Psychology of Color: 2026 Design Trends

By: Natalie Elmhurst

Updated: 12/30/2025

Did you know the colors you invite into your home can impact the mood and feelings of a space? Color in interior design is used to create a cohesive look that pairs with the emotions you're looking to evoke. Whether you're looking to create a calm, serene space or a cozy, intimate hideaway, color can help you achieve the look you desire.

Here's everything you need to know about the psychology of color in design.

What is Color Psychology?

In interior design, color psychology is the school of thought that focuses on color as a means of creating a specific atmosphere and mood. Hues are carefully chosen to evoke a specific emotional response and set a particular mood. Research into color theory has assigned specific emotions to each hue and also takes into account factors such as tint, saturation, and tone.

The Psychology of Color in Design

What does your home say about you? A lot of it has to do with color. Here’s a look at the different emotions and feelings each color conveys:

Different Hues, Different Emotions

Color has many characteristics that can drastically change the mood it creates. Here are some of the most common color (hue) attributes to consider when creating an interior design palette.

• Tint Take a basic hue and add some white to it, and you get a tint. For example, a rich, sensual purple turns into a placid, serene lavender when white is mixed in. Generally, pastel colors can have a vintage or childlike feel, and are often used in nurseries or children’s bedrooms; they also work well in homes with older, classic architectural styles. They also may make a room feel more expansive, and pairing them with white accents creates a timeless look.

• Shade Conversely, shade is what you get by adding black to a color. Light gray takes on an earthier feel when it is darkened, while a bit of black can turn an aqua blue into a deep ocean-like color. Shades are often teamed up with neutrals or lighter colors that create balance, and they prevent the darker hue from overpowering a room.

• Tone This is almost a middle ground between shade and tint, as gray is added to a hue to create tone. This is especially helpful when trying to decrease the vibrancy of a too-bright color such as purple or orange and create a softer hue.

• Value This property refers to how much light a color has. In short, the lighter the color, the higher the value. On this spectrum, black is on the low end and white is on the high end, with colors arrayed in between the two. Value is important in interior design color psychology because you want to select colors with different values for a harmonious contrast.

• Saturation How rich is a color? That depends in large part on its saturation levels. Deeply saturated colors stand out and look bolder compared to colors that are lighter in saturation and may appear paler in bright light.

• Chroma When you say something is a “true red,” you’re actually referring to its chroma. When a color is in its purest state, without any tint, tone, or shade added, it has a high chroma level.

How to Use Color In Interior Design

When exploring the different colors, shades, and hues, it's important to consider your desired look and feel. Are you trying to create your own personal sanctuary you can retreat to after a long day? Do you want a warm, inviting space perfect for hosting friends and family? The mood you're trying to convey will help you determine the best color palette. Here are some popular ways to use color in interior designs.

Bedroom: Personal Sanctuary

If you want to turn your bedroom into a personal sanctuary, use colors that evoke a calm, restful atmosphere. Consider soft blues and greens paired with neutral tones to create a balanced color palette. You should avoid overly bold colors like red or yellow, as they might be too distracting.

Living Room: Eco-Conscious Designs

Inviting a touch of nature to your living room or dining room can create balance and harmony. Consider pastel yellow, dark green, or navy blue, paired with window treatments made of natural materials.

Home Office: Productivity and Balance

Your home office color palette should be balanced and harmonious. You want the colors to work together to create a peaceful space where you feel productive during the workweek. Consider dark green, browns, and blues.

Tips for Designing With Color

When exploring different color schemes for your space, you'll want to consider the following tips:

• Focus on functionality: Consider how you use the space to ensure you find a color that complements the functional needs. For example, if your bedroom is your personal sanctuary, you'll want to stick to colors that evoke peaceful emotions. However, more vibrant, lively colors may work better for the kitchen, where you spend time socializing.
• Create balance with the 60-30-10 rule: Focusing on color balance will create visual harmony. When exploring color palettes, follow the 60-30-10 rule. To achieve visual harmony, your color palette should be 60% dominant, 30% secondary, and 10% accent.
• Explore contrast with complementary colors: Once you decide on a dominant color, pair it with a complementary color on the opposite side of the color wheel. This will help you create contrast and make your space more visually appealing.

Elevate Your Space With Window Treatments From Stoneside

No matter how you plan to use color in interior design, Stoneside is here to bring your creative vision to life. We specialize in custom-made blinds, shades, and drapery. We also have a wide range of fabrics and materials, so you can completely transform your space to complement the mood and emotions you're looking to convey.

Schedule a free consultation today to get started.