Color and Practicality?

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Color and Practicality?

How does colour affect the practicality of a room?

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Color and Practicality?

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Apr 28, 2011
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Interesting Question!
by: Charlotte

Hi

Interesting question ? I?m not quite sure what you had in mind when you asked it? Did you have something specific in mind?

Of course, a room is a room, altering the color will not change the size, layout or its physical features?

Certain colors may be more ?practical? than others, in certain situations, though, depending on what you use the room for?

For example, a white carpet, or sofa, may not be the best choice for a home with kids or pets with muddy feet ? a dark colored carpet may not be the best choice in a home with a light colored pet (that sheds hair ? we have a ginger cat and I ginger dog so I do speak from experience here)?

?likewise a dark carpet may be a bad choice in a bathroom if you like to use talcum powder.

Light colored paint may show marks more easily (although you can get wipeable paint), dark colored paint may show any chips more.

Although color will not physically change the size or features of a room, color can be used to alter the way the room feels and looks, and can be used to change the way you feel when you are in a room ? the ?mood? of a room.

For example, light colors in a room, and cool colors, make a space feel larger, lighter and brighter, so if you were wanting to use a particular room for a task that required a lot of light, such as sewing, perhaps, or just wanted a room to appear light and airy, a light, cool color would be perfect, and would actually reflect light around the room, so physically actually making it brighter in there, too.

Likewise, dark colors would make a room feel darker, so in the situation, above, where you wanted a room for a specific task needing light, dark colors would not be the best choice.

Dark colors can also make a room feel smaller, but this can have its advantages too. If you want a room that feels cozy and comforting, dark colors and particularly warm colors (reds and oranges) will work well and give you the right kind of ?feel? in there.

Different colors can make a room feel different too ? and this may affect how you feel when you are in that room, and may affect how you wish to use the room too.

For example, blues and greens are very calming and relaxing colors, so are good to use in rooms where you wish to be calm or relaxed. They would be good in a bedroom or living room.

Continues on comment below:

Apr 28, 2011
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Continues from above comment
by: Charlotte

Continued from above...

Red can be quite an aggressive color ? so if you used this in a room where you liked to relax, it may leave you feeling a little edgy.

Likewise orange can be very stimulating, and is usually best kept out of bedrooms, in case it stops you sleeping.

Yellow is meant to be the most cheery and welcoming color, so is often used in hallways and reception areas ? and is also stimulating enough to be useful in studies and offices to keep the mind alert, too.

So, yes, color does affect the appearance of the room, making it feel larger, smaller, lighter, darker, which can affect the tasks you might be able to do in that room.

It also affects the atmosphere of a room, and how you feel when you spend time in the room, so in this way does also affect the sorts of tasks and purposes the room might be used for.

I hope that helps with your query.

For more about the ways color affects mood and emotion, click here...

Best wishes

Charlotte

Explaining the Color Wheel

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Color and Practicality?

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Color and Practicality?