(© Eclectic Living Room by Skyline Studio)

‘Productivity grows when people feel happy,’ they say! Well, ask someone who lives in a dull, cluttered house! I bet he’ll never work from home! And if his office has bright red walls or tables, I think he won’t work from his office either!

Now, this isn’t only because of stress or laziness. But it’s the space’s anxious mood that’s ruining productivity. Yes, you heard it right! Every room has a mood. Like our bedrooms look romantic and private, while our living rooms seem welcoming! So, they help people blend well with the situations and reduce stress drastically.

And if yours doesn’t look the same way, relax! Today, I’ll tell you some easy cues and factors that will tweak your mood in the blink of an eye!

Colors & Their Psychology in Interior Design

Choosing the color palette is the first step in any design! Here let’s break down some popular wall colors and learn the features and emotions of each:

• Red: Now, we all love how red adds a bold, romantic, and sensual pop to everyday spaces. But it’s not just that. If used too much, red can make you feel triggered, upset, and restless too! So, we suggest limiting this one to small feature walls, upholsteries, and abstract rugs.

Other than that, you can also use red as an accent color with neutral white or gray, living room walls. I am sure you’ll feel energized after a tiring day!

• Yellow: Yellow is one of the top colors for accent pieces, couches, and other furniture these days. Well one, it makes you feel happy, optimistic, and a bit enveloped. And two, it visually brightens and enlarges any space in no time!

The yellow hues have to be taken care of as some bright shades of the color might invoke anxiety or triggers as well. Overall you can use this one for lively, modern vibes in any space.

• Blues: Don’t we all feel calm and relaxed by the ocean side? Well, that’s the power of blue! In fact, this cool color promotes serenity, sophistication, and a formal mood in any interior. So, students consider it best for studying, while parents love it for their discussions!

Here, you can go with lighter, nautical shades like teal or azure for a carefree, independent mood. Or, you can stick to darker blues for a knowledgeable, high-productivity mood!

• Orange: Orange is the interior color for all creative hunks out there! Check MVRDV’s Why Factory Tribune for an example! The orange wall face curates hope, optimism, and an independent, free-flowing mood for all the architecture faculty that resides there. Cool, isn’t it?
• Green & Purple: Now, this secondary, cool-colored palette is for a lively, soothing, and playful mood. After all, green’s the color of nature! So, it makes you feel calm and relaxed in

no time! Plus, you can use it for walls, curtains, accents, wherever you like!

• Black: We all know that black looks dominant! But this one surely adds a formal, classy aura to any space. Take any modern, dark cafes for example. Black adds a mysterious but sort of private mood that’s perfect for chit-chats and discussions.

But be careful when using black with larger surfaces like walls, cabinets, and floors. Instead, limit it to furniture accents and tables for balance.

• White: Literally every modern house and villa uses white walls and ceilings now. And they even feel so clean, crisp, and airy, right? Well, white has always been the color for a relaxing mood. And since it’s light, you can freely use it for all the main parts of your use.

In a nutshell, warm-toned palettes are perfect for a warm, private, and inviting mood in the space. In contrast, cool palettes are better for informal, productive, and tranquil moods.

Furniture & Their Emotions in Interior Design

Now let’s see the role of different furniture shapes, materials, and textures in deciding the mood of your space.

Furniture Shapes

We usually get interior furniture in two broad shapes - curved and rounded, or geometrical and angular. Here, the curved ones create a bit of a tranquil, harmonious, and playful mood, while the geometric ones curate formal and productive moods.

Apart from that, try to use symmetrical furniture for more mental peace, visual balance, and composed decor. But, you can explore asymmetrical or abstract pieces, if you want an ever-curious, comical mood in kid spaces.

Furniture Materials

Want to add a warm, cozy, and inviting mood to your interiors? Look no further than natural wood, cane, or stone furniture. But, if you long for a sleek and professional mood, then metallic steel, chrome, or brass furniture would be perfect!

Different Types of Flooring & Their Moods

Do you know that the type and texture of flooring can affect your mood too? Here’s how!

• Wooden Flooring: We all love the crisp, traditional, and rustic vibes of wooden floors, right? But have you ever observed how relaxed, cozy, and warm you feel on wood?

Plus, wooden flooring looks so layered that it will bring out a lovely Hawaii vacay mood right away or a a thrilling cabin getaway!

With wood, you can experiment with different patterns too! For example, you can use a straight-grained pattern for some openness and balance in your space. But if you have children at home, you can use the simple basketweave pattern for a playful mood.

• Stone Flooring: Ever wondered why the old, heritage structures feel so united and blended? Well, that’s because of their stone flooring. When used rightly, stone has the power to add a productive, professional mood to any space. And you can also use different colors like green, gray, and beige as per choice.
• Carpet Flooring: Carpet flooring is one of the top choices for a relaxed and cozy mood in any space. So, use this to tie private spaces like bedrooms and reading rooms.
• Tile Flooring: One of the most common types of flooring in modern spaces, tiles are used for a lively and creative touch to any space. But it’s not just that! Glazed tiles like marble, granite, or resin feel modern and opulent, while solid travertine or limestone look homey. Also, you can try Mosaic or Terrazzo if you love casual, quirky, comical interiors.

Lighting & Its Impact on Interior Design

This bedroom designed by Skyline is a great example of how lighting affects the warmth, brightness, energy, and personality of any space. For example, natural light feels organic and tranquil, while bright, artificial lights make the space look professional and productive. Apart from that warm lights make a space look intimate and inviting, while cool lights are better for focused, conversation zones.

And here are some lighting tips to curate the mood of your choice:

• Cozy & Relaxing Mood: Love how we use candles for romantic dinner dates? If yes, then use similar warm lights, with a color temperature below 3300K, low brightness and soft shadows for a relaxing mood. Some examples include dimmers, warm LEDs, and lamps.
• Professional & Productive Mood: Try to use minimal, cool, and sharp recessed lights, track lights, or pendant lights. Just go with a bluish or green-toned white light.
• Dramatic & Playful Mood: Go with contrasting red, green, yellow, or blue accent lights, spotlights, or scones, just like a disco.
• Tranquil Mood: Well, this one’s clearly reserved for natural sun and moonlight. To enjoy its openness and freshness fully, try to maximize reflections by using mirrors, wall panels, and skylights.

Conclusion

Different design elements like colors, furniture, shape and lighting create different moods and vibes in a space.

So, to ensure maximum productivity and relaxation in your space, you really need to know your user’s needs, mental state of mind to understand how and where to use certain colors as they do have a psychological impact on the user and most importantly, your design’s intent.