Color is one of the major principles of design. Modern and contemporary furniture comes in a variety of bold and subdued colors to match the aesthetic of your home and shape the room’s design. However, you may wonder what colors convey which emotions and how those can impact your mood. After all, luxury furniture can be a long-term commitment, and you want to ensure it creates a feeling you can live with.
In this piece, we explain color theory and how various furniture colors can impact the mood of your home. Depending on your tastes and preferences, you may want to use furniture colors that communicate power and authority, calm and serenity, or something in between.
What is Color Theory?
Color theory is the science of how humans interpret and interact with color. It includes studying how colors affect us emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually. Color theory can explain which colors evoke different emotional reactions and provide reasoning as to why.
Color theory has existed for thousands of years. Our understanding of color today gained solid footing during the 18th century when the idea formed that primary colors—red, blue, and yellow—foundationally create all different colors when used in pigments and dyes.
More developments in color theory occurred in the coming century, especially with the advent of computer imaging and color printing. However, many of the lessons we learned about color and its effects have been with us for hundreds of years.
Colors and the Feelings They Communicate
Warm Colors
Warm colors range from yellow to red-purple on a color wheel. Some of the most commonly used warm colors are yellow, orange, and red. Warm colors can communicate a sense of livelihood and energy.
The presence of a bright yellow chair or rich red throw blanket can add a splash of life-giving color to a room. Warm colors can be mood-boosting, but when overdone, they can feel overwhelming. It’s best to use intense, bright, warm colors sparingly. Consider deeper, richer tones like gold or burgundy if you like a more subdued touch. These colors can make modern home furniture feel equally classy and energizing.
Cool Colors
Cool colors range from purple to green-yellow on a color wheel. Blue, purple, and green are the most commonly used cool colors. Cool colors communicate a sense of calm and serenity. If you want your home to feel grounding and relaxing, use cool colors smartly.
For example, a royal blue couch can feel studious, confident, and refined. An earthy green armchair will bring a sense of natural relaxation to your office. These colors evoke thoughts of water and earth, which can feel grounding and refreshing for many. However, some shades of green and blue can clash, so consult a professional interior designer before purchasing your luxury home furniture.
Neutral Colors
Neutral colors include black, white, brown, beige, and grey. They aren’t found on a color wheel but are instead characterized by a lack of pigment. Working with neutral colors is highly popular because neutral-colored high-end furniture is versatile and classy. However, too many neutral colors in a space can make it feel dead or sterile, so it’s best to break them up with something warm- or cool-colored.
Some popular uses for neutral colors are brown leather furniture and black, grey, or white contemporary home furniture. Neutral-colored walls and flooring paired with warm or cool accent furniture can provide a steady backdrop for central pieces of color.
Specific Colors
If you wonder what specific colors communicate, here’s a brief and helpful list.
- Red: love, passion
- Orange: excitement, pleasure
- Yellow: joy, happiness
- Pink: tenderness, innocence
- Green: balance, serenity
- Blue: calmness, peace
- Purple: imagination, royalty
- Brown: comfort, security
- Gray: maturity, calm
- White: comfort, hope
- Black: strength, seriousness
Contact San Francisco Design
Are you ready to acquire luxury home furniture that reflects the moods and feelings you want in your home? Or a collection of exquisite office furniture that communicates power and professionalism? Let our interior design experts at San Francisco Design guide the way.
Our team of interior designers has decades of experience crafting spaces that fit your mood and personality. Our selection of beautiful luxury furniture will undoubtedly have something that fits your preferences. Our understanding of color theory and our vast collection of high-end furniture will create a space that conveys the feelings you long for. Contact us today to get started.
