Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Best Bedroom Wall Colors

White bedroom walls are monotonous and dull.


Essentially, personal preference dictates the best bedroom wall colors. In his book "Color & Human Response," Faber Birren notes that different colors evoke general emotional and psychological reactions in humans, but these reactions may vary depending on the individual's experience and psyche. Generally speaking, strong colors such as red and orange stimulate muscular tension while cooler colors such as green and blue relax tension. When choosing the best bedroom wall colors, consider personal desires and the intended use of the room.


Relaxing Bedrooms








A bedroom's main purpose is to provide a tranquil environment for sleeping. Warm colors such as red, orange and yellow provoke optic excitation and increase restlessness. Cooler colors like blue and green in lighter shades encourage relaxation and tranquility. In Felix Deutsch's work "Psycho-Physical Reactions of the Vascular System to Influence of Light," experiments conducted by the late A. Metzger show that individuals responded to color and the unseen ultraviolet radiation to color even for blind individuals. Therefore, bedroom wall colors in placid pastel shades provide a good backdrop for a secluded bedroom as they tend to decrease stimulation.


Children's Bedrooms


Children tend to gravitate toward bright primary colors for their bedrooms. A report in Scientific American, "Do Infants See Colors Differently?" proposes that infants "show an initial innate organization of color into precise categories," an interpretation that is lost in adulthood. Children's bedrooms often serve as a combination sleeping quarters, playroom and toy storage area. The University of Georgia's report, "Influence of the School Facility on Student Achievement," states that poor lighting and dismal, monotonous colors depress neural and physical learning functions of school children. Brightly lit and colorful walls in warm colors have shown to improve motor control and mood for most children while bright, cool shades promote tranquility and rest. Be aware that busy patterns or excessively bright colors may overstimulate autistic children; studies have shown that muted pink walls are best for children with learning disabilities.


Traditional Bedrooms








Traditional bedrooms continue the general architectural design and color scheme of the rest of the home. For example, a bedroom in a Craftsman home, with its luxurious oak woodwork and emphasis on natural colors, may be painted a cream color or light sage green. Victorian bedrooms are usually more ornate and bold with colors; typical Victorian bedroom wall colors may include dark blue, moss green or burgundy red. Contemporary bedrooms with their streamlined and fresh appeal look best in neutral colors such as beige, off-white colors and light browns.


The Boudoir


For the bedroom serving as a special master bedchamber or as a fashionable guest room, select flamboyant wall colors such as rich reds or golds. A traditional French boudoir in Rococo style features white, mauve or gold walls brazen with ornate tapestries and lace. The extent of color selection and paint finishes depend greatly on personal preference. A wall painted in white with faux marble streaks adds luxury. Lavender walls with dappled shades of blue suggest tranquil innocence.

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