Good decorators know that certain colors energize: Sun yellow, flaming red and verdant green all enliven and bring vitality to a space. Other shades impart a feeling of rest, relaxation and calm. These hues, softer and more visually peaceful than more vivid tones, make popular choices for bedroom, bathroom and living room areas. Paint your walls in one or more color options to bring a sense of tranquil fulfillment to your home time.
Pale Gray
Pale or dove-gray hues go easy on the eyes while adding some visual dimension to a room. Less stark than pure white, pale gray ages well and matches other calming colors such as cream, light blue and light pink. Christine Pittel of House Beautiful suggests Benjamin Moore's "Overcast" as a good light-gray living room option: "I think of this as celadon or blanc de Chine. It's the color of water in a bathtub, of the pale early morning sky."
Shell Whites
Eggshell and seashell are both variations of off-white that hold more visual interest. The warm undertones of these colors make decorator Jennifer Garrigues reminisce about visits to India and other peaceful, happy times. "It would turn a bedroom into a lovely retreat. It's the coziness that's calming," she told "House Beautiful."
Green
Claire Plaister, writer and Feng Shui practitioner, writes that "color therapists generally use green to reduce stress, ease headaches, migraines and gastric ulcers or balance mood swings." Whether pale or bright, green also stimulates growth and prosperity. For a calming version of green, try a paler hue---such as mint or sea foam.
Lavender
The color lavender offers the same calming qualities as the plant of the same name. This pale purple hue retains some of the regal character of purple without the charged-up energy. Great for bedrooms and bathrooms, lavender combines well with pale blues, grays and off-whites.
Light Blue
Micle Mihai-Cristian, interior designer and owner of the Freshome design site, writes, "Blue brings down blood pressure and slows respiration and heart rate. That's why it's considered calming, relaxing, and serene, and is often recommended for bedrooms and bathrooms." However, the same site also warns of blue's tendency to become icy once lit by artificial lighting fixtures. Find a shade of light blue with a warmer undertone; paint a small bit of your wall to see how the color looks in bright sun before committing to a final purchase, and don't depend on a paint chip.
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