Do you find yourself dragging in the morning or unable to get off of the couch in the evening? Besides going to bed at a decent hour, you may want to examine your surroundings.  The colors you've chosen--or lack thereof-- may be affecting your general state of mind.

Though the effects of a color differ from person to person, there are some generally accepted rules: reds are warm colors, blues are cool, and black, brown, and white are neutral. Warm colors are generally energizing colors that promote power, while a cool color exudes relaxation and calm. Though they are neutrals, black, brown, and white each have separate interpretations. Black usually signifies a sense of emptiness or sorrow, brown is an earthy, stabilizing color, and white is often symbolic of both purity and clarity.  When decorating, we often mix and match this spectrum of colors to produce an effect that pleases the eye. However, by consciously delving into the meaning behind each color, we can take interior design to a new holistic level.

The Color Basics of Feng Shui

Red is the color of power and passion. Use red whenever you need to feel energized.

Yellow is an energizing color. Use wherever you want to lift your spirits.

Orange is a relationship color, prompting harmony.  Use orange wherever you have groups of people gathering together.

Pink is the color of romance. Use pink wherever you want to feel loved and adored.

Green is the color of growth. Use wherever you need inspiration.

Blue is the color of reflection and relaxation. Use where want to reduce anxiety.

Purple is the color of wealth and power.

Brown is the color of stability. Use brown wherever you want to build strong, healthy relationships.

Black promotes assertiveness and independence. Use wherever you need to feel confident.

White is the color of clarity. It promotes creativity. (Want to know when to avoid these colors? Read the complete version of this list here.)

In Feng Shui, colors are used to create a sense of harmony within your home and person.  The use of colors in certain combinations and in specific areas of your home can enhance your career, family, and self-perception. This art is extremely interesting--everything has meaning, and in the right arrangement, can leave a homeowner at peace in all areas of her life.

Using a beginner's knowledge of Feng Shui and a high school art education, one can create a harmonious home based on some basic rules about color.

1. Choose colors that fit the space and appeal to you.  You know your likes better than anyone else, so tap into makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Don't choose colors because they look good together, (though that is important). Make sure you actually like them. It can be done. Often, what we like about those rooms in Architectural Design is that they look well put together.  You can do the same thing, but with your choice of palette.

 

2. Think about how you feel when wearing certain outfits. Invincible in red? Youthful in yellow?  Introspective in green?  Try consulting your wardrobe before decorating. Take it a step further and consult a Feng Shui color guide to discover what you'd like to promote in each room. If you tend to host parties, you might go with vibrant warm colors in your living room area combined with brown, and bedrooms can be sanctuaries that cast a calm aura with lavenders, blues, and even charcoal gray. Or if you want to take a more sensual route, use softer hues that are in the warm family. Depending on preference, a kitchen can exude sterility or sunshine---it's totally up to you.

 

3. Monochromatic schemes are overwhelming! Yes, you love leopard print. It SHOWS. But friends and families might get a little sick after seeing spots. Likewise, avoid a room of tranquilizing blue and energize your space with a vibrant citrus color. Balance will do wonders for your mood and sanity.

 

4. Keep it simple. Choose a neutral base and add some complementary colors.  Then play with patterns, hues from your color selections, and textures as accents.

When in doubt, call in the experts. Sometimes we don't have the time or creative genes to DIY, and that is why interior designers exist.  Feng Shui itself goes much deeper than the use of color, and you may want to consult someone well versed in this practice. Still, nothing says self-discovery like experimentation.