Psychology of Color - Decorating a Kitchen for the Subconscious


Psychologists have studied the influence of color on the mind for years. While they have not found any effects that generalize to every society, they have found that people from the same society are affected by colors in similar ways. Using these findings it is possible to tap into the subconscious of people, and use this information when decorating to create a room that will have positive emotional effects. The following are the general effects of color on the perceptions of Americans, and some tips on how to use these colors to influence the minds of the people in your kitchen positively. These colors may affect you differently, and as such it is important to pay attention to your own tastes above any advice.

The kitchen is a friendly place of taste testing, gathering, talking, and enjoying the company of friends and family. The kitchen is a family room. It is also a creative paradise, where you will design elaborate dishes and taste delights.

The color most often associated with food and ingestion is orange. This color tends to illicit hunger, and could be a great color to use strategically in the kitchen. Adobe serving trays with orange hints could wet the appetites of your guests. Orange is also a color that tends to lift peoples emotions. Strategic orange decorative patterns, or a slight orange tint to the walls, may be a positive idea to reinforce elated emotions in the kitchen. Red can also illicit hunger, but is such a hot color it should be used in small amounts. Dinnerware and utensils that are red may be a nice touch, if done in an understated manner

Blue is the opposite of those colors and it actually represses the urge to eat. There is not very much blue food in nature, and so we have developed a natural aversion to eating when we see it. For that reason you may want to try and maximize the orange and minimize the blue.

In the kitchen black is best avoided as a major theme. This color will actually absorb heat making the room even hotter. The exception is if black is used with white. White will balance the dark color as well as reflect heat making the room slightly colder.

Earth tones are great for kitchens. These colors, such as tans and browns, can create a sense of closeness and warmth. The feeling of ease and belongingness will make the kitchen a room that you can feel safe to create in. It will also ease interaction between the different parties that may gather in there occasionally.

By using colors in a planned manner you can control the undercurrents in a room and influence the nature of interactions in a positive way. Try and find out how you react to the colors. Play with different shades and gauge your reactions. A few hints lighter and a color may go from a beautiful hunger inducer to a sickly mess that will actually detract from the cuisine created.

Joey Lewitin is an author, artist, and designer of home décor accessories made from imported stone. Original designs from him and other artisans can be seen at Pebblez.com - Beautiful Stone Decor

MORE RESOURCES:
RELATED ARTICLES
The Value of Antique Grandfather Clocks
These days, everything from ovens to telephones silently mark the minutes in glowing red and green letters, rendering the "tick tock" of the mechanical clock increasingly unnecessary. Digital clocks might be more convenient and accessible, but they will never hold our affection the way a good old-fashioned round-faced clock does.
How to Build Your Own Cuckoo Clock
Of all the various kits available from hobby stores and websites across the Internet, cuckoo clock kits are very rare indeed. Why is this? Two reasons: one is that as simple the cuckoo clock's design may seem (after all, it was invented in 1730), it is actually very complicated and can only be replicated by masters.
Types of Home Air Purifiers
Room Air Purifiers Room air purifiers replaced tabletop units in the 1990s as the leading type of home air purifier. Tabletop units proved to be mostly ineffective, because of the inadequate volume of air being moved through the unit.
An Introduction to Hardwood Floors
There's good news about hardwood floors. Because of advanced construction and finish technologies, they are now more stable than they were in the past.
Can Bamboo Flooring Really Help Save The Worlds' Environment?
Probably not on its own, but its an excellent example of how consumers can vote with their buying dollars to sway market demand to bring more environmentally friendly products into the marketplace.Bamboo flooring is a rising trend in home flooring and a great alternative to traditional hardwood floors.
Craft Projects - A Home Decorating One Of A Kind Look
Have you been in a craft store or maybe gone to a fair and noticed booths filled with home made crafts such as embellished wreaths or pretty decorated boxes and thought it might be fun to make something like that.Well it is fun, and it's a lot easier than you may think.
Decorating Your Kitchen With Antique Plates
Antique plates can add whimsy and interest to your décor. Many people hang them right on the walls for a unique look.
Luxurious Linen - Surround Yourself With Sensual Texture
Luxurious linen has been used for centuries. Writers speak in poetic terms of the lovely sensual textures and styles of sheets that were once decadent and even sinful because they were so lush and beautiful.
Your Heritage and Personal Decorating Style
Ethnic traditions, customs, and attitudes carry forward our family values. Paying tribute to family heritage and tradition also gives our children a strong sense of family ties.
A Guide to Bathroom Remodeling
There is a reason why many Hollywood actors keep their awards in their bathrooms -- all their guests will visit that room at some point, so why not put the trophies were everyone will see them? But even if you haven't won any Academy Awards, your guests will be still checking out you bathroom. A well-done bathroom remodeling can impress your guests and boost the value of your home.
A Look at Water Softener Systems
Do you ever feel like nothing you do when you clean works? Do you still feel dirty when you get out of the shower? Does your hair feel dry after you wash it? The problem may not be the soap or detergents you are using. Your problem might be hard water.
Creating A Cozy Spot
Having a warm & cozy spot to snuggle up is important as well as renewing. Creating intimacy in your home, or at least in one area of your home, requires a little imagination and some gut feelings.
The Demand for Massage Therapy Chairs
Massage therapists are in high demand. Consumers recognize the physical and mental health benefits of a good massage.
Add Summer To Your Home
Here's a decorating challenge just for fun in this hot humid mid-summer month. What colors are hot this summer? Turquoise, Coral, Raspberry, Green and Candy striped colors.
Displaying Posters: Some Ways You Never Thought Of
How many ways can you display posters? With the easy availability of thousands of inexpensive posters online, you can turn any house or apartment into a unique art gallery!Sure, a poster can be hung on a wall, or attached to it with tacks or tape. But often a more interesting look comes from placing a grouping of posters on the same wall.
The Benefits of Wood Blinds
In interior design, the blinds found on windows and doors are major decorating elements. Blinds made of wood or those with a wooden look add a feeling of warmth and coziness to the atmosphere in the room.
Decorating Kid's Rooms On A Small Budget
Now if your children are like mine they want to change the style and look of their room about every other week. One way to make them happier for a longer period of time with their room decor is to get involved with the activities that are required when redecorating their room.
An Upholstered Bench To Incorporate Style and Function
How do you envision your dream home? Is it rich in color and texture, romantic, cozy, warm, comfortable and inviting all at the same time? Would you love to incorporate colorful fabrics and rich textures in your home's décor but are not sure how to pull it off? You are not alone. The truth is: Many people long to incorporate the use of textured and patterned fabric into their decorating style but are not sure where they should begin.
An Introduction to Chess Sets
Chess is a popular board game across the world. While many people are content to play chess on a regular board with plastic pieces, many players who truly love the game take pride in their unique chess sets.
Summers Unexpected Outdoor Candelabra
For picnic tables, decks, porches, patios, and sidewalks, decorators are using an unusual source of candle lighting. Fireplace candelabra-those candle holders intended for fireplaces-have moved outside for the summer!Fireplace candelabra were originally designed to hold candles in your fireplace when you want the glow of flickering flames but not the heat or hassle of wood or gas fires.