Bright Interior Colors

Yellow

• Yellow makes many people think of a bright sunshiny day or a summer sunflower. It makes you feel happy, positive and full of energy. Yellow opens up narrow foyers or hallways, making them feel more expansive. You can have too much yellow in a room, however. Excessive eye stimulation is produced from more light being reflected by bright lemon yellow, causing eye irritation and fatigue. One accent wall, throw pillows, decorative vases or a furniture piece in yellow is adequate to brighten and lighten the room.

Red

• If you want to add excitement and energy to a room, incorporate a bit of red. Use this bright color sparingly, as it can raise blood pressure and increase your appetite. Even one wall painted in red is excessive for a single room. Better ways to introduce an intense punch of red into a room is through a vase of bright red poppies or a colorful piece of framed art. Assorted sizes, shapes and patterns of coordinating throw pillows add a dash of invigorating red.

Purple

• Purple evokes a creative mood, and dating back to ancient times is linked to luxury and royalty. Lighter shades of purple create a calming effect, while deep shades of purple are very bold and dramatic. Young children seem to like purple, making it a good paint color for one or two walls of their bedroom. Grape-purple in its truest hue can be overpowering. White furniture and accessories can help to neutralize and complement this popular color.

Green

• Green is associated with trees, grass, the out-of-doors and being healthy. It is soothing and relaxing, even though it is a beautiful bright color in various intensities. Green is thought to be the most relaxing color for the eye and has been thought to suppress the appetite. Painting an accent wall in green, accessorizing with potted plants or placing a green area rug on a bare floor adds an ambiance of health and life to a room.