The Influence of Paint Color in Our Lives
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
By Bill Primavera
As a realtor, I am often asked about favored colors when staging a home for sale. I have some long-term experience in this realm. When I was about 16 and my bedroom needed a new paint job, my parents let me select the color, so off I went to the paint store and brought home two gallons of the color I wanted to express myself with: a fiery red, more like the color of blood, and not when it’s dried, but rather when it’s fresh, reminiscent of a mass murder scene. And that is exactly the emotion evoked in my mother when she saw the final result.
In fact, my mother reported that, when it was time to sell that house, the shock value demonstrated in viewing that room by potential buyers possibly delayed its sale. She reported that a couple of potential buyers exclaimed, “Wow,” when they viewed the room. If I knew then what I know now, I definitely would have suggested that the room be repainted to a more neutral color when offering the house for sale.
When I moved to New York City and rented my first apartments in the early 1960s, mostly in new buildings (there was a construction boom at that time just before new, stricter building codes were about to go into effect), I was always awash in various shades of off-white. As I remember, there was a clause in my leases that stated that the apartment must be returned to its original off-white color if tenants strayed into anything more colorful.
As with most issues in life, I became interested in the background, the psychology behind the subject of choosing paint colors for one’s surroundings. Following is an outline of my findings.
- Red Red attracts the most attention and is associated with strong emotions, such as love, passion, and anger, as well as strength, power, courage, and danger. Red is vibrant, stimulating and exciting with a strong link to sexuality and increased appetites. (No wonder it was my teenage preference.)
- Orange Orange can inspire courage, enthusiasm, rejuvenation, and vitality. It can also have a stimulating effect, particularly on the appetite. I just noted through stand-up comedienne Kathy Griffin, reporting on an Oprah Winfrey interview, that Barbra Streisand hates the color orange and doesn’t allow it anywhere in her home or her garden. To which Oprah commented, “Girl, I’m so glad I didn’t wear orange today,” to which Streisand responded, “So am I.”
- Yellow Yellow is the color of the mind and the intellect, resonating with the left, logical side of the brain. Post-it notes and legal pads were invented in yellow for a very good reason!
- Green Green is of nature, of balance and growth. It is restful and secure, symbolizing harmony, healing, and stability.
- Blue Blue is the color of trust, serenity, and peace. It suggests loyalty and integrity as well as conservatism and predictability.
- Purple Purple is the color of imagination and spirituality, inspiring high ideals.
While tone can influence how we feel and act, these effects are subject to personal, cultural, and situational factors.
By the way, my current home has the same off-white color in every room. Since white has always symbolized purity, I suppose it’s being “off” is appropriate.
Bill Primavera is a Realtor® associated with William Raveis Real Estate and Founder of Primavera Public Relations, Inc. (www.PrimaveraPR.com). To engage the services of The Home Guru to market your home for sale, call (914) 522-2076.
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