The Color-Heart Connection: How Hues Affect Behavior and Emotion

Last week, I was having a discussion with a photographer about some upcoming headshots, and she suggested a chartreuse background for one of the shots. When I tell you I physically recoiled at the thought! Chartreuse has never been a favorite color of mine, but now that I know I’m a True Spring, I felt like Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side when she said, “It is not in my color wheel, and I’m not gonna wear it.” (Or have it as a backdrop, or anywhere near my face, actually.)

A headshot I love, despite the dress not being in my True Spring color palette. At least it’s not chartreuse. (Photo: Kim Meadowlark)

Most people never consider that color is always at work. Every shade, every tone, every carefully chosen hue in interiors and fashion is quietly influencing how you feel, how you move through a space, and yes, how other people respond to you. Blue makes some feel grounded and calm (there’s a reason every corporate office defaults to navy). Red can energize and demand attention—it’s why some people reach for that lipstick on days they need to feel unstoppable. Soft greens and warm neutrals offer some people sanctuary. I don’t know what Miss Chartreuse does for you, but she’s not on any guest list of mine. 

BEFORE & AFTER of a client’s living room. The new construction finishes were beautiful, but, as often happens in new construction, everything was set to a default of white. Our client wanted this space to feel more inviting, so we achieved that through the selection of soothing greens with just a touch of complementary red-violet. The result is a conversational space that is both relaxing and interesting.

Interior Design: Rachel Cannon Limited | Photo Styling: Margaret Zainey Roux | Photo: Kim Meadowlark

Once you understand how color works on an emotional level, you can use it intentionally. Want your living room to feel like the best conversation is always happening there? We can help achieve that through the color that makes you feel safest and most at ease. Need your closet to work harder for you? Understanding which colors make you look your best changes everything. Don’t worry about memorizing rules or second-guessing your instincts. Think about how you already respond to color every single day—now you just get to be strategic about it.

BEFORE & AFTER of a client’s guest-room-turned-home-office/quiet-room. The assignment here was to take a blank space and make it feel like a swanky room in a high-end hotel, but still suitable for working from home. Our client requested a peaceful space where she could also relax and read, so we added the chaise lounge and then drenched the entire space in this deep magenta hue. The final result is a space that is both a hushed atmosphere and a visual feast.

Interior Design & Photo Styling: Rachel Cannon Limited  | Photo: Kim Meadowlark

So let’s get strategic. The first thing to understand is that color works on two levels simultaneously—there’s the universal psychological response (red increases heart rate, blue lowers blood pressure), and then there’s your personal history with each shade. Maybe sage green makes you feel instantly calm because it reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen, or maybe it makes you anxious because it was the color of a particularly terrible apartment. Both responses are valid, and the smart move is to pay attention to both. (I don’t know why I’m so triggered by chartreuse, but it almost makes me angry when I see it. I guess it’s safe to say you won’t be seeing it in any of my designs any time soon.) 

BEFORE & AFTER of a client’s dining room. When we first met with this couple, we could tell from their personalities and artwork selections that they had a certain joie de vivre. Our job was to take that feeling and translate it into a more sophisticated aesthetic, which we did by establishing clearer, brighter color throughout the home. The dining room is just off of the foyer, so we knew we had to create the vibe for the whole home with this space. The final result is one that echoes the joyful nature of our clients, but with an elevated sense of style.

Interior Design & Photo Styling: Rachel Cannon Limited  | Photo: Kim Meadowlark

When I’m working with a space, I start by asking what needs to happen there. If a client requests a bedroom that needs to facilitate rest and intimacy, I'm reaching for colors that lower their nervous system—soft blues, warm grays, pale roses. If a client often works from home, but from their bed, the room needs to keep them alert and focused without being overstimulating, which is where greens and earth tones become their best friends. An entryway has about ten seconds to (1) make you feel like you’re home, (2) make a statement, or (3) set the tone for the rest of the home (or in some cases, all three!), so that’s where I get creative with color to send the signal our clients are looking for.

BEFORE & AFTER of a client’s foyer. In this space, we loved the original slate floors and opted to keep them when we updated our clients’ whole home. Paired with the abstract/graphic printed wallpaper, it gives a very editorial and fashion-forward feel that is perfect for this women’s contemporary clothing boutique owner. It’s giving effortless cool girl!

Interior Design & Photo Styling: Rachel Cannon Limited  | Photo: Kim Meadowlark

The same logic applies to your wardrobe, and this is where most people have already done the work without realizing it. You know that a structured navy blazer makes you feel capable and professional. You know that a cream sweater makes you feel approachable and warm. You know that the combo of the two makes you look like a Ralph Lauren model and creates a whole “day at the country manor” mood. You’ve been conducting color psychology experiments on yourself every time you get dressed for a job interview, a first date, or a difficult conversation. You already know what works!

In our clients’ guest cabin on a secluded lake, we upped the coziness factor by selecting warm neutrals as a backdrop for persimmon red. The warm hue appears in the sofa, accessories, curio cabinet, and kitchen of this space. 

Interior Design: RCL Interiors | Photo Styling: Amanda Fowler | Photo: Kim Meadowlark

Here’s where it gets interesting: once you identify your go-to colors for different emotional states, you can start building environments that support those states. Want your mornings to feel energizing? Add warm, saturated tones to your kitchen—think terracotta, deep gold, vibrant greens. Need your evenings to feel restorative? Keep your living spaces in the softer, cooler end of the spectrum where your body can actually unwind.

In the second guest cabin, we opted to work with cool greens that echo the natural surroundings of the property. You can see how, although these cabins are almost exactly the same in architectural details, the color palette creates an entirely different mood here.

Interior Design: RCL Interiors | Photo Styling: Amanda Fowler | Photo: Kim Meadowlark

The most powerful thing about understanding color psychology isn’t that you follow some prescribed formula from a design book. It’s that you become conscious of what’s already working on you, so you can use it intentionally. You stop accidentally surrounding yourself with colors that drain you, and you start building a visual environment—in your closet and in your home—that actually supports the life you’re trying to live.

That’s the strategy. Not rules, not trends, just paying attention to what makes you feel like your best self, and then making sure you’re surrounded by it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If you love the idea of living with color that makes you happy, but still struggle with where to start, we’ve got you! Schedule a discovery call with our team to learn more about our interior design and seasonal color analysis services.