The aesthetic elements of your living space, specifically pieces incorporating art and colour, can work wonders for both the external beauty of your living space and your inner peace. To help you tap into the proven benefits of neuro-architecture, Interior Design Director Jessica Shaw of the New York-based Turett Collaborative shares her top ‘design therapy’ tips on how to create a space that boosts your mental well-being with art and colour.
The relationship between art, colour, and design is very symbiotic. The theory of neuro-architecture points out how factors such as lighting, shapes, and objects have a profound impact on our mental state. For example, poor lighting has been linked to higher cancer rates, clutter to negative decision-making, and biophilic design to stress reduction and concentration.
Viewing art, in particular, has been proven to have a powerful impact on the brain. According to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, experiencing and observing art stimulates the creation of new neural pathways and ways of thinking. Studies have also shown that colour has the potential to affect your mood, emotions, concentration and even physical health with methods like colour therapy.
Now more than ever, it’s important for us to treat our home as our solace. Incorporating art and colour into your home design will not only breathe new life into your space – it will also have a positive impact on your mood and overall health.
Set your intentions and mood with colour…Colour affects our mood in a space dramatically, whether we realize it or not. The best thing about designing with colour is that it surrounds personal style – sometimes, the effect of colour design on mood is more subtle, while in other instances, it’s dramatic and nearly tangible. Surround yourself with your favorite colours, use bolder colours to enhance your mood and spark creativity, and more muted colours to create a calm, serene environment.
Colour has been proven to affect mood – with bolder yellows linked to creative boosts, blue to intellect and logic, green to calm and equilibrium, and red to stimulation and energy. For example, a colour historically associated with royalty, purple has a strong, commanding effect on a room. A tertiary colour combining red and violet (a secondary colour, mixing red and blue), this strong, rich combination of colours establishes a stimulating yet balanced environment. Drawing from the ‘stimulating effect of red’ and the ‘tonic effect of blue’ as described in Color Psychology & Color Therapy, purple is great for spaces such as guest or master bedrooms, simultaneously holding a more meditative, calm presence along with an energetic, sensual aura.
Study up on good vibes…It is fun to play around with colour, but it can be a major commitment when designing with dramatic colours. Studies demonstrate that colour has a profound energetic impact – it has been suggested that even blind individuals have been able to identify colours without the ability to physically see them. Having a basic understanding of vibration between colours, and how colours interact, is important when creating any composition in a room. Josef Albers has in-depth studies of colour theory, such as his famous 1963 book ‘Interaction of Color,’ which is a great 101 for design and colour lovers to reference. Take the colour wheel into consideration – choose analogous colours for a harmonious, monochromatic look, complementary colours for a bold, balanced look, and triadic colours for a more energetic, personality-filled space. Different hues, tints, tones, and shades can also be used to create varying illusions or to draw attention to certain objects.
Go ahead, break the rules…That being said, don’t be afraid to break the rules. While there are valuable tips stemming from colour theory, rules are made to be broken – sometimes, anything goes, and unexpected colour combinations work well. Colour is a personal preference, what works for you, might not work for others. Gauge how comfortable you are with a particular colour, does it bring you joy or does it deplete your energy? Let your reaction to the colour influence your design palette. From there, just let your creativity flow.
Stimulate your own creativity with art…Art is an incredibly personal aspect of your home. In a sense, it is a reflection and extension of yourself. Few other pieces in your living space can be so personalized, intricate and emotion-filled as artwork. Just as colour has been proven to have calming or stimulating effects, art is more than just a painting on a wall – it has a powerful impact on your brain.
Research, such as a study from the American Association for the Advancement of Science: How Engaging With Art Affects the Human Brain, continues to indicate that making and viewing art keeps your brain stimulated and active, enhancing brain function and exercising creativity. By incorporating art pieces into your home that inspire you to engage in creative pursuits, you can simultaneously promote your own health and well-being. Harvard Health Publishing states that creative activities can relieve stress, aid communication, and even help arrest cognitive decline.
Use art as an emotional outlet and support…Not only that – we all know that sometimes, art can also uncover our emotions. We can look at a calming painting or a funky abstract piece in our home, and it has the power to increasingly enhance our enjoyment of a space. One day, that same piece of artwork may seem dark and mysterious, while another, it may seem lively and uplifting. It can hold a totally distinct aura, depending on your personal outlook and mood. These malleable effects of artwork add immense value to your space and can be enhanced by other factors such as lighting and colour.
Let art tell YOUR story…When designing with art, identify what story you want to tell. One must take into account not only the vignette in which the art is hung, but also its relationship to the whole space. You want the art to go with the story you are telling. In this case, there is a shift of energy from the great room to the master suite, and another in the home office – each space has its own energy, whether quiet and subdued or loud and boisterous.
Create harmony in your surrounding space, but don’t be afraid of a little tension…Consider the surrounding environment. Make sure to take into account the finishes, forms, and colours of the room. When incorporating statement art pieces, this is especially necessary, in order to create a flattering landscape for each piece. Sometimes it is okay to put the piece in a place of tension if you want to give the interior a more dynamic and unique feeling.
Don’t forget logistics…A definite rule in designing around art is that the art should be at a comfortable eye-level height. For reference, use a measurement similar to the height that galleries go by, which is typically 57 to 60” from the floor (this can be altered a bit if you have especially high ceilings). This will allow individuals of varying heights to view the piece comfortably. Additionally, it’s important for the piece to be displayed in an area with natural light and with ample negative space for it to breathe.
