8 Relaxing Paint Colors That Help You Relieve Stress

The great artist Pablo Picasso once said:  “Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.” And indeed, it does. Colors affect our mood and emotions in significant ways that over the past few centuries a specific field of study was born: color psychology.

Color psychology is a study of color and how it affects human behaviour. This concept has been widely adapted in conceptualizing brands for marketing, art, and interior design. In an interior design for example, a Minnesota State University study found that red environments increase stress, while white and green surroundings have a relaxing effect.

Keeping this in mind, here are 8 of the most relaxing colors to paint your spaces with to help you relieve stress:

1. Light Gray

Gray paints can come in warm or cool-toned variants but both create an equally calm and relaxing environment. Complement this shade with blue and white accents to complete the look.

2. Bluish Gray

You can’t go wrong with a can of paint with this color as light to medium shades of bluish gray fall under the most calming colors section.

3. Cool Blue

Blues in the lighter end of the spectrum remind you of the sky and the sea, two of the most stress-relieving views you could be in. Bring this inspiration inside your home and paint your walls a cool blue. Chinese Feng Shui suggests that blues can slow your heart rate to a relaxed pace and lower your blood pressure.

4. Lavender

If your favorite shade is a bright purple, you might want to tone it down a little bit and use a muted shade to create calming and relaxing space. Lavender is an elegant option that will brighten up your room (and your life).

5. Aquamarine/Teal

Pick an aqua or teal shade to liven up your space without being too bright or too dull.

6. Pale Pink

Muted, dusty pinks promote a relaxing feel to your space without going overboard and coming off “too girly”.

7. Pale Green

Pale yellow-greens or beige greens are the most stress-reducing tones in the green family.

8. Beige

A warm, neutral beige will bring calm and relaxation to a room. Avoid going too orange or too yellow as these color families may induce stressful responses.

This list has been adapted from Stylecaster’s original article here.

Has this been helpful in choosing paints for your space? Let us know in the comments below!