Most people like their homes to have a light, bright, or totally neutral color scheme. It’s quite common in most neighborhoods, and it’s rare to visit a home where darker shades take over the palette. While people like to put darker blue and green tones on the walls, and there’s a rage for green velvet and brown leather sofas at the moment, there will be bright, shining highlights to offset the deep tone of this decor.
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But why is that? Why do we tend to prefer our home decor to be light and bright? Everyone will have their own reasons, of course, but the few below tend to be the most popular. If the question has been playing on your mind recently – especially for anyone in the middle of a renovation – these are the points to mull over.
It Makes Rooms Look Larger
Lighter, brighter colors let the light in. When the light is able to come into the room and stay where it is, the room itself is going to look larger. Combine this kind of shade with a mirror in a strategic place and even the tiniest room can look another quarter size bigger.
This is put to the best effect in hallways and bathrooms. These tend to be the smallest rooms in the home, and are likely to be decorated with at least one mirror anyway. Because of that, be sure to carefully consider what wall paint and carpet, wood, or tile color would be best paired together.
Sunshine is Good for You
Natural light feels good on the skin, makes you feel warm all over, and is a reminder that long evenings and dark nights have to brighten out eventually! That’s why, if you’re someone who lives with SAD year by year, maximizing the amount of natural light in your home will help to alleviate the symptoms.
As such, when you decorate your home in colors that evoke this feeling of sunshine, you’re going to enjoy being in your space a lot more. It’s also why window installation is all the rage at the minute, whether you’re getting new windows put in or you want your current windows replaced with something better. More light in the house usually equals a better mood, more Vitamin D in our bodies, and that feeling of never ending summer we all secretly love.
Light and Bright Colors Tend to Make Us Happier
Speaking of good moods, the colors we surround ourselves with tend to inform the way we feel. Of course, yellows and pinks aren't solely responsible for a sunny outlook, and blues and blacks won’t cause a more dour disposition, but the things we see do have an effect on our overall perception.
And if you’re constantly looking around a home that looks dark, you’re probably going to feel a bit more dark and/or ‘blue’ as well. You spend the most time at home, throughout the week, and having that influence on you might not make you feel all that great in the long run.
Plus, lighter colors tend to reflect light a lot better too. That means that when it is sunny outside, you’re going to see a lot more of it bouncing around your rooms. A dark tone will pull it in and absorb it, which could even make your home physically hotter throughout the year too.
That will have the most effect when you’re painting the exterior, but if you get a lot of sun exposure during the summer (typically in south facing homes), there’s a chance your interior shade will add another degree or so to the thermometer.
There are a Lot More Colors to Choose From!
If you only use darker colors in your home, you’re going to quickly run out of fun, enjoyable colors to decorate with! Why do that when the lighter side of the wheel has so much more to choose from?
Pinks and purples, blues and greens, whites and browns – there’s a lot more going on that won’t just suck up all the light you put into the room in the first place.
Do You Love a Light, Bright Palette?
Then you’re certainly not alone! It’s the preferred color scheme for homes all over the world, and the more color you can pop into the space, the more lively it’s going to feel. Get that feeling of sunshine in the very bones of your house, and benefit from a decor style that uplifts your soul!
This is a contributed post.
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