Colors effect our emotions. In fact, it's been documented that colors can affect our pituitary glands, which in turn can change hormone production and mood alteration. And it's not just in natural settings this phenomenon occurs. Often we even find emotional connection to artificial color, like in a painting.

Here are some examples of colors to consider in our paintings and their corresponding emotional attachments:

Red is all about energy and vitality, but as you've seen above, it can also indicate anger. And of course it's associated with sexuality as well. Pink, though, can provide a sense of being cared for; it's more about nurturing and maternal love.

Orange is stimulating, good for times when we just can't seem to get started with something. Its lighter version, peach, may be useful for exhaustion due to stress.

Yellow is good for mental activities like reasoning and analysis. It can promote self-confidence and is helpful in situations when you need to be more optimistic.

Green tends to make most people think of nature, since so much of the natural world is green. It's about connections - with nature, or with our fellow humans. It's also good for general stress, since it can help balance emotions.

Blue is soothing and relaxing. It can stimulate creativity. Light blue can denote quiet and dark blue can be sedating. But too much dark blue can be depressing.

Purple is related to imagination, intuition, and insight. In some situations it can also be very peaceful.

White is definitely about peace. But it's also associated with purity, which makes it good for "cleansing" - which could mean purification, or maybe just clarification.

Black may make some people think of depression, but it doesn't have to. It's a very dramatic color; many artists wear nothing but black. It can denote mystery, something hidden - or maybe an introvert who's been around crowds too long could use it to "hide" from people. In this sense, it can be a very protecting color.

Gray is a common color for business suits, and in those instances it can indicate independence, self-control, and self-confidence. But some color specialists think it's also about ambiguity and indecision; after all, it isn't black, and it isn't white, either.

Brown is the color of earth, and be just as "grounding." It's good for introducing stability to an otherwise insecure situation. But too much of it can take stability to its extreme - stagnation.

For homeowners and art lovers, adding or changing wall art in a room or office can create new emotional experiences for guests and owners alike.

When choosing art, your safest bet might be to simply stick with the classics ? they're always in style, and they're always tastefully elegant.

But classic gallery art costs a bundle, so reproduction wall art may be your best bet. Adding a reproduction of a dark classic like Van Gogh's "Starry Night" can bring a sense of heaviness and cool to a room, while a colorful Monet might create a sense of lightheartedness.

Reproductions like this are not hard to find. Companies like OverstockArt.com, the web's leading producer of reproduction oil paintings and frames, offer hundreds of different paintings for different occasions. Finding the right colors and the right painting is just a mouse click away.

Consider your home and the mood you want to set not only for yourself, but for your family and your guests. Then think colors. A vibrant new painting might be all it takes to turn a dreary day outside into a happy day inside.