Stress-Reducing Colors: Calming Hues To Decorate Your Home With | HuffPost Life

Calming Colors For A Stress-Free Home

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Color can be a wonderful tool for making your home less stressful and more calming — and it can have a significant impact on your mood and well-being. In Feng Shui, colors are used to bring different types of energy into the home, whether it's passionate red, energetic yellow or restorative green. And the science is there to back up the popular notion that room color affects stress perception: A Minnesota State University study found that red environments increase stress responses, while green and white environments do not.

The most calming colors are usually in the blue family, but muted, dusty shades of other colors can also be soothing, according to Jackie Jordan, Sherwin Williams director of color marketing.

Click through the slideshow below for calming colors to de-stress your home.

Tell us: What's your favorite calming color for the home? Share your thoughts in the comments or tweet @HuffPostHome.

This story appears in Issue 46 of our weekly iPad magazine, Huffington, in the iTunes App store, available Friday, April 26.

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Before You Go

The Best Paint Colors To De-Stress A Room

Soft Blues(01 of08)

Traditional Feng Shui wisdom says that blues can slow down heart rate and lower blood pressure. The most stress-reducing tones are soft, watery blues. "It reminds you of a beautiful blue sky or beautiful blue water, or the essence of a breeze," says Jordan. "They’re very soothing, calming colors for any space in your home.”Color: SW 6771 Bathe Blue (credit:Sherwin Williams)

Gray Blues(02 of08)

A light to medium shade of gray-blue can have a similar effect, says Jordan. Color: SW 6242 Bracing Blue (credit:Sherwin Williams)

Aqua Blues(03 of08)

Aqua shades, which are on the bluer side of the green spectrum, can be very calming, Jordan says. Color: SW 6464 Aloe (credit:Sherwin WIlliams)

Pale Greens(04 of08)

Beige greens and pale yellow-greens are the most stress-reducing shades in the green family, which can can to mind soothing nature scenes. In order to be calming, Jordan says, "They have to be pretty soft and less saturated.” Color: SW 6736 Jocular Green (credit:Sherwin Williams)

Dusty Pinks (05 of08)

Choose pinks that are on the paler or dustier side for a relaxing feel. “A hot pink room isn’t going to be very calming, but if you do something on the lighter end of the spectrum and somewhat on the gray side, those can be very soothing as well,” says Jordan. Color: SW 6316 Rosy Outlook (credit:Sherwin Williams)

Lavenders(06 of08)

Although purple can be an intense color, “Purples that are on the chalky, dusty side, or more muted shades of violets and lavenders and purples on the greyer side can be calmer." Color: SW 6828 Rhapsody Lilac (credit:Sherwin Williams)

Beiges(07 of08)

“On the warmer end of the spectrum, beiges and anything in that neutral category tend to be calming, and also warm grays," says Jordan. "When you start getting into true warm colors like oranges or yellows, those typically have more energy to them."Color: SW 6106 Kilim Beige (credit:Sherwin Williams)

Pale Grays(08 of08)

A light gray, especially when paired with blue or white elements, can create a relaxing atmosphere. "Gray is a perfect choice and can be layered with any of these colors to add to a serene space," says Jordan.Color: SW 7058 Magnetic Gray (credit:Sherwin Williams)

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