Seven Essential Color Concepts for Designing Spaces

Understanding a few essential color concepts will help you design your living and work spaces more purposefully. Embrace the colors that work best for your specific activity and emotional support. Here are seven Design Psychology color basics:

1. Light colors and cool colors recede; dark and bold colors advance.

2. Bold colors and large patterns take up visual space and help sparsely furnished rooms look finished.

3. Bright primary colors give off energy, while pastel colors absorb energy. Excessively bright colors, like excessively bright lights, are stressful.

4. Unrelieved monochromatic color schemes can be boring and, worse, depressing.

5. Adjacent rooms visually expand when the background colors are alike.

6. Northern exposed rooms generally need more light and warmth. Yellow-based colors add dimensions of light and warmth. Rooms with a southern exposure in a hot climate feel cooler when painted in blue-based colors.

7. Surrounding colors influence the appearance of nearby colors. A color appears lighter when surrounded by a dark background and darker when surrounded by a light background.

Use these color concepts to create your spaces for happiness and productivity.

(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhouse fordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm

In The News:
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/events/events2/etc/userEventDisplay.jspd%3FeventStatus%3DApproved%26eventid%3D204717cid=1256315795ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNGJg5fGZ1LpmJ9U6E8wbln6uuBC-gbHome/b amp; Garden Show/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPalm Beach Post,nbsp; United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Palm Beach Post bHome Improvement/b Stage will feature various bhome improvement/b speakers and celebrities, including: interior designer Joshua Foss of b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide2/news/story_get.cgi%3FSTORY_NAME%3Dsoccer_league_1_and_2/08/10/10/manual_145114.htmlcid=1256118743ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFF-iyOivOEuCDTGTlegLzlUEHKvQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=LMGFDP5I_HcJimgurl=images.sportinglife.com/08/10/330/Paul-Lambert-Colchester-boss_1299573.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Sportinglife.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide2/news/story_get.cgi%3FSTORY_NAME%3Dsoccer_league_1_and_2/08/10/10/manual_145114.htmlcid=1256118743ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFF-iyOivOEuCDTGTlegLzlUEHKvQU#39;S BOSS EYES bHOME IMPROVEMENT/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSportinglife.com,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrOct 10, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1New Colchester United boss Paul Lambert is determined to stop their League One rivals running riot at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.norwalkplus.com/nwk/information/nwsnwk/publish/News_1/Rocky-Hill-Home-Improvement-Contractor-loses-registration-for-violating-agreement-with-Department-of-Consumer-Protection2535.shtmlcid=1256171855ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEdKoeTCK7lncfgjGwcNtp9RqAxtwRocky Hill bHome Improvement/b Contractor loses registration for b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNorwalk Plus Magazinenbsp;-/font nobrOct 10, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Department of Consumer Protection The Department of Consumer Protection is suspending the bHome Improvement/b registration of a Rocky Hill contractor for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081012/NEWS01/110129998cid=0ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNF0Z4gfA9Fw7--umOhcLmCan1IhegRemodelers hanging tight in tough market/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMonroenews.com,nbsp;MInbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1In Monroe County last year, the value of bhome improvement/b jobs hit $38.6 million, up about 3.3 percent from the prior year, according to figures compiled by b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nepeanthisweek.com/webapp/StittsvilleNews/article/6694cid=0ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNGr9A-qUbGC9iD38mMP6sNcLgBobwPlanned bhome improvement/b outlet bigger than Kanata’s bHome/b Depot/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNepean This Week,nbsp;Canadanbsp;-/font nobrOct 10, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1BY Nevil Hunt Lowe#39;s, a bhome improvement/b chain, plans to build a 13200-square-metre store on Hazeldean Road between Kanata and Stittsville, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6052561.htmlcid=1256175357ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFAhbVkPVR-GbDtn5fvTyhCIkpR3AbHome improvement/b takes a hit as property owners scale back and b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHouston Chronicle,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Total money spent on bhome improvements/b and maintenance is expected to dip this year by more than 4 percent to $216.3 billion from $226.4 billion in 2007, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mcall.com/news/local/watchdog/all-5dog1012.6621903oct12,0,5899281.storycid=0ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNE3RfRWSyJufoI3FolcGCm07-FSfgState to protect consumer against bad contractors/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAllentown Morning Call,nbsp;PAnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1State legislators came through for homeowners in a big way last week, approving a law aimed at prosecuting and preventing bhome improvement/b fraud. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/robert-f-kennedy-jr-address/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B4D40AEA2-CC1A-4FDF-BF71-224F1CE13ED0%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1255256290ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFqsGdIh2OTZ9wnmHbI4jj2FeVbcQRobert F. Kennedy, Jr., to Address Architects and bHome Improvement/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobrOct 7, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Created especially for architects and bhome improvement/b professionals, this symposium will explore the challenges of designing, building and renovating b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.gantdaily.com/news/43/ARTICLE/33139/2008-10-09.htmlcid=1255719081ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNFqG2Sl2u3YtZ_TUKUr4hrMHhKAiAAG Thanks Lawmakers for Approval of bHome Improvement/b Consumer b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGant Daily,nbsp;PAnbsp;-/font nobrOct 9, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1“Complaints involving bhome improvement/b or repair projects are one of the top subjects of calls to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection,” b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-10092008-1603070.htmlcid=1255719081ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEk7VqJEb1AznCxqvYmV8p0dISYcgLaw passes requiring contractors to register/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrphillyBurbs.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-10082008-1602497.htmlcid=1255719081ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNHVpDtuAfXvXOT9TUjf25zs7RBp9wBill targets contractors/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrphillyBurbs.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1255719081hl=ennobrall 4 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/05/technology/game06.phpcid=0ei=DujxSP_GI4_u6gPPoszABwusg=AFQjCNEg6FetM4fs7i2CLWsCJ2dBWX9gZQAnatomy of a game show host/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInternational Herald Tribune,nbsp;Francenbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1and the guy who played Tim Allen#39;s sidekick on quot;bHome Improvement/bquot; (Richard Karn? Anyone? Anyone?). For broadcasters, game shows are all the rage because b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
home improvement - Google News


Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

What You Should Know About Steam Showers

"Steam" and "Steam Bath" Health Benefits:"Steam" and "Steam baths" in... Read More

Aluminium Conservatories

The conservatory is a popular addition to homes around the... Read More

Planning Permission UK - Tactics if Appealing to the DOE for a Planning Refusal

Tactics of Appealing to the DOE - There will be... Read More

Get the Lead Out: Candle Wicks in the US

According to the National Candle Association (NCA), most US-manufactured candle... Read More

Pre-Fabricated Steel Buildings

More and more construction is being done with steel in... Read More

Do You Make These Window Replacement Mistakes ?

Whether it's a misguided baseball, or storm damage, sooner or... Read More

Getting the Power to Control

One of the advantages of using machines to control processes... Read More

A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place

Tax season is over...The spring holidays have passed... Hopefully by... Read More

How About a Jungle Mural to Put Some Swing Into Your Child?s Room?

If your child loves all different types of animals, a... Read More

Clearing the Air on What to Look for in an Air Purifier

If you are dedicated to improving the indoor air quality... Read More

Replacing Aluminum Frame Single Pane Windows

In our past articles I talked about all the steps... Read More

Metal Carports: Steel Carport Guide

Buying a carport to protect your investment can be a... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Garage Conversions - What Value Do They Add?

Most conversion works to an existing structure is often more... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Understanding Your Local Planning Officer - They are Only Human

This time of year often sees an explosion in new... Read More

Why Cant We Kill Too?

Why does big business have all the fun? We fix... Read More

Selecting a Laminate Floor to Suite Your Needs

The traditional look of hardwood flooring is timeless; its beauty... Read More

Building a Backyard Play Structure

A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More

10 Tips for Working With a Contractor

This is the year you're going all out. You're going... Read More

There Is Always Something To Improve Or Innovate For Comfort

In this fast moving world of the 21st century, we... Read More

Upholstery Fabric Will Give Your Furniture a New Look!

Upholstery fabric will put some new life into your old... Read More

Concrete Cutting: Shedding Light On Your Basement Remodel

Basements or cellars (depending on which part of the country... Read More

This Is Why People Should Consider Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are among the most beautiful things you can... Read More

The Art of Power Washing Siding

Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by... Read More

Scented Candles ? Take Me AWAY!

Remember the old Calgon commercial-"Take me away Calgon!" There's only... Read More

Building A Pair Of Heavy Duty Saw Horses

Start out by measuring and cutting all your stock according... Read More