When choosing the colors of our house, there is something essential to keep in mind, and it is how they make us feel.
If you look, color is everywhere. on the walls, on the floors, in the furniture, in textiles and decoration details. Y, although we are not always aware, directly influences our mood, in our energy and in the way in which we inhabit space.
For example, color can bring us calm, invite us to socialize, help us concentrate... or, on the contrary, cause some discomfort, activate ourselves excessively or make it difficult to rest.
It is true that what we feel when faced with a color is deeply linked to our history., our memory and our experiences. But there is something we all share: when a space reminds us of nature, we feel better.
In this article we are going to explore color within the healthy home from different perspectives., to help you discover which colors connect with you and how to use them to design healthier and more comfortable spaces.
Table of contents
Nuestra Newsletter
Sign up and you will receive an email with Reflections, Learning and experiences of my path like bioarchitecta and entrepreneur conscious. I accompany you to create a most consistent life, One more house healthy and a project with purpose.
We are already a community of thousands of people committed to better inhabiting this world, in harmony and with ourselves. Do you join?
Color and nature, inside the Healthy House
Human beings have an innate connection with nature, something that comes from our ancestors and that has been investigated in recent decades, For example, from different scientific currents that explain the benefits that the connection with natural environments brings us, between them:
– The Attention Restoration Theory, that emphasizes cognitive recovery through stimulating and relaxing environments
– The Stress Recovery Theory, which focuses on emotional recovery after exposure to natural stimuli.
Different studies show that contact with natural landscapes, from forests and parks to mountains and coasts, reduces stress and promotes better attention and concentration.
In fact, a recent investigation (here you can see the study, in English) measured physiological responses to natural colors and conclusions were drawn such as:
- – Natural green tones: greater psychological comfort and reduction in heart rate
- – Chromatic variations (like in nature): better than flat or monochrome colors
- – Combination with natural textures (madera, leaves): increases emotional comfort
Taking into account all the benefits that nature brings us and that, in the world where we live, people pass almost the 87% of our time indoors, From healthy architecture we seek to overcome this gap, incorporating nature into interior environments through multiple elements, between them, the color.
An open look at the psychology of color
Environmental psychology studies how the environment influences people. Y, inside her, the habitat psychology It proposes us to observe what feelings and sensations the space around us produces in us., where color has a particularly relevant role.
From the perspective of the emotional intelligence, that we also take into account in the design of the healthy house, We mainly evaluate two variables: body activation and pleasantness.
Those colors that are naturally present in nature take us to a higher state of pleasantness., although bodily activation may vary.
For example, the use of tones present in a forest reduces bodily activation, However, those that may be present in a garden (intense greens or colorful tones) They increase our bodily activation and promote more dynamic activities.
What do you feel about each color?
Socially, Colors are usually associated with certain emotions and sensations. But, as we have seen, What we feel when faced with a color is deeply linked to our personal experience..
That's why, more than following fixed rules, We invite you to explore colors from curiosity, without limiting yourself, to know what they are usually associated with and discover what each of them makes you feel.
He rosa is associated with softness, the tenderness, femininity. It is usually placed in children's and rest rooms..
– How does pink make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He orange is associated with stimulation and warmth, and it is common to see it in nursery schools or children's rooms.
– How does orange make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He gris It is one of the colors called “neutral.”, It is a versatile color and easy to combine.. There are different shades of gray, as there are also different shades of grayish stones in nature.
– How does gray make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He negro it means that we do not have much lighting or much clarity in a space. At the moment, It is used in modern spaces, as in kitchen furniture.
– How does black make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He blanco It is always one of the key colors in the home, that allows us to create backgrounds from which to play with textiles, rugs and decoration. It is used in places where we want to achieve that simplicity from a positive point of view..
– What does white make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He azul It is usually associated with calm and is very common to see indoors near the sea., imitating the color of nature.
– What does blue make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He rojo It is a color that we recommend avoiding in resting places, since it is a very bright color that attracts attention and is socially related to danger. If you look, Stop and signs where something is prohibited, they are red.
– What does red make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He yellow It is a color that generates very different sensations, There are those who feel that their spirits rise and those who do not like it at all..
– What does yellow make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
He verde, depending on the shade we choose, can provide freshness and harmony, since it is a color that reminds us of nature.
– What does green make you feel?? What do you associate it with??
Apply color in the Healthy House
In general, to make our house healthy, The recommendation is to choose neutral base colors (like white, beige or light gray) and combine them with 2 o 3 colors per room, always using ecological paints and natural materials.
If we take nature as a reference, we can look for natural colors: ocher, beige, verde, azul, gray…to create something similar to what we find in a natural environment within our home.
Colors in floors, paredes, ceilings and doors
If we go to specific spaces in the healthy house, for the floors we will choose wood tones, cork, stone… It is recommended that the floor is darker than the walls, since that makes the space more comfortable.
Consequently, we will choose light colors, or lighter than the ground, for the walls and ceiling.
For the doors, The light colors invite us to make sure that door is part of that space.. Natural wood doors and antique doors add a natural touch to the home, Besides, if we keep them well, they will last us many years.
Color and lighting
Natural light and the size of each space are two key factors when choosing the right palette for your healthy home.
The natural light intensifies the colors, therefore, in areas that receive good lighting and have enough space, we can incorporate more vivid and intense tones.
Instead, in the smallest spaces or with less light entry, It is best to opt for soft colors., neutral or pastel tones, that help increase the feeling of spaciousness and enhance the luminosity of the space
Ultimately, to make your house healthier, It is important to take into account both the colors of nature and your own feelings about them., to create more comfortable environments.
Add Color and Health to your Healthy Home Project
If you are thinking about renovating or building your home, or you are an architect/interior designer/builder and want to make your projects healthier, the color should not be decided at the end.
A healthy home is not just about eliminating toxins, There are many other decisions like what we have seen here about color that must be taken into account.
That is why we created the Guide to 7 Construction Decisions for a Healthy and Natural House.
