, calms the mind, royal, expensive

Orange-The color orange brings a warm and energizing feeling to a room. Orange is a very fun and vibrant color; it stimulates the body's sensations. Highly saturated oranges can grab your attention and increases your appetite.

• vibrant, warm, tropical, passion, energy

Brown-The color brown creates a earthy and comforting effect in your home. Brown gives us a reassuring safe feeling like being in nature. It also adds a warming and welcoming feeling.

• earthy, subtle, construction, development, wholesomeness, organic

Gray-The color gray brings a sophisticated look to any home. If you use gray all over your home it might create a sad/solemn feeling. Using gray as a background color with furniture that is intense, will give a modern and fun feeling to a room.

• sadness, dull, intellect, knowledge, unsettles, clean and crisp

Black-The color black creates an elegant look for your home. Used sparingly black can create sophistication. It can make a room feel warmer and smaller in size. Black can also bring a sad and mournful feeling.

• mournful, depressing, elegant, sophistication, formal, serious

Pink- The color pink brings a soft and fresh look to a home. Pink is usually associated with bring a feminine color. But today it is not necessarily a girls color. Pink gives a sense of sophistication and gives a home a very refined look.

• feminine, confidence, soothing, fresh, confidence, youthful

White -White creates a crisp and clean feeling to any room. It makes a room seem larger and gives a fresh feeling. Pure white can look very sterile and give a high maintenance feeling.

• purity, neutrality, fresh, new, clarity

Color in Homes Through the Decades

Color throughout time has changed in Interior Design. Reasons of change are from events that happened during those times and the moods and feeling of the people. People's homes provide a get away from what’s going on in the world. A house's interiors bring security and also act as an escape to somewhere they feel very comfortable. Therefore the colors in a home are very important. They show a person personality and give them something that’s theirs.

50's

The war was ending so people decided to use cheery colors opposite from depressing colors. The colors used were: red, orange, yellow. There was a lot of floral, spring like patterns and very load plaids. There was a new sense of optimism and people wanted to feel like they were in a different place recovering for sad times.

60's

In the 60's experimentation and exploration erupted. It was the start of the rock and roll era which brought out rebellion. Gaudy and load clashing colors and patterns were in around the house.

Colors: violet, orange, red, muted blues and yellows

70's

In the 70's subtle/earth tones were introduced. The people turned to nature from the adventurous times of the 60's and anger and sadness of the Vietnam war. People became more "earth friendly" and had a sense of peace and love.

colors: brown, green, soft yellow

80's

In the 80's the punk era began. Load obnoxious colors were all over. Also the 80’s brought on a sense of not caring about appearance. Younger adults during this era used colors in homes such as neon colors, floral, and an overload of pinks. For the older adults black and whites were being used with a muted color. The choice of color was very soothing and comforting. This is quite a difference from the youth’s choice of colors. This is because the adults of this decade were the baby boomer's who went through a time of peace and war that was in the 60's and 70's.

90's

The 90's were a time of new technology and an era for the business man and women. Plain, drab colors were not only worn but also used in the household. A little color would be used as an accent to show a sophisticated look. Everything was sleek a new modern feel was added.

colors: white, black, gray, neutrals

Today

For the world of color in homes today anything goes. People like what they like. Decade old items and colors are brought back but sleeker and popular then ever before. Greener, earthly tones are a big trend for this decade. Also cool colors are in to create a calming and comforting feeling. The color yellow is very big. Yellow brings reassurance to people which in this decade we need from the problems of today.

Conclusion

Color through the decades changed either dramatically or subtlety or perhaps even brought back. The events of those times had an impact on the color choices that people applied to their homes interior. This was done to provide security and an escape from the world. People could really express their moods or hide their true feelings in a place where they feel comfortable.

References:
http://www.loghome.com/colors_for_interior_design/articles/2755

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2007/04/30/the-past-five-decades-of-color-in-the-us/

http://books.google.com/books?id=E0o5j1zhIPUC&dq=color+in+interior+design&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=Zjvbc_IZJj&sig=OQh-iH3dZ7oLEpoaX5BaJMIcjno&hl=en&ei=ueMXS_eEKYG9lAfJ5bjoAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CC8Q6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

http://psychology.about.com/od/sensationandperception/a/colorpsych.htm

http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert