For building managers, employers and landlords, a lot of thought goes into their choice of flooring and long before they arrange carpet installation, there has been considerable consultation into which flooring choice to use.
There are a lot of considerations that go into this decision, from acoustics, longevity, comfort, brand identity, ease of cleaning and maintenance, as well as whether a particular carpet or flooring solution fits the brand identity or style you are going for.
However, one question that seldom gets asked when it comes to carpets is the effect it has on the mood of the room and its ambience.
This is part of a fascinating field of design known as colour psychology, which explores the effects that different colours, patterns and textures have on a person’s emotions, which for workplaces and rental accommodation can have financial repercussions as well.
Many property managers know the effect colour choices can have on the perception of space.
Whilst this is a simplification of the principle, lighter colours tend to reflect light outward, making a room look bigger than it actually is.
Conversely, darker, richer shades make a room look smaller on first inspection. However, tricks of the light are a small part of the overall effects of colour psychology, and whilst a room’s perceived size does have an effect on mood, it is far from the only one.
For example, using colours, shades and textures either natural or perceived as natural, such as wood grain, soft greens and blues can create a perception of nature and grounding, helping people within the office space to feel calmer and more relaxed.
This is particularly useful in bedrooms where the ultimate goal is to feel relaxed and particularly busy offices where stress is a common risk factor for employers.
Colour choices are often perceived in multiple ways at once. Generally, a colour choice will be categorised as either light or dark and either warm or cool, before the more specific meanings that have been assigned to certain colours will become a factor.
Cool colours tend to be more relaxing, warm colours tend to be more intimate and inviting, whilst neutral shades often complement other colour choices in the room.
A lot of the effects of colour psychology are based on a mix of universal perceptions, culturally specific meanings and personal connections, so not every person will ascribe the same meanings to the same colours, and different shades of the same colour will have different meanings.
A good example of this is the colour pink; a soft pastel pink is often used to create a relaxing, tender, innocent atmosphere, whilst a hot pink shade is exactly the opposite, creating a striking appearance that can often overwhelm and clash with other styles.
Similarly, depending on cultural and personal factors, red can either be a colour that represents prosperity, fortune and happiness, or danger, aggression and passion.
Ultimately, colour psychology inevitably affects a choice of carpet, whether intentionally or otherwise, but by understanding some of the ways in which it can alter the mood of the people in the room, you can use flooring to create spaces that benefit the people who spend the majority of their time in them.
