Vacations may not last forever, but there’s a way to hang onto the vacation sensation long after you get back home. How? By weaving colors characteristic of the places you visit right into your home decor!
Painting a room in colors that recall favourite destinations is a way of savouring your trips and recapturing the good “vibes” you felt while you were away. And that can be great for your mental health.
It’s a proven fact that the color of one’s surroundings can have strong psychological – and even physiological — effects. That’s why many restaurants are painted red (it increases our appetite) and breakfast rooms are often yellow (it improves our mood in the morning). Vacation colors work in a similar way.
We all have fond memories from our best vacations. Decorating with colors that – even subconsciously – bring those trips to mind can literally make us happier.But you need not apply just one paint color to your walls. If a second color is strong in your memory, consider introducing it on an accent wall. Or, if your home has chair rails, apply one distinctive color above the rail and a second one below.
Woodwork and trim present other possibilities. Colors from your vacation with secondary importance can be used on window and doorframes, baseboards, and every sort of built-in (bookcases, shelving, and the like). And don’t feel compelled to stop when you finish your painting. By all means, try to capture the style of your special place by selecting furnishings, fabrics, and accent pieces that mirror your memories.
Working with vacation color can be emotionally fulfilling, not to mention a great deal of fun. It’s a great way to create an area in your home to which you can retreat and experience your best travel memories… over and over again!
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