Good Paint Colors for Energy & Love in the Bedroom

Before choosing a paint color for your bedroom, consider the emotional backdrop you want to create. Paint a bedroom, especially one that you share with your spouse, in colors that promote energy and love.

Describing Colors
Learn to describe color shades clearly by using a system based on the properties of color. Following name trends such as "coriander," "aspen" or "ice" can be confusing, especially when the season changes and new descriptions appear. But the essential properties of color never change. The three main properties of color are hue, intensity and value.

Hue refers to the basic color. You'll recognize the names of hues, which include blue, red, yellow, green, orange and purple.

Intensity (or chroma) describes the quality of brightness or dullness of color. Scarlet is a high-intensity red and rust a lower-intensity red.

Value (or saturation) refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. A pastel pink is a low value, while midnight blue is a high value.

Color and Emotion
Although most people react to color in similar ways, some people may have personal likes and dislikes that differ from the majority. These idiosyncratic reactions often are related to experiences associated with particular colors.

For most people, high-intensity colors are exciting, and low-intensity colors aren't. Be careful with deep reds, which might be romantic but may also promote high blood pressure, tension and aggression. A lower value of red (pink, for instance) has a calming effect.

Feng shui, the Chinese system of harmonizing space, recommends pink for love. Interior decoration sites also advise a lower value of red for bedrooms. Sherwin-Williams even suggests a specific paint, "rose-colored," as a romantic color. Pink promotes energy, too. Red, even at a low value, is an energizing color.

To create a rose color yourself, begin with a red hue, lower its intensity ever so slightly with a pinch of brown, and mix in white to lower its value to your taste.

Choosing Your Paint
Choose your paint color with an eye toward your personal preferences. Don't use any kind of pink if either you or your spouse hate pink. Or try adjusting the shade of pink to one you will enjoy. For instance, add blue to create a pinkish-lavender shade. Add yellow to create a peach color.

How to Choose Paint Colors for a Front Hall

Changing the color of a room's walls can completely alter the look and feel of a room. The front hall of the house is generally an overlooked spot when decorating. You should spend time trying to find the right shade of paint for the front hallway since it is the room that greets you when you arrive home. Choosing a color of paint is a matter of personal taste and preference, but there are some tips you should consider when buying new paint.

Choose a color of paint based on the size of the hall to downplay the negative aspects of the size. For instance, paint an area that is too small in light colors. The light colors will add more depth and brightness to the hall's look. For spaces that feel too large and cold, give them a coating of dark paint to make the areas appear smaller and more contained.

Paint an accent wall in a boring area. An accent wall is a brightly colored wall among neutral walls. For instance, instead of painting a whole room bright red, paint three of the walls a neutral color such as tan and paint the last wall red. This will make the red wall pop and adds a new and interesting dimension to the room.

Mimic the foliage, plants and nature that are outside of the front hallway. The front hallway connects the home to the outside world. You can choose to paint the hallway in a color that reflects the outside world, such as green for plants or light blue for the sky. Alternatively, paint the hallway the same color as the room it leads into to make it seem more connected to the rest of the home.

Paint a small section of a wall with your favorite colors to see what it will look like once the walls are painted completely. View the paint in different types of lighting since different lighting will alter the look of the color. The paint will look different during the day than it does at night under an incandescent bulb.

Pick a neutral shade--such as various shades of white, black or brown--if you can't decide on another color. These plain shades will complement the other walls in the house.

Feng Shui Tips on Where to Hang Pictures

The ancient Chinese art of feng shui aims to bring harmony, balance and positive energy flow to a home through the specific placement of objects. Feng shui's principles apply to everything from choosing a building lot to where to place furniture. You can even use feng shui in hanging pictures in your home or office. By deciding what aspects of life are important to you and choosing artwork appropriate for those concerns, you can enhance your comfort and chances for success.

Map Your Space
Think of the room you want to decorate as having eight sectors: the four compass points and the four corners, the latter representing northeast, northwest, southeast and southeast. In feng shui, this is the principle of BaGua (eight areas). Stand in the center of the room and use a compass to determine where each sector lies. You might want to draw a small map as reference. Each sector relates to a different aspect of your life, and by picking the correct pictures for your room, you can increase the positive energy flowing toward that aspect, whether it is wealth, relationships, career or fame.

The Four Points
The northern side of a room relates to career. Hang pictures of fish, the ocean or other water-related scenes, as well as your own mementos of success, here. The east side governs family and health, so good choices include images of healthy plants or paintings and photos of family members. Fame dominates a room's southern end, making that wall a great spot for placing any award certificates or plaques you have received. If you are decorating a west wall, choose pictures of children or a special piece of art, since this area governs children and creativity.

The Four Corners
The northeast corner, which governs education, is a good spot for hanging your degrees and other educational awards. The northwest corner is all about mentors and bringing helpful people into your life. You can hang photos or pictures of people who have inspired or aided you. The southeast corner deals with wealth and prosperity. You can enhance your positive energy here with pictures of goldfish, which are a Chinese symbol of prosperity, or another symbol of wealth, such as coins. In the southwest corner, marriage is the key, so pictures of happy couples would find a good home here.

Other Considerations
When choosing which pictures to hang and where to place them, think of the areas of your life that are most important to you. In other words, don't try to decorate every spare inch of wall space on the theory that you will maximize your qi, or positive energy. The result can be chaos, confusion and conflict as too many elements compete with one another. Instead, decide on a few judiciously placed pictures and consider adding them one at a time to allow you to test each one's effect on your life.

Feng Shui Tips for a Study Desk

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art form used to bring balance and harmony into your life. Objects such as plants, chimes, mirrors and furniture arrangements are all thought to bring positive energy into a room, increasing harmony. Feng shui techniques can be especially important in a study room to reduce stress and increase creativity and productivity.

Clean & Organize

Start by cleaning your study desk of unnecessary clutter. At least half of the desk should be visible at all times. A messy desk is distracting and causes a sense of unbalance, making it harder to concentrate when studying.

Use organizational tools such as paper trays and pencil holders to keep things tidy and in place. Keep important papers and other items in the desk drawers, using file holders and small trays.

Furniture & Color

Rearrange your study desk so it is situated to allow the best energy into the room. Place the desk facing the entrance. Do not sit with your back to the door, which can allow negative energy in. If possible, place your desk in a corner farthest from the entrance, with your back toward facing the wall.

Color is another factor in feng shui. Add color by painting a wall, hanging a colorful picture in front of your desk, or adding a colorful chair or chair pad for your study desk. Some colors to consider: yellow stimulates creativity, red is energizing, and blue and green are soothing.

Accessories

Use accessories to bring a positive, balancing energy to your study area. Place wind chimes in front of a window or over an air duct to attract energy. Set a small cactus or bamboo plant on your study desk to protect the area from negative energy. Or place a small indoor water fountain next to your study desk to create a soothing feeling.

Feng Shui Business Colors

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese method of placing objects--in your home or office--in a certain way, to achieve harmony and enlightenment. In feng shui there are also certain colors that bring positive energy to you. When decorating your business or office, you may want to select certain feng shui colors that will encourage positive energy, creativity and business growth.

Blue
To yin energy, as well as a calming feeling, paint your business or office blue. The color blue, often seen in spas, is said in feng shui to have relaxing and healing powers. The color has exhibits feelings of trust, which may help client/business relationships. To reflect intelligence, paint your wall navy blue. The color blue is a good choice for an office or conference room.

Purple
In feng shui, purple is said to produce physical and mental healing powers. The color can also bring spiritual awareness to those who view it. To induce clarity and feeling of well-being, paint your office or business a light purple color. You may also want to consider painting a waiting room or sitting room purple for your clients to "feel" clarity before they step into your office.

Black and White
The color black will be very important to your business as is represents money and income. Combine black with metal--like frames, and vases to boost your career quickly. White, like in many different cultures, represents poise and purity. To create a calming feeling, combine white with gold or silver. The combination can be used in a reception area or waiting room, while black--or black and white--should be used in your personal office.

Yellow and Orange
Yellow orange colors represent the yang colors in feng shui (blue, purple, black and white being the yin colors). These colors represent motivation and enthusiasm. Yellow is said to make you and your clients feel happy and warm. To avoid too much yellow--which, according to feng shui, can cause anxiety--paint the walls a soft butter color. Orange, on the other hand, is said to make you concentrate better and induce creativity. Use orange where you and your employees work or in a conference room.

Feng Shui House Paint Colors

The ancient Chinese theory of feng shui entails the placement of items in a space to harmonize with your personal energy or chi. Its energy theory combines the five elements of nature--wood, fire, earth and metal and water--each of which represents a specific color. The purpose of feng shui is to achieve balance between your inner self and the environment, making your home an extension of your energy.

Five Elements
Feng shui's five elements represent natural components that are related and dependent. Wood symbolizes growth and renewal while the earth represents stability. Metal results in heightened purity and mental prowess. A fire element means power and intensity, and water inspires and relaxes.

Creative Cycle
Feng shui strives to establish a balance of the five elements in a creative cycle. Wood feeds a fire and its ashes make the earth. Metal or minerals come from the earth then the metal makes an object to hold water. Finally, water nurtures the wood or trees as the cycle continues.

Wood: Green
New growth is the meaning of green, a healing color that rejuvenates the human spirit. Jade crystals placed in a bowl in a room is a favorite feng shui technique. Bedrooms--especially for seniors--kitchens and living rooms commonly utilize green hues.

Fire: Red
Red is the color of fire and represents vitality, strength and warmth. It can invigorate an area in the form of red pillows, a red chair and a lampshade and candles. A study and a dining room are both appropriate areas for red. Since red is a powerful color, feng shui uses it sparingly.

Earth: Yellow
Yellow is an earthtone color that signifies balance, stability and health. It is associated with the sun, which disperses evil forces. Yellow's uplifting effect works well in the living room and kitchen. Soft yellow is the best choice for an adult bedroom, while a brighter yellow makes a good choice for a child's room.

Metal: White
The color white represents purity, spirituality, intellect and cleanliness. White walls and accessories result in a calming effect that makes it an excellent selection in a bathroom. White is the best color in feng shui to accent all other colors in accessories such as frames, towels, pillows and more.

Water: Blue
The color of water, blue creates a relaxing and clarifying effect. The word associated with blue is stillness, as in the calm necessary to gain insight. Blue is the most common accessory color in feng shui and combines well with yellow or white. Blue is a good choice for the bathroom or any room with less activity.

Feng Shui Bedroom Paint Colors

Feng Shui decorating involves organizing and decorating your home in a way that invites positive energy and promotes an atmosphere of peace and balance. Certain colors are used in Feng Shui principles to invoke feelings of peace and harmony, each one having a special meaning. Painting your bedroom is a fast and inexpensive way to begin the journey. Find out which colors will help you attain peace, harmony and a good night's sleep.

Blue
The color blue, representing the sea and sky, is calming, relaxing, and promotes feelings of trust and peace. Cool blue walls are associated with the flexibility and calmness of the ocean, setting the stage for meditation and encouraging restful sleep. Blue is synonymous with a quiet energy.

Green
Green is the color of renewal, freshness, healing and inspiration. In Feng Shui, this color signifies wood and gardens. Soothing green walls in a bedroom bring nature into your space. Like the color blue, green is a cool color which is thought to promote deeper sleep. This color also symbolizes good health and helps you to feel refreshed upon waking.

Pink
Pink is a version of red, which is a very important color in the practice of Feng Shui. In Asian cultures, red signifies good luck, warmth and energy. A strong red may be too stimulating for a bedroom, causing feelings of restlessness and making it difficult to relax and wind down. Feng Shui practitioners choose shades of pink as a substitute, which symbolizes love and marriage.

Colors to Avoid
Other colors associated with Feng Shui may be too intense for a bedroom, interfering with sleep and relaxation. Black represents money and career; deep purple signifies royalty and spirituality; yellow is the color of cheerfulness and motion. Avoid painting a bedroom with these colors as this space should encourage restfulness and peace. If you feel strongly about using any of these colors, choose them in softer hues. White corresponds to the element of metal in Feng Shui and is deemed too cold to use in a bedroom; white is better suited for bathrooms and kitchens.