One of the most fun and gratifying parts of modern home interior design is choosing a color palette to work with. After all, using color in interior design is an excellent means by which to express personality as well as bring together other design elements into a cohesive whole.
But there’s more to modern interior design color schemes than slapping an array of paint samples up on a wall and selecting the shades, hues and tints you like the most. While personal preference is certainly a driving force in determining your modern interior design colors, it’s vital that color be used in a way that makes your house feel like your home.
At Coates, we are as intentional about color in interior design as we are every other aspect of the home design and building process. When using color in interior design, we consider not only what colors to use, but also how and where they will be used.
Color and Light
Color within a home is not a static force. Instead, it is in an endless dance with light, which changes its character and personality during the course of days and seasons. That interplay has a powerful effect on our emotions as well. It’s well documented that different colors can evoke different and powerful feelings in people, and light or lack thereof also plays into our psychological state. Therefore, the marriage of color and light is a powerful one. It’s important to both love your modern interior design colors and understand how they make you feel as they interact with the light in your home.
Modern Home Interior Colors
When we think of modern home interior colors, we tend to think in terms of neutrals. And indeed, that wash of soothing neutral colors that is the hallmark modern interior design color schemes is unlikely to ever go out of style. It’s inviting, sleek and complements a design aesthetic that is uncluttered and minimalist.
That said, color definitely has its place in modern design. Colorful elements can be layered over a neutral backdrop to provide pops of personality and create emotion within a space. Cultural trends around home design may shift with time, which is why we prefer to help clients chose modern home interior colors that resonate deeply with them and help them set the mood they most want their spaces to evoke and reflect.
Every color tells a story, and here are some examples of what using color in interior design can say about a space.
- Red: A powerful color that speeds up pulse, breathing and circulation. It stimulates appetite, attracts attention and brings forth feelings of excitement, anger, aggression and impulsiveness (for these reasons, we don’t recommend using it in bedrooms). Used judiciously, red creates warmth and feelings of coziness.
- Orange: A stimulating color that creates warmth, pleasure and sensuality. It lowers inhibitions, aids in being social, connects us to our senses and can be helpful for those with depression or seasonal affective disorder. It’s excellent for brightening rooms without natural light.
- Yellow: It has the distinction of being the color noticed first by the human eye. It can help a space glow and is good for increasing concentration, focus, mental acuity and curiosity. It’s a great choice for a study space, but when used too much can cause eye fatigue.
- Green: Because it is easy on the eyes and brings with it an association with nature and outdoor spaces, green is considered a healing color. It relaxes muscles, nerves and thoughts and fosters rejuvenation and serenity, renewal, peace and harmony.
- Blue: A cousin of green, blue also evokes nature, in particular the color of water and the clear sky. It is stress-reducing and restful while enhancing communication, speech and productivity. It can reduce body temperature, lower appetite, calm nerves and reduce pain. It’s a good choice for bedrooms, workout areas or environments that encourage learning.
- Purple: Given that it is a mix of calming blue and exciting red, purple brings with it attributes of both of those colors. Its richness also evokes a sense of luxury and elegance. Purple is said to foster a connection to the subconscious and stimulate dream activity.
In conjunction with the neutrals that are at the heart of modernism, using color in interior design can define a space, personalize it, make it distinctive and also create psychological climates. Some of those climates can be stimulating, invigorating and increase focus and creativity. Others can be calming, healing and foster a sense of relaxation and peace. Best of all, these disparate climates can exist within the same home. Such is the power of color in interior design. Contact us today to start a discussion about how to best harness color and light to create modern interior design color schemes for your home.