Design Psychology of the Color Green

Color psychology is undoubtedly a hot topic in marketing, art, and design. Color can subliminally affect things like our mood when we enter a room or influence our perceptions of a brand. Though some psychologists regard color psychology with skepticism, anecdotal evidence is strong that color plays a crucial role in how we interact with the world.

The psychology of the color green is fascinating, especially because we really don’t see nearly as much green in fabric as we’d expect. The color green evokes ideas of nature, renewal, and calm in many people. In fact, it is thought to be the most relaxing color. Once you familiarize yourself with this color’s great benefits and how to utilize different shades for different purposes, we hope you’ll be on board with us to see this wonderful color in many more designs! After all, it’s the second most preferred color in interior design in studies (blue is number one!)

The Color Wheel & the Psychology of the Color Green

Before diving in, let’s briefly talk about the color wheel. There is pure primary color green. And it’s pretty bright! That’s green that has no added white, black, grey, yellow, or blue.

 

When you add black, you produce a darker green and reduce its brightness without changing the overall tone. It’s still the middle green. Adding white for a lighter green doesn’t necessarily make it less bright (unless you get into pastel territory). If you add an even amount of white and black (grey), you get the same shade but not as bright.

 

Green is a combination of yellow and blue, and the levels of either in the particular shade can drastically change its appearance and the emotions it evokes. Blue and yellow, being next to green on the color wheel, simply create chartreuse or lime greens, or teals and sea greens. They still maintain green overall as long as you’re not further into their section of the wheel than greens. But red, the polar opposite on the color wheel, does something totally different.

When you look at the wide variety of shades of green, see if you can identify which colors have been added to it to achieve each color:

 

Image: Wikipedia ‘Sage (color)

 

Using the Color Green in Interior Design

Image: ResourceFurniture

You can create a cheerful, happy area by implementing the color green in your home design. Bright green can be sunny, colorful, and playful, especially with yellow added. Think of these shades as citrusy. If it looks like a melon or lime, it’s an excellent addition for brightness in playful spaces or to reduce gloominess in otherwise not-so-exciting rooms like your laundry room or mudroom.

Yellow-based greens often represent optimism or youthfulness. Like the above, a citrus green room is perfect for a kid’s space. Nice, bright, cheerful, and positive without being overwhelming. With a little more yellow, it might remind you of spring colors that evoke freshness. Great idea for kitchens!

 

Exciting Spaces with Bright Green

Pure green, or bright green, brings a lot of energy to a space. When used in limited amounts as an accent color, it breathes life into this kitchen. Bright shades of green, with or without yellow, are used in attention-getting design everywhere in our lives. Simply think about signs, traffic lights, and symbols for “YES!” All utilize bright green as a positive, and using bright green in design evokes the same emotions of energy and positive connotations.

 

Green for Contemporary and Modern Design

An interesting element of the psychology in interior design is that when green is combined with light gray or white, paler shades of green can feel quite fresh and contemporary! The pops of green in this bright room bring energy and a lovely spa-like feeling. This can create a really positive place for your mental health and overall well-being.

 

 

 

Regal-Looking Shades of Green

When slightly toned down to reduce brightness, we get into some stunning shades of green, like emerald green, forest green, and the oddly named “office green.” If you’re looking for some drama, richness and elegance, forget about purples and golds – give rich greens a try. Achieving a Hollywood Glam look simply takes some deep jewel tones, decorative wood, and touches of sparkle.

Emerald green lends a sense of luxury, elegance, and refinement to the space you use it in. It’s definitely a bold statement and an excellent choice for dining areas and entryways—it will impress anyone who enters your home or visits for a dinner party. It’s also a comforting color, so it’s perfect for reading areas, offices, or anywhere you want to evoke a feeling of calm or security.

Sage Green in Modern, Mature Spaces

For a more calming effect, toned-down green, such as sage, celadon, and avocado, remove plenty of brightness and add red and various levels of yellow to achieve more of a naturally occurring shade. As with any new paint color, put up samples on the wall and look at them throughout the day. In brighter light, many shades of green give feelings of energy but can transform into much more soothing colors as the light dims in the evening.

Grey-green, moss green and earthy greens are not only popular inside homes but also in exteriors. If your home has many wood accents, adding toned-down greens can instantly imbue any space with an organic, natural feel. If your overall room tones incorporate a lot more neutral greys, these shades of green will be beautiful additions. After all, spaces that reflect nature are proven to be positive designs for our mental health.

 

Grey-green, moss green and earthy greens are not only popular for inside homes, but also exteriors. If your home has a lot of wood accents, the addition of toned-down greens can instantly imbue any space with an organic, natural feel. If your overall room tones incorporate a lot more neutral greys, these shades of green will be beautiful additions. Spaces that reflect nature are, after all, proven to be positive designs for our mental health.

Add Plants to Heighten the Effects of Green Psychology

In addition to draperies, painting your home’s walls, and adding other green accessories to your interior design, consider adding live green plants. Plants add life to your home and make it feel more relaxing. And as a plus, you can incorporate green plants that clean the air in your home.

Learn More About the Psychology of the Color Green

At Galaxy Draperies, we love this beautiful color and know we’re not alone. It doesn’t seem to get enough attention in design, however! We hope you feel confident now in how to choose a shade or tone of green for your home to achieve the look and feel you’ll love.

If you’re in the Greater Los Angeles area and would like some green worked into your window coverings, give us a call or fill out the form below for a free design consultation. We can show you various shades of green that we can add to your custom draperies or other window treatments. You can also meet with one of our design consultants to discuss your ideas for your home’s interior and decide how to incorporate green into your plans. We can help you achieve your dream home and match your unique desires with our extensive selection of prints, fabrics, styles, and colors. The variety of options we offer ensures you have plenty to choose from to suit your preferences. Reach out to Galaxy Draperies today to schedule your consultation and learn more about us. We would love to help you add some beautiful green shades to your home.