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Mood swings

Want to change your attitude? Just change the color of your room.

Among physicians, scientists, therapists, and artists, there is much conversation and research regarding color and the impact it has on the way we feel. Studies have shown that humans and apes - and who knows how many other species - react to color.

Our responses are both instinctive and learned.

Red, for example, is universally believed to signify danger, to signal alert, and to symbolize life itself. The most likely explanation derives from the color's association with blood. Similarly, blues and greens lend a sense of peace and calm, reminding us of clear skies and smooth sailing.

And many of our responses to color are taught to us from an early age. Pink is for girls; blue is for boys. Red and green mean Christmas; black and orange signify ghouls.

I mention all of this because, as a designer, I have long believed that color can be used to manipulate our feelings and our moods. We all react to color in rudimentary, intrinsic ways. Color isn't just about aesthetics, it's about ambition. It's a reflection of how we want to live and feel.

To put my theory to the test, I did a color study of my own, using my home as my color lab. I tried to alter my mood by changing the atmosphere andthe energy of my environment. The only things Iuflede,12,16 changed were the wall color, the art, and the accessories. All of the furniture remained the same.

Choosing a color

When trying to decide what color to paint a room, don't look at paint chips. Instead, look within. Ask yourself what you're going to use the room for. How do you want to feel when you're there? How do you want your guests to feel? Do you want something elegant and reserved or something casual and relaxed? Do you want the room to make you think or to help you relax?

In other words, don't pick the color, pick the mood. Do you want the space to feel perky, sophisticated, warm, or calm? After you've decided, envision colors that make you feel that way. List your thoughts and find colors in magazines or on paint chips that elicit those feelings and ideas. These tones become your basic palette.

Remember to wear sunscreen

In my own case, it all started one winter day as I sat sipping my morning coffee, watching Boston getcoated in a layer of snow and ice. I decided it was time for a tropical break from the Northeast's endless winter. So, it was off to the paint store for some artificial sun.

On even the dullest days, Martin Senour's Safflower is brilliant, vigorous, and hot. The color vibrates with energy; it makes you feel warm and alive. Once the paint was rolled on the walls, I watched as people picked up on the energy of the room. They noticeably perked up when they walked in.

I used pillows in bold, bright colors to compete with the walls; paler shades would wimp out. Besides, this room was all about fun and abandon - no need to be reserved here. But such a vibrant color requires a certain decorating strategy: I needed to consider larger and fewer pieces of furniture. And the furniture and accessories are arranged so that the lines are straightforward, gridlike, and clean.

The livin' is easy

As summer approached and things got warmer, I wanted something cool and kicked-back, but with an edge. Benjamin Moore's aptly named Pool Party was just the thing. The blue cooled things off. It lowered the energy and calmed the pace. The room exuded a more come-as-you-are attitude and encouraged people to laugh and let go.

Accenting the room with a lot of whites gave it a crispness, an edge. (Don't let the white floor scare you; it's covered with loading-dock paint and has survived a lot of wear and tear.)

Using the contrasting white for the furniture and artwork meant the individual pieces stood out and took on greater importance. The lesson here: If you want to play something up, contrast it. The floor space is more defined in white. Conversely, the eye blends colors that are more alike, so each piece in the room has less definition. If you want to downplay that couch that needs to be re-covered, paint the walls in a shade similar to the sofa fabric, and, presto, the couch no longer stands out.

One blue note: The paler the shade of blue, the more tranquil and cooler the effect. However, blues can make a space seem chilly if you're not careful. Brighter blues have more vibrancy and are less cold.

Elegant as candlelight

With the coming of fall, I was ready for a soft, warm, yellowy beige. I wanted a more poised and proper feeling in the room, and I used Pratt & Lambert's Caramel Tint. Once again, with just 2 gallons of paint - and some strategic shuffling of art and accessories - the room was transformed. This time, the look was downright sophisticated and elegant. Now it was ready for a cocktail party or two. To accent and enhance my air of decorum, I pulled out all the stops. My impressive, fancy stuff was polished up and displayed: cut glass, polished silver, orchids. Anything that said luxury, elegance, and putting on the Ritz.

Of course, there is a fine line between tasteful presentation and ostentatious display. When going for the gold, be careful not to get pretentious. If you want your home to be inviting, keep the elegance a little offhanded. Contrast glitz with some fundamental stuff - things that don't take machines and money to create, like fruit heaped in a crude clay bowl, firewood stacked on the floor, or roses crowded into a glazed pot. Juxtaposition is a critical design principle. Mix new with old, textured with slick, crusty with smooth. I like the friction that this creates.

Also keep in mind that color affects its neighbors. Consider the gold leaf on the picture frames and the gold chest: The gold loses its importance on the orange walls, comes forward on the cream walls, and is in your face on the blue walls. Similarly, the sofa stands out more in the blue room than it does in the other two.

Also remember that there is strength in numbers, so repeat similar items. And create drama and "control the chaos" by spacing grouped accessories equally, as in the displays over the fireplace and the collection of clay pots on the glass-top table. This is especially important when contrasting accessories and art with your wall color. Clean lines are easier on the eye, so decide on one concept and stick with it.

So what's next for where I live? Spring is coming. Maybe I will rush the robin's return by rolling out a couple of gallons of spring green. But who knows where and when the mood for change will strike? There are as many moods as there are paint chips at the hardware store.