Used by professional interior decorators and designers, color theory states that the colors in your home have a psychological impact on your mood. As such, it’s important to think about how you want to feel in each room of your house. Once you’ve identified the mood you want each room in your home to have, here are some suggestions on how to achieve it!

Design By Color

• Red. The color red stimulates your appetite, which is why many restaurants implement color theory in their décor.  For weight-conscious people, avoid using red in the kitchen to ensure you don’t overindulge as a result of your paint color. Instead, incorporate red in your dining room where you want your appetite to be stimulated.
• Blue. Shades of blue, which are rarely found in food, can suppress appetite, so if you’re dieting, blue can be a great help in the kitchen. Blue also has a calming effect, so introduce the color in your bedroom or bathrooms.
• Yellow. Studies show that babies cry most in rooms that are yellow more than any other color. Although associated with sunshine and cheer, yellow can actually increase anxiety, so limit this color to transitional spaces in your home, such as hallways and entryways.
• Green. Soft, moss-colored greens act as neutrals and can help make a space feel tranquil. Bright greens in citrus tones, though, invigorate a room instead. To get a jump start on your day, paint your closet or dressing room a citrus green.

Design by room:

• Bedroom. For a bedroom that evokes feelings of a relaxing retreat, incorporate light blue. Studies show that blue helps slow down your heart rate and can also lower your blood pressure. Both of these effects help you get to sleep.
• Bathroom. For a bathroom that feels like a spa-like retreat, consider sage green tones since they have soothing qualities. Incorporate mosaic tiles that include various hues of green. Don’t forget to accessorize with items like green hand towels and soap dispensers. To strike the perfect balance, integrate white throughout the bathroom as well.
• Living room. To achieve a happy, inviting living room, implement subtle hints of yellow. Bold punches of yellow will uplift your mood and fill it with optimism. Too much yellow, though, can make you feel lazy, so choose yellow accessories, but don’t avoid doing an overall yellow paint for every wall.
• Home office. Painting a black accent wall in your home office can motivate you to get to work. If you’re daring enough to attempt this bold color scheme, balance it with white and bright accessories. Avoid a black wall if your home office doesn’t have a window. Instead, opt for a shade of purple, which is said to stimulate your creative jucies.

Now that you’re well-versed on color theory, contact Houston house painters and take control over the moods in your home.

In the Feng Shui world, mirrors symbolize wealth, health, and happiness. The Feng Shui culture recommends certain places to hang mirrors to promote these ideals and gain the most positive benefits. In addition to happiness and wealth, mirrors are great for making spaces appear larger than they are, providing extra light or serving as a piece of art. Discover the best placement for mirrors in your home in our room-by-room breakdown:

Foyer/Entryway. Placing a mirror in your foyer is a no-brainer. Never hang a mirror directly across from the front door. Instead, install one adjacent to the door or above a console table. Mirrors help expand the appearance of small foyers and entryways and make them feel more open and inviting.

Living Room. One of the best spots you can hang a mirror is in the living room. If there isn’t a lot of natural light already flowing in your living room, hanging a mirror can create the illusion of a window. A mirror could also serve as the focal point of a living room. To do so, hang the mirror at a height where every member of your family can see themselves fully.

Dining Room. Dining rooms are another great place to hang a mirror. When the table of food is reflected, you are promoting wealth and abundance. In dining spaces, the bigger the mirror the better. To really reflect light all around the dining room, line two adjacent walls with mirrors.

Bedroom. Contrary to popular belief, mirrors aren’t supposed to be in the bedroom! According to Feng Shui practices, you should never place a mirror across from your bed or on the ceiling. The best placement for mirrors in the bedroom is on the interior of your closet doors or above your headboard.   Wherever you decide to place a mirror in your bedroom, keep in mind that your reflection shouldn’t be the first thing you see when you wake up.

Bathroom. A lot of people hang mirrors in their bathroom without putting much thought into it. As a general rule of thumb, the mirror should never reflect the toilet. Install a mirrored medicine cabinet above the sink to completely avoid this issue.

When it comes to using mirrors in your home, get creative! For extra drama and illusions of space, line an entire section of a wall with a mirror and place a chest or buffet table in front of it. Place a mirror behind a lamp or light source for a dramatic effect. In rooms with dark paint or patterned walls, mirrors can appear as windows and break up the boldness. If any room has a view of your garden, find a way to hang a mirror to reflect the greenery.

Remember that mirrors are wonderful additions, and placing them in the right spots can create a more positive and peaceful environment. For more help with mirror placement, contact Pamela Ryalls, a San Jose, CA interior decorator.

Daylight savings has come and gone, which means the hours we have of daylight on a daily basis are precious! It’s simple to dress your home’s exterior and interior furnishings in seasonal décor, but that’s not always the case when it comes to window treatments. Lighting plays a key role in creating an atmosphere in your home and the right shades, drapes, or blinds can make or break that vibe. To evoke the right atmosphere this holiday season, consider these tips and tricks for choosing the right window treatments.

1. Use heavy fabric. Materials like velvet and wool can instantly bring warmth into any room in your home. These textures provide visual warmth and physical insulation, helping to keep the heat you’re pumping into your home from seeping through any cracks in your window caulking. In addition, heavy fabrics like these offer total privacy when closed.
2. Consider room darkening options. If you’re a shift worker of any kind, room darkening curtains can be a lifesaver no matter what time of year it is. You need your room to be dark so that you can rest at any given time of the day. Room darkening curtains give you that option. In addition to eliminating natural light completely, room darkening curtains can help prevent cool drafts from coming in as well.
3. Let the sun in with sheers. For those of you looking to let as much sunlight in as possible, sheer curtains are your best bet. This lightweight fabric was designed to let as much daylight through as possible, making it perfect for the short autumn days. Cheryl Smith, a Chatham, NJ interior decorator, recommends using sheer curtains in common rooms like your kitchen, living, and dining spaces. These rooms demand natural light and typically don’t require that much privacy.
4. Accentuate with window treatments. If you’re looking for a simple way to incorporate color, pattern, or texture into a room, updating your window treatments is a quick, effective solution. The expert Jacksonville, FL painters suggest choosing curtains or drapes that feature a bold, autumnal color scheme, like burnt sienna or oxblood. These colors will translate seamlessly into the holiday season as well. This quick update will make a statement and help to usher the holiday season in.
5. Choose the right style and length. The length of the window treatments you choose depends on what you’re trying to achieve in a room. For example, if you’re looking to make the windows in your family room appear larger than they are, you’ll want to find curtains that are 60-80” long. Hang them far enough above the window so that they just graze the floor. Conversely, in a kitchen, for instance, you’ll want simpler window treatments, like wooden slat shutters or a valance for that window over the sink.

Before you upgrade your window treatments, it’s important to consider the space, it’s current design, and the goal you’re looking to achieve. With so many options available, finding the window treatments that are right for you and your home can seem challenging. For the best assistance in home design, contact Decorating Den Interiors today.