Healthy Color Design for Homeowners
Healthy Color Design for Homeowners
It is scientifically proven that the average person spends between 90% to 93% of their time inside built environments. With the large amount of time a person spends inside built environments, a home needs to have spaces that can promote healthy behaviors to the occupants. Design should have familiar items that the occupants enjoy. Rooms in your home should be designed to create feelings. The living room may be the game room or audacious party room full of laughter. Where is the exercise area? Is there a room to inspire creativity or reading? Where is the “go-to” space for calm and serene ?
A home is not about style as much as it is about comfort for the occupants. Most importantly a home should reflect the best of who the occupants are. There could be an item from a grandmother from another country. Most people have items from childhood or from special events. These familiar items are part of who a person is. A home can display the personalities and interests of the occupants. The spaces in a home can complements the owner’s lifestyle as well. There can be a hobby room, exercise room, or garden shed with tools.
Your home should be an extension of you and the interests of your family.
Color
With the rising consideration for building an environment with more natural light, and construction products, some manufactures are now developing finishes with natural selections in mind. White wall color can accent the designs in the space and other complementary colors. The white walls in this bathroom (left) shows the room to look larger and complements the brown wood cabinet color. Light browns can add softness and warmth to the space. Clear glass around the shower improves the visibility of the rooms.
Deep rich warm brown earth tone colors can be used to “neutralize” the bold influence of color. Interest is rising in dark, exotic wood flooring in combination with sharp contemporary furniture and rustic, clutter-free pieces. 
Mid-tone browns, such as mocha and caramel, can allow for a beautiful backdrop when contrasting with the architectural details, furniture, and artistic pieces on the wall. Notice the pop of the red- brown bricks in the image on the right with the brown wood table. The light colored grout matches the light colored wall next to the brick.
And don’t be surprised if you see painted furniture cabinets, shelves, or tables in red, blue, black or orange. This allows furniture pieces to show more contrast with vivid, stark color.
The red painted gate-leg table, below, is a focal point flaunting interesting shapes. Light reflected materials like metal and glass are used in more areas to encourage texture and interest. Metal door hardware can add more interest with color and texture contrast.
Bold fabric prints, like flowers, stripes, checks and solids, can add interest and variety to the space. Small pops of bright fabric colors can be change with the seasons or at the whim of the homeowner (blue color in image left).
Though fabrics provide an interesting texture to the room, colors and patterns in fabric can promote a style. The large stripe on the rug and pillows to the left demonstrate a more casual feel.
Yet, the red and orange fabric picture to the right, looks more textured with the stripes and more like nature with the red and green floral pattern. These fabrics would complement delicate traditional furniture very well.
Bold colors can be used to ignite the imagination with creative ideas. Contrasting complimentary colors are bold and striking as well. This includes contrast with red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple.
Wellness does not only include mental rest and self-care, but also includes awareness of how to recharge our minds by pausing and reflecting on the day. Being outside in nature is known to help people relax. Colors found in nature can help unify a summer garden with interior spaces to promote a restorative space. What does a restful, restorative space look like to you? Do you have a space to drop your shoulders and forget about your demands?
EcoCreative Design provides design solutions to promote human health and a better life.
© 2024 EcoCreative Design LLC