How to use the right colors at home
“Colors, like features, follow the changes of emotions” -Pablo Picasso
Ever since we came to the world we are immersed in a rainbow of colors and we often associate colors with particular emotions and feelings. Many of us associate blue with a feeling of relaxation and peace, because of blue we have the sky and the sea; The yellow to a feeling of positivity and joy, in fact, yellow is the sun; Red to love, to passion because it is the color of the heart; Black to a negative emotion, to fear, or to death as, this color reminds us of the night with its mysteries. Colors, therefore, are not only part of our lives, but also affect us; That’s why you have to choose the right colors within our home.
The meaning of colors
Orange
The orange color is perhaps, in all colors, the one that best symbolizes artistic creativity. The blend of yellow and red is the color of energy, growth, and serenity. It symbolizes growth, birth, awakening, beginning (since it is the color of dawn), on the one hand, it represents the inevitable conclusion, sleep, and decay, as it also represents the color of the sunset. Usually, however, the orange color is mainly associated with the first concept of birth/growth.
White
White is the combination of all the colors of the electromagnetic spectrum. By passing the white color through a crystal prism, a rainbow of colors is created. They form the white color. The white color is, therefore, an unbleached color, but it has a high brightness. It symbolizes purity, spirituality, and divinity.
The symbolism of white color also matters in advertising. If we do, the color of the hygiene is white. Soaps, detergents, linens are generally white. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and bathroom sanitation are mostly white. White is also the color of wisdom and old age. In fact, the elderly people symbolize the wisdom due to their long experience of living. In fairy tales, white indicates the light of the day, the salvation of the hero, or the intervention of a beneficial force;
In mythology is the color of special creatures especially those that cross the boundary between reality and imaginary: unicorns, pegasus, white birds, swans, white rabbits. In the popular psychology of some peoples, white also represents negative values. In fact, in Chinese tradition, white is the color of mourning, death, and ghosts. The white flag is the symbol of surrender and armistice. In the Victorian era, in England, receiving a white pen means being considered a coward.
Blue
He remembers the clarity of the sky, the vast expanse of water, the coolness of the shadow. Symbol of harmony and balance, blue color has the ability to relax the individual and normalize the frequency of heartbeat and pressure. It reduces the anxiety and balances the emotional sphere. When we look at the sky, we feel serene. It is the color of peace and for this reason, the UN flag is blue.
A favorite color by the Egyptians because it represents the color of the gods; was not preferred by the Romans and the Greeks because it was associated with the color of the Barbarian’s eyes and therefore ignorant. For the Chinese is the color of immortality, for Buddhists is the sky. In the Tibetan mandala, blue symbolizes the condition in which the swirling of passions has passed and conscience can examine everything clearly; According to Jung, blue means height, and depth, the sky is far away and moves to where the gaze can reach as the ocean, and in nature, blue speaks to us of far greater realities than our human dimension.
Yellow
Yellow is the most vivid, radiant, hot color, with high thermal value, such as orange, red. It’s the color of the sun, heat, and light, the germinating power of yellow is found in all civilizations. In mythology, the hot sun rays are considered life generators as in the Greek myth of Danae. It is one of the symbols of China. Yellow symbolizes wisdom. In some cities, taxis are yellow because the color is easily distinguishable from far away. That’s why the school bus is yellow as well.
Brown
The brown color is obtained from the three basic colors, namely yellow, red and blue. It is a warm color that is associated with the idea of fertile land, the fields plowed and ready for the new planting, the trunk of the trees and the Autumn. Brown expresses emotion, sensuality, is the expression of balance, good health.
Black
Black color represents the absence of color. It’s the color of the dark, of the mystery. When everything goes wrong, let’s say it’s a dark day. If a relative dies usually we dress in black because that color is the symbol of death. Black also symbolizes authority, power, and respect.
Just remember the black dress of lawyers and judges. The more a manager’s position is, the more his dress will be dark. It is a very appreciated color by women because a black dress is sleek and elegant. The dark dress, for man, is a dress to wear on gala nights and on important occasions. Black has the role of “negative color” in the West par excellence.
Its deeper meaning is the denial of reality, the refusal to fight. In other cases, preference towards black color is seen instead as the tendency of not wanting to adhere to the common rules and so, move in search of their own way, not what others have drawn for us. If it is true that in chromotherapy black is the absence of light, so similar to the void and the mystery, on the other hand, you must remember that in the darkness it is possible to find the origin of everything.
Pink
Pink is born from the union between red and white. It has always represented sweetness and delicacy, but also gratitude, understanding, and tenderness. Indeed, it is by no means the symbol of babies, regardless of sex, and is used to paint the walls of the rooms where the little ones are sleeping.
Contrary to what we can think of today, the rose for centuries has been considered a color suitable for males because in most cultures, not just the oriental ones, it was a variation of the red symbol of male strength and manhood that was joined to the white, representing the spirituality and purity of the soul.
Only in recent years has been associated with female sex, while blue has become the color of males since birth. In psychology, pink is a positive color that exerts a certain sense of security and optimism true to the future.
Red
Red has multiple meanings. First of all, we note that red is the color of blood, muscles, and heart, essential elements of our lives. Ancient Romans worshiped the God of Mars, King of War whose red color meant blood spilled during battles. And in fact, red indicates the value of aggression, the desire to do, the win and the high, the passion, the confidence in ourselves.
All very strong feelings that indicate a state of excitement. Red is also a passion, love. When we think of red the symbols that we immediately think of are the red heart and rose. Red was also the color chosen by the workers during the struggles in the nineteenth century against capitalism.
Green
Green color has a relaxing and calming effect, it represents the sense of justice. It is the color of the ego, of hope, of vitality. Green is the color of nature, plant life, fertility, and abundance. Its light is linked to the renewal, but also to stability, youth, development, hope.
Its symbology refers to total balance, made of harmony and love. Negative sees envy, superstition, and jealousy. At the traffic lights, it represents the freeway in contrast to the red color that forces you to stop. Green brings benefits to those who are anxious for which it is useful to paint green the relaxed corners or the bedroom. The green color assumes a very positive meaning here in the West. It is often used to represent the abundance of money and fortune.
Purple
The purple color is created by the combination of red and blue and hence is an intermediate color between the two. Red symbolizes strength and energy; Blue calms and melancholy and therefore purple is the color of the synthesis resulting from two different colors. Purple is the color of penance.
Theatrical and television companies don’t love the purple. This aversion derives from the historical period of the Middle Ages when all the theatrical representations were banned during the forty days of Lent and were, therefore, days of economic discomfort for the actors who only lived in this gain. The purple color symbolizes pain and sadness.
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What color to choose for the walls of our house?
Yellow is a perfect color for kitchens, dining rooms and bathrooms, where colors deliver cheerfulness and energy. In rooms or small spaces, yellow color makes the rooms cozy. Blue is considered a relaxing color and is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms.
But beware: Blue may become particularly unpleasant and cold when low natural light enters the room. If you opt for blue as the main color, balance the coolness of the tint with warm tones for furniture and fabrics. To foster relaxation in shared rooms, such as lounges and kitchens, prefer hints of warmer blue, such as blue or turquoise.
Blue, indeed, has a soothing effect, but only if you choose soft shades: a too dark blue, in fact, transmits sadness. Green is a color suitable for almost every room in the house. In the kitchen, the green cools things, in the living room it encourages to relax, but it has enough heat in itself to give comfort as well as to stimulate sociality. Green also has a soothing effect when used as the main color for decorations.
Red increases the energy level of a room. In the living room or in the dining room, red attracts people and stimulates conversation. Being a very strong color, the recommendation is not to choose this color as the main dye of a room. Orange is a color that evokes emotion, enthusiasm, and energy. Although it is not a good idea to use it for a living room, it is an ideal color for gyms.
Neutral colors, such as black, gray, white, and brown are essential to any decorator. Their strength lies in their flexibility: they can add color to liven up things or to calm them down. Black is usually used to accentuate things, but better if used in small doses. In fact, some experts argue that each room should have a touch of ground black to deepen the spaces.
For Ceilings: Light colors give a sense of openness, making the room look taller. Dark colors, on the other hand, make the room look lower, which is not an extremely bad thing because, sometimes, this can increase the sense of intimacy.
Source: www.ambientebio.it, www.codicicolori.com
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Letizia Grasso, Educationalist
“All grown-ups were children, but few of them remember it” This phrase is engraved on my heart. The child who marvels at small things is always with me. I firmly believe that the school should focus on self-construction of knowledge through direct contact with the outside world and, therefore, through the experiences of life. A school open to life and from life itself learns. A school that teaches to observe every little thing, to wonder and to ask questions. A school that forms adults who know how to reflect and put into a relationship the mind and heart.”
