What Your Homes Wall Colors Say About You

What Your Homes Wall Colors Say About You

We all have our favorite colors. Perhaps you decorate your bedroom in soft hues of blue or your dining room in bold shades of red. What do the colors of the walls in your home say to others about you? To explain the inner meaning of nine favorite paint colors, Bankrate.com turned to the experts: Sally Augustin, Ph.D., environmental psychologist and principal of Design With Science; Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute; and Debbie Zimmer, director of the Paint Quality Institute, the educational arm of Dow Coating Materials.

1. Yellow
What it means: Yellow is associated with the sun. What it says about you: You have a sunny personality and feel happy, lively and welcoming. Best room to use it: Family rooms and kitchens

2. Orange
What it means: Orange makes a space seem warm, since it is perceived as the hottest color. What it says about you: You are warm, confident, artistic and feel a connection to the Earth. Best room to use it: Public areas

3. Red
What it means: Red is an attention-getter and is used to make a statement. What it says about you: You are extraverted and want people to notice you. Best room to use it: Home gym, dining room

4. Blue
What it means: Lighter shades of blue are relaxing, while deeper shades are more energetic and sophisticated. What it says about you: You are constant, dependable and loyal. Think “true blue.” Best room to use it: Any room in the home.

5. Green
What it means: Green is reminiscent of the great outdoors. It has a soothing effect and can boost creativity. What it says about you: You are a creative thinker, calm and love the outdoors. Best room to use it: Home offices, living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and stairwells.

6. Purple
What it means: It’s a complex color that signals creative thinking. Reddish hues are energetic, while violets are more meditative. What it says about you: You have sophisticated tastes and are on the cutting edge of emerging trends. Best room to use it: Meditation room or study

7. Brown
What it means: Brown is a friendly, warm social color that is also very rich and even elegant. What it says about you: You’re aware of fashion and are a bit daring. Best room to use it: Open spaces

8. Gray
What it means: This is a sophisticated and masculine color. What it says about you: You are reserved, possibly shy and value your home as a safe haven. Best room to use it: Study, family room

9. White
What it means: White signals a firmly developed design sense, but it can also be the default color for those who have no idea what color to use. What it says about you: You are extremely sophisticated and design-savvy–or you are overwhelmed by the use of color. Best room to use it: Every room in the home.