What is the Science Behind the Color of Your Rug?

How do you want your favorite room to feel?

Are you looking for a high-energy power room that encourages long conversations about deep thoughts? Or maybe you’d like it to be more serene – the perfect place to relax and ground yourself through peaceful meditation.

The colors that we choose to coat our living spaces might seem completely arbitrary, but the science behind the psychological impact of those choices tell a different story completely.

The Psychology of Color

Color psychology has been used in advertising for decades. It is no secret that specific colors can be used to evoke different emotions in consumers. Take, for instance, the bright and energetic tones of sports drinks compared to the soft and soothing shades used in naturopathy. Think about the vibrant red color of a can of Coca-Cola. How does it make you feel?

Brands have poured hours upon hours of their time into researching the psychological response to particular colors in order to better package their product. But that doesn’t mean that the same science used to sell skateboards and soft drinks can’t be applied to the interior design of your home.

You want your home to have a particular energy about it, and the foundation of that energy derives from the colors that you choose for it, right down to the carpet or rugs that you lay upon your floors. Not sure how to figure that out? Let’s breakdown the science behind a few colors.

Red emotes feelings of energy, power, and strength. It is a color that is never boring! Used to make a cool room feel warmer, it has also been known to increase appetites, making it a great color choice for a kitchen. Beautiful, hand-knotted Oriental and Persian accent rugs are well known for their deep red hues.

Pink is a very romantic color. Often used in children’s and teenagers’ bedrooms to give them a girly feel, it can become sweet and sappy really quickly if not used in moderation. If you’re tickled pink by the rose-colored hue, consider draping your floor with a rug with pink accents instead of one that dives head-first into the color.

Orange is the color of joy and sunshine. It is often associated with feelings of enthusiasm, happiness, and creativity. It is one of those colors that is usually either loved or hated, there is no in-between. Like red, it is known to increase appetites as well as energy levels, making it a great shade for a dining room rug or an accent tapestry in an exercise room to release your inner warrior.

Yellow is also a very joyful color, evoking happiness, intellect, and positive energy. It is an excellent color choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways. Bright yellow is an optimistic color, but be sure to opt for small quantities. Like pink, it is a shade that can quickly become overpowering.

Green is considered the most restful color for the eye. This comes as no surprise, considering it is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, and freshness, often making people feel safe in their surroundings. Well-suited for any room of your home, it is especially powerful when used as an accent color in a home office, stimulating productivity without causing over-excitement or anxiety.

Blue, unsurprisingly, is the most popular interior design color in the US. This is attributed entirely to its calming characteristics, often evoking a feeling of peace and tranquility. While this is true of light or pastel blue shades, darker blues are often associated with knowledge, power, and integrity. Sapphire blues make for an impeccable accent color, and the deep blues often adorning antique Persian rugs bring a touch of luxury to any bedroom.

Color psychology has been utilized in interior design, marketing, and even architecture, for decades as a result of its intuitive grasp of human emotional triggers. There is very little doubt that the chosen colors of any project or interior can affect a person’s state of mind and even overall disposition. We’ve even found that the science of color coding holds its roots in ancient Egyptian times, where color psychology was used for its holistic benefits and healing powers.

Have any of these colors, and their meanings, piqued your attention? Don’t start your next interior design project without first letting us find the perfect rug for your space and the emotions that you want to evoke. Call today to book a viewing of the Saatchi Rug Gallery’s showroom, we have just the right rug waiting for you. 516-510-9188