Motivational Colors – Choices to Energize the Spirit!

We all have a plethora of daily tasks; whether these to-dos are work-related, family-related, or home-related, there’s just a lot to do, and it can be a struggle to find the energy to do it! For as long as I can recall, energy supplements and invigorating snake oils have been sold that claim to provide the energy and vitality we all so desperately need to make it by. Still, the results are either fleeting or non-existent. 

It seems like today, there are more energy-providing products on the market than ever before, which is why I wanted to talk about the power of colors and how they can provide you with the right kind of energy you desire to get things done! 

I’m always bringing up the idea of honoring and supporting the “emotional intention of the space” with colors and design elements. This blog will be covering some of the colors that will specifically support and promote the energy needs of particular areas within your home. 

Motivational Colors – There’s Quite a Bit of Psychology at Work

We’ve often talked about basic color psychology, the primary colors and secondary colors on the color wheel, and what different colors can do to elicit certain feelings or connotations. For example, the primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, are associated with passion, calmness, and energy in the most basic sense. However, when implementing colors into the home, it’s not quite as simple as “yellow is energy, right? So the gym should be yellow!” Our brains and emotional responses are multi-layered and complex; to create the desired energy in a space, color consultants must consider multiple facets of color psychology. 

For example, think about the most popular gym color choices. Blue is actually the color that most professional and home gyms gravitate towards, but why is this? One would think that a cooler, calmer color associated with relaxation and trust would be counterintuitive for the gym; however, blue is effective in gyms because people entering the spaces are already in a heightened state of anxiety and alertness. Blue colors help people working out calm their nerves for better performance. Weight lifting research has shown that bodybuilders feel like the weights are lighter when working out in a blue space than in areas with more exciting colors like red. (How cool is that!) 

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You Only Get One First Impression, Are Your 

Exterior Paint Colors Making a Good One?

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Putting Color Psychology into Practice 

The gym isn’t the only area of the home where energy is often needed throughout the day. Here are some color motivational color recommendations for areas in the home to keep you moving and focused throughout the day!

• The office

I often find that clients want the balance of refinement and energy in an office environment to stay motivated but not be driven out of the space with distraction. Complimentary colors sitting across from each other on the color wheel are excellent ways to find this desired balance and create motivation. Colors schemes curated upon complementary colors can create energy; some combinations to consider are delicate yellows against a deep navy blue or light mint green grounded with a burgundy red. 

Picture walking into an office with a rich and elegant forest green on the walls, creamy white trim outlining the doors and windows, pops of bold terra cotta reds on the desk, and as accents around the room. It’s sophisticated and energized without being overwhelming – and will keep you motivated throughout the workday!

• The kitchen

I love the kitchen, both practically and metaphorically; it truly is the heart of the home. I love it when kitchens have plenty of space for conversation, dining, drinking, and enjoying the company of family and friends. The kitchen is one of the last places in the home to be void of screens, and I’m thankful for this!

The last thing any homeowner would want is a dreary, low-energy kitchen. Today, we see many homeowners embracing lively, richer colors in the kitchen than ever before, such as light greens, brilliant blues, and even yellows and oranges. The kitchen no longer needs to be creamy, sleepy colors from the 1970s like dark yellows and browns. 

Picture walking into a kitchen with royal blue floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with matte silver pulls and knobs. The countertops are a cool grey marble, and the trim is a polar white. But, some fun warmth comes from light terracotta-colored coffeemakers, toasters, and blenders sitting on the countertops. The kitchen is beaming with beauty, uniqueness, and motivational energy. Entertaining friends and family will be a blast in this kitchen! Best of all, at nighttime, that motivational energy will be more subdued with warm overhead pendant lights, perfect for after-dinner cocktails and conversation. 

• Dining Room/Parlour

It’s sad to see it happen, but formal dining rooms/parlor areas often sit unused. These quieter spaces are found in older, more traditional homes. They are from a different age of American culture, when dining or reading only happened in contained spaces in the home and were more formal. Today’s homes are more fluid and open than ever before. It’s time to create a more inspired color palette so that you will find excuses to use the room because it feels so good to be in there!

Picture walking into a dining room with colorful wallpaper, linens, or even fresh flowers that will all brighten up the room! The walls are a brilliant color with either paint or wall treatment. The surrounding furniture is light oak, and the overhead lighting on the dining table is funky and inviting, not austere and intimidating like a chandelier. Pops of earthy greens are everywhere from hanging to healthy potted plants, and natural light shines through the windows. The refreshing colors of the room motivate you to enjoy the space! What a difference in contrast – using colors to motivate your design and update an interior from “stuffy dining room of the past” to a pleasant modern space; it’s inspiration at its best! 

Motivational Colors – We Could All Use Them

How do you feel about motivational colors? Do you find that the colors in your gym or office help you push through and focus? Are you looking at decorating your dining room with a whole new vibe? Please share your thoughts and preferences for motivational colors with me; I love hearing from you!