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The colors in your home can have a huge impact on your mood—particularly paint colors. The shade of your walls has been shown to affect emotions: There are certain shades that will bring you down, ones that will help you relax, ones that will suppress your appetite, and a myriad more to match a number of other feelings. In honor of National Color Therapy Month, we asked Sue Kim, a Valspar Color Expert, to share the top shades that promote positivity.
"Nature and memories trigger our emotion into happiness, so finding a color that reflects your moment of happiness is the best way to connect with a color," Kim tells CountryLiving.com. "I would recommend making an image collage of photos and magazine clippings on a table and then see if there is a color that takes you back to a moment of happiness. Often we assume happy colors would be bolder hues, but for some of us, a quiet place with softer tones provides a moment of happiness."
Stay away from extreme and overly vibrant shades, as well as "muddy" paint colors with green undertones, Kim warns. Some people prefer warm paint colors, while some prefer to stick with the best neutral paint colors. Need inspiration? Here are some ideas to get you started and the best paint brands to get your project rolling.
Pink for Joy
Paint Color: Baby Soft by Clare Paint
A joyful shade of pink is a happy choice for any room in your house.
Lilac for Calm
Paint Color: Rhapsody Lilac by Sherwin-Williams
Lilac has a calming property to it that still feels very happy. Imagine how content you'd feel waking up in this lilac bedroom?
Yellow for Cheerfulness
Paint Color: Pablo Honey by Backdrop Paint
All shades of yellow add a spring in your step, but we can't imagine a better way to start your day than in this cheerful kitchen that has cabinets painted in a saturated yellow.
Green for Energy
Paint Color: Lazy Caterpillar by Behr
Energize your space with a happy shade of green like this one in a bedroom designed by Mary Douglas Drysdale.
Teal to Invigorate
Paint Color: Madison Avenue by Benjamin Moore
Sheila Bridge's office nook is painted in a cheerful shade of teal that is sure to spark creativity.
Light Yellow for Happiness
Paint color: Daisy Spell by Valspar
There's a reason yellow is associated with cheeriness. "This yellow has a subtle, luminous quality that feels like warm sun rays and awakens all five senses," Kim says. "Yellow is a natural source of positive energy and sparks feelings of happiness."
Sky Blue for Renewal
Paint color: Dreamy Clouds by Valspar
How would you like to curl up in this room? "This light, airy blue is instantly calming and helps to restore natural rhythms," Kim explains. "Growing evidence links sleep to productivity and overall well-being and blue provides soothing and restorative qualities that can help improve rest."
Violet Black for Mindfulness
Paint color: Twilight Purple by Valspar
It may appear dark and moody, but "A hidden undertone of violet in the deep night sky draws you in and provides a sense of retreat and relaxation," Kim says. "This color also helps create a place for focus and reflection."
Yellow Green for Optimism
Paint color: Crushed Oregano by Valspar
We feel energized just looking at this wall! "This balanced yellow green captures the essence of spring's first blooms and the excitement for the season ahead," Kim notes. "Green also brings positive energy into a space and stimulates personal growth."
Silver Sage for Balance
Paint color: Smoke Infusion by Valspar
"This perfect blend of sage green and silvery gray provides balance and harmony," Kim says. "It helps hone in the luxury of having less things, yet enjoying more of what really matters."
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