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Palette of emotion

The colors we choose for our walls and ceilings set the tone of our homes. (SHNS photo courtesy photos.com) Bright and bold. Soft and light. Blues and greens. Reds and yellows. And let's not forget all the colors, shades and contrasts in between.

Colors can strike chords in us all. They can make us happy, sad, energized, relaxed, calm. They can remind us of fun trips abroad and of favorite memories. But they also can revive times we would rather forget.

Colors, whether we realize it or not, influence they way we feel. The colors we paint the walls and ceilings of our rooms set the tones in our homes.

"Color in the environment can be a real mood-setter," says Leatrice Eiseman, an author and color consultant in Seattle.

When we see a color, we often know quickly whether we like it or not. But we might not know why.

"There's a reason, but it may not be apparent," says Eiseman, who is executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, a color research and information center in New Jersey. "Color is so intrinsically related to something in our childhood."

Colors can create moods in us all. They can make us happy, sad, energized, relaxed or calm. (SHNS photo courtesy photos.com) So, you may like a certain shade of pink because it is the same color of the dress on your favorite doll, or you may detest the color because it reminds you of how sick you became when you ate too much cotton candy, she says.

There are some generalizations color experts can make about the basic colors. Reds, oranges and yellows tend to make people feel active and energized, while blues, greens and purples are more relaxing and soothing. The shade or the intensity of the color also affects those feelings.

According to Benjamin Moore's Web site, here are a few things these colors can do to our moods: Red: Stimulates the appetite, raises blood pressure, attracts attention, creates excitement and takes control. Orange: Is friendly, cheerful, happy, and associated with thirst, refreshment and movement. Yellow:Stimulates memory and mental clarity with uplifting feelings of optimism, warmth, cheerfulness, wisdom and brightness. Green:Confers a sense of relaxation and comfort, represents health and prosperity, and refreshes the spirit. Blue: Is nonthreatening, refreshing, soothing, calm, dependable, anti-inflammatory. Purple:Suppresses appetite but fosters love, wisdom, inspiration, spirituality and quietness. Brown:Conveys warmth and comfort, solidarity, positive food associations; evokes less intense behavioral responses. Black:Suggests sophistication, elegance, dignity, power, worldliness, aloofness, intimidation and mystery. White: Indicates purity, innocence, cleanliness, youth and naiveté. Gray:Lacks assertiveness but suggests intelligence, guarded behavior and a sense of discipline.

While there are no rules for or against using specific colors in various rooms, warmer colors are typically used in active areas, such as the kitchen. Cooler colors are often seen in rooms of relaxation, such as bedrooms or bathrooms.

"In the past, the standards were calming colors in resting and sleeping areas and stronger colors in the living areas. But people are willing to experiment now," says interior designer Sue Tharp of Sue Tharp Designs in Visalia, Calif. "It kind of depends on your overall design concept and what you're trying to achieve."

You might know which colors you like, but sometimes you want some ideas or you want to try something different. At Benjamin Moore, this year's color palette has 18 colors that are "luminous, enveloping or dramatic." They include a peachy color called "pale oats," a light orange named "amber waves," and a deep purple called "shadow."

Sherwin-Williams' upcoming colors for 2007 have five palettes. "Understated Elegance" has browns, yellows and grays; "Sultry Origins" includes rich browns and deep terra-cotta reds; "Kinetic Contrast" has bold, contrasting colors such as white and black; "Virtual Re-mix" include colors from the past, such as teal and black from the 1960s; and "Balanced living" has colors of nature, such as "Naval" blue and "Inland" green.

Sheri Thompson, Sherwin-Williams' director of color marketing and design in Cleveland, encourages people to experiment with colors, whether they're trendy or not.

Color "is so subjective. It should reflect your personality. What works for one doesn't work for all. ... You live by your own rules. If that color makes you feel good, then surround yourself with that color."